I really can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged. My blogging time has been limited because Ben dominates my computer during the day. At night, when it's my turn to put the kids down, I sit outside Ben's door and that was normally my blogging time...but lately I've been reading a book about the saints called The Fulfillment of All Desire. I kind of fell into a habit of not blogging...or should I say, I fell out of the habit of blogging. I can't believe it's been 19 days. I was going about my merry way until my aunt said,"You have got to get back to posting.......that's the only way I can keep up with your life! So even if it's a short post.......enquiring minds want to know........WHAT'S UP WITH MISSY!!!!!"
I kind of forgot people read my blog and may be the slightest bit anxious to hear what I have to ramble on and on about! So thank you, Kathy, for bringing me back to my senses. Let's go topic by topic.
JAZZERCISE--It deserves all caps because I truly love it. I've been getting in 3 x's a week...and I feel totally indulgent doing it! Why? I can't quite explain that. I think I saw joining a class for exercise as being the epitome of self care. One deserving of mothers whose kids are older and all off to school. Not deserving of women who have no desire to get up at an ungodly hour to fit important things in before the kids wake up. That would be me. I knew I didn't want it badly enough to do that. So to find a solution that works for me...letting the kids practice watching themselves for a little over an hour while I exercise...is like a sinful delight! So far, my times flex from week to week. Last week, I did Tuesday at 4:25pm, Thursday at 5:35pm and Saturday at 8:15am. Saturday has been my most consistent day so far. The other two fall where our schedule allows from week to week. Thank you, God...for Jazzercise.
Diet--Ok...back to normal caps. I started this diet before Lent. I wanted to capitalize on my motivation. Can you believe after 3 1/2 weeks, I've lost 10 pounds?? I can't. Healthier eating, smaller portions, counting calories, more sensible snacking and no late night binges...have all helped. I said before, I want to make a lifestyle change. To do this, I allow some of my favorite "bad" foods in small doses....and I love so many bad foods. I love bread, pan crust pizza, brownies, custard, donuts, fried foods, etc, etc! I've tried to find healthier foods that I really enjoy and I keep my pantry and fridge stocked with them. I've added whole grain crackers, fruit mixed with yogurt and granola, dried fruit, romaine lettuce for salads, and spinach for my sandwiches every day. I took out the chips and substitute crackers (wheat thins), pretzels, or Sunchips. Sometimes just knowing it's healthy, makes it taste better to me, or gives me the motivation to eat it. Like fruits. I like fruits...but I like cookies better. It's a decision for me to chose the fruit instead. I'm trying to make those good decisions regularly. And then as a treat I'll have a cookie. This works for me right now...and I hope it continues to work for the long haul.
I was 132 lbs when we got married in 1992, 140 before getting pregnant with Sam in 1996, 145 before getting pregnant with Abby in 1998, 150 before getting pregnant with Maggie in 2001, 155 before getting pregnant with Ben in 2003 and went up to 160 before Mary. Lost 10 lbs on Slim Fast, gained back 5. Had Mary...stayed at 155. And now, for the first time in 10 years, I'm back to 145!!! I'd be happy to lose 5 more.
Illnesses--We've been battling colds, ear infections and sinus infections in this house the past couple of weeks. I had a since infection two weeks ago. My teeth hurt! I had to take 14 days of antibiotics for that! Mary is on antibiotics for a nasty ear infection. Carpool was bad the day it peaked. She cried so hard, no one wanted to sit by her. I had to take seven kids to the pharmacy so I could get a dose in her QUICK!! They all tolerated the stop because they felt so sorry for her crying out in pain. Sam has had a bad cough for over a week and I'm wondering if I need to get it checked out. Ben is waking up with matter in his eyes and green gunk in his nose. Hmmm...
New Furniture--I'm almost ready for my family room "after" picture!! I have everything in there but two chairs. They are being delivered Tuesday. We're also waiting on the new carpet. They measured the room last Tuesday, I'm waiting for them to call with the estimate. This all started with hating my fireplace wall. I decided to embrace it and make changes with the other parts of the room I didn't like. Now the fireplace wall is a non-isssue. You'll see why when I post pictures!! Ted got his big screen plasma TV that he'd been dreaming about. If you remember, it came free with the purchase of the furniture. TV's aren't a big deal to me, so it's cute to see him all excited when he doesn't get excited about material things. The TV is a guy thing I guess. I was more excited about my new couch!!!
Retreat--We bid Ted farewell for his ACTS retreat this weekend. We met him at the church for his send off. I wish I could have given him a proper and sincere goodbye. Unfortunately, Abby was crying about missing him, Sam had to take Ben to the bathroom, and Mary was crying because we made her give Daddy back his name tag. She just kept screaming, "I want Daddy's name tag!!"...over and over. I decided to take her outside, but that was no better because Ted was loading in the bus and I could see him, "That's my daughter...she's not missing me...she wants my name tag". *SIGH* That's the note he had to leave on. The screams of his daughter while the whole bus listens. I'm sure they all had a good laugh.
Single Mom--So yah, Ted was at Dallas on business at the beginning of the week and now he's on retreat. Friday, Saturday and Sunday I have the following: A meeting with the principal and priest of our school and the other two marketing committee members to do our "marketing" homework, a dinner at my mom's, Sam's basketball game, Blue and Gold banquet (bring a lot of mac n cheese), Abby goes with Grandma Jane to see Ted at Candlelight and spends the night with Grandma, babysitter for Ben and Mary, Noon mass to welcome Ted back, and a CRHP meeting at MY house! Yikes. I'm sure it'll all go by quickly.
PTO--I'm so grateful that I got the VP to take on the Father/Daughter dance in April. I'm not in charge!! Yaaayyy!!! We only have a McTeacher night, Art Fair, and PTO meeting with the parents left, besides the dance. And of course we have prep for next year and we don't have a VP yet...but I will be D-O-N-E. I can't wait to be a regular mom again....as fun as it was.
A Load a Day--It's my new mission. To put in a load of laundry a day, no matter what the size. I want to stay caught up. My neighbor inspired me because she made this change and seems so happy. She said putting it away is no big deal when you only have a load. I always thought that was inefficient. Why go to all those locations in the house for so few things?? Now I see it as exercise....and a chance to be less overwhelmed.
At the moment...that's all I can think of. Time to veg out in front of the TV. It's another long day tomorrow.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
I LOVE JAZZERCISE!!!
I absolutely LOVE Jazzercise!! I went Saturday and felt like it was totally for me! It was exactly what I thought it would be: Led by an energetic and too happy to be real instructor, high energy dance/aerobic moves, all set to great music. They greeted me with friendliness, no clickiness and it was a classroom of women of all ages, shapes and sizes. The instructor was always offering ideas on how to make each move more of a challenge for you or less of a challenge if you wanted low impact. It is what you make it. I can come straight out of bed, throw on clothes that may be too tight to wear anywhere else and make a fool out of myself while I try to learn all the moves. It's awesome.
Although, really, I can only come "straight out of bed" on Saturdays. My goal is to fit two afternoon/early evening classes somewhere else in the week. This would not be favorite time to workout, but it will have to do until Mary is in preschool (a year and a half from now). Until then, I hope to have Sam and Abby watch the kids one day at 4:25pm and another for the 5:35pm sessions. We'll see how this goes. I'm a little nervous that the time of day is too crazy for me to be gone. But I am NOT one to workout at 5:30am in the morning and I really don't want to take my kids to the free babysitting because I could picture that being a disaster. I'm afraid to even try it like my husband is really wanting me to do.
The success of this hinges on my commitment to this. I hope this can be a regular pattern for me. One I stay committed to for a long time. Any new thing you try is an experiment and you never know how it will turn out. This just seems like it has all the ingredients it needs to work for me. Let's hope!!
Although, really, I can only come "straight out of bed" on Saturdays. My goal is to fit two afternoon/early evening classes somewhere else in the week. This would not be favorite time to workout, but it will have to do until Mary is in preschool (a year and a half from now). Until then, I hope to have Sam and Abby watch the kids one day at 4:25pm and another for the 5:35pm sessions. We'll see how this goes. I'm a little nervous that the time of day is too crazy for me to be gone. But I am NOT one to workout at 5:30am in the morning and I really don't want to take my kids to the free babysitting because I could picture that being a disaster. I'm afraid to even try it like my husband is really wanting me to do.
The success of this hinges on my commitment to this. I hope this can be a regular pattern for me. One I stay committed to for a long time. Any new thing you try is an experiment and you never know how it will turn out. This just seems like it has all the ingredients it needs to work for me. Let's hope!!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
A Snapshot
What's at the top of my to-do list?
--To try to focus on my sacrifices in Lent as a way to bring me closer to God, instead of focusing so much on the sacrifice itself!
--Plan my Children's Liturgy for this Sunday
--Update my picture wall before my Uppercase Living party
--Get a sitter for a date night with Ted
--Sign up for Jazzercise this Saturday and start my first class!
What have I accomplished recently?
--Stocked my kitchen with fresh fruits, vegetables and healthier foods
--Lost 5 pounds!!
--The Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. It went so smoothly!!
--Registered Abby for Softball
--Registered Ben for Kindergarten (Yikes!)
--Got caught up on laundry (huge feet!)
--Bought valentines for the kids to exchange
What have I said I was going to do, but haven't?
--Remember those pureed vegetables? After the failure with the mac n cheese, I've abandoned the remaining vegetables in the freezer. I just didn't feel the kids were getting that many vegetables anyway since half the kids didn't like the food I was hiding it in anyway (my picky boys don't eat ground beef or hamburgers)
--I'm doing some of my Rule from Mother's Rule of Life, but not all of it. I feel like I have a long way to go to be consistent on the house and other routines with the kids. I've made permanent changes to my prayer life that I remember to do almost daily but my day seems to just "happen" after that. I'll have to focus on this more.
What's been bugging me?
--Staying outside Ben's door until he falls asleep. Ted and I hardly have any time together in the evenings because one of us is putting all the kids down and sitting outside Ben's door until he falls asleep. Sometimes it can take an hour! It's a pain. Sam had us going through this, too. It will pass as everything else does.
--Mary's clinginess. She screams if I'm leaving and she hasn't gotten to say goodbye the million times she needs to before she feels ready to part from me. She's just going through a really tough time with separation and fears of being alone in any part of the house.
What's been bringing me joy?
--The show John and Kate plus 8! It always takes away any residue of self pity I might have.
--American Idol. I love that show, too.
--I'm just so happy that I get to be at home with my kids everyday. It's such a gift. Even on the bad days.
--Eatting healthier. It's been so fun to find ways to eat healthier but stay under my calorie limit.
--I can't wait to start Jazzercise!!
--To try to focus on my sacrifices in Lent as a way to bring me closer to God, instead of focusing so much on the sacrifice itself!
--Plan my Children's Liturgy for this Sunday
--Update my picture wall before my Uppercase Living party
--Get a sitter for a date night with Ted
--Sign up for Jazzercise this Saturday and start my first class!
What have I accomplished recently?
--Stocked my kitchen with fresh fruits, vegetables and healthier foods
--Lost 5 pounds!!
--The Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. It went so smoothly!!
--Registered Abby for Softball
--Registered Ben for Kindergarten (Yikes!)
--Got caught up on laundry (huge feet!)
--Bought valentines for the kids to exchange
What have I said I was going to do, but haven't?
--Remember those pureed vegetables? After the failure with the mac n cheese, I've abandoned the remaining vegetables in the freezer. I just didn't feel the kids were getting that many vegetables anyway since half the kids didn't like the food I was hiding it in anyway (my picky boys don't eat ground beef or hamburgers)
--I'm doing some of my Rule from Mother's Rule of Life, but not all of it. I feel like I have a long way to go to be consistent on the house and other routines with the kids. I've made permanent changes to my prayer life that I remember to do almost daily but my day seems to just "happen" after that. I'll have to focus on this more.
What's been bugging me?
--Staying outside Ben's door until he falls asleep. Ted and I hardly have any time together in the evenings because one of us is putting all the kids down and sitting outside Ben's door until he falls asleep. Sometimes it can take an hour! It's a pain. Sam had us going through this, too. It will pass as everything else does.
--Mary's clinginess. She screams if I'm leaving and she hasn't gotten to say goodbye the million times she needs to before she feels ready to part from me. She's just going through a really tough time with separation and fears of being alone in any part of the house.
What's been bringing me joy?
--The show John and Kate plus 8! It always takes away any residue of self pity I might have.
--American Idol. I love that show, too.
--I'm just so happy that I get to be at home with my kids everyday. It's such a gift. Even on the bad days.
--Eatting healthier. It's been so fun to find ways to eat healthier but stay under my calorie limit.
--I can't wait to start Jazzercise!!
Monday, February 04, 2008
I Haven't Told You Yet....
For the past week I have been doing something I always thought would be excrutiatingly painful...something that always sounded like pure torture to me and just a plain mood killing thing to do...I am counting calories. I can't believe those words just came out of my mouth. Not only am I counting them, but I have figured what my weight and height need every day and I'm taking in 500 less...to lose weight. I really don't like being on diets. It takes a lot of motivation for me to go in that direction, but once I do, I'm really into it.
It started with Lent. What can I give up? How can I cut back in my areas of excess? Do I stop eating my Rainbow Chips Deluxe cookies? I'd really been addicted those and it was getting worse and worse. Instead of just 2 after lunch, I was eating 3-4...and instead of just after lunch, I would eat them as a midafternoon snack and and after dinner dessert. It had to stop.
Or should I give up icecream? It's always been my favorite evening treat when the kids were all in bed and I could fully indulge myself. For some reason, after a tough day, frozen custard (especially my favorite turtle sundae) always cheered me up. After Thanksgiving, I always have to sacrifice this indulgence, but would still grab Dairy Queen every now and then.
Maybe I should cut back on my portions? I often eat past being full and never think twice about another helping of bread. My worst behavior doesn't really happen with meals at home, but parties with appetizers, eating out, and anything that encourages me to eat more than I normally would.
Or should I just eat more healthy? I often throw a meal together and realize later that I did not serve a vegetable. I always make sure I have fruit, granola and yogurt around for the kids, but did I ever make an effort to eat it? No.
I decided to do it all. Not give it all up, but cut back drastically on what I eat in a day and make sure what I DO eat is good for me. I decided to find food that didn't make me feel like I was on a diet. My breakfast hasn't changed much, because it was already pretty healthy. However, with lunch, I've changed my ham into turkey. I've cut back on my mayo and changed it to "light". I'm making sure my wheat bread is 100% whole wheat and not just "made with whole wheat" (I didn't realize the difference!). My chips have turned into baked Lays or wheat thins. And guess what...no more cookies (unless I want to waste 80 calories on ONE FRICKIN' COOKIE!!!). When your counting, if you add one place, you can subtract somewhere else...but sometimes that's at a great cost and it's just not worth it!
My icecream has been replaced with fruit and yogurt sprinkled with granola cereal. YUM!! And I don't have to feel guilty eating it mid day! If I'm hungry for a snack, I eat an apple, banana, a 90 calorie granola bar, or wheat thins. It's a challenge to find things that don't rob me of my allotted 1300 calories a day. Salsa, lettuce greens, pickles, mustard, parmesan cheese...are all surprises that contain basically NO calories. So I'll pile on the greens with a little of Paul Newman's Sesame Ginger salad dressing!! It's so good. I sprinkle it with Feta cheese for extra flavor and when I have fresh veggies, I love red onions and peppers thrown in.
This has been going on for a week now, and despite some boughts of real hunger (I kept telling myself it was burning the fat), it's not been too bad. Since I'm not totally strict and will allow myself a little treat (half a brownie at my sisters and an errant cookie every now and then), I think it helps me go the long haul. I'd never make it if it was too strict. I know myself better than that. My real challenge is at get togethers. At a Superbowl party I went to, I tried to eat lightly the day of the party and then let myself snack on chips and salsa and veggies in light dip. I did treat myself to half a chocolate cake. I know I went over that night, but I allowed myself to slightly over without a pig out binge (which is my normal party behavior...especially where there is buffalo chicken dip...DAMN that stuff is addictive!!)
OK...I know I'm making you sick now. I try not to talk about dieting. Does ANYONE really want to hear about someone else's diet? NO! It makes you feel guilty and jealous of the person with all the self discipline. I will talk at great length with other dieters (my sister, Becky, is on the same diet). People would vomit if they heard our conversations. I reserve all that obsessive talk with her. And since Lent is coming up, I will blend in quite easily. I just couldn't wait until Ash Wednesday. My Catholic neighbor thinks it's silly that I'm not going to have a true Fat Tuesday. Oh well. You have to strike while the iron is hot.
There is still one piece to tell you. I want to exercise, too. I know...isn't it all maddening?? I'm doing things my way this time. I've tried the treadmill in my house. It doesn't work. Kids follow me, they want to play on the treadmill and in the evening I'm too tired. I've decided to get out of the house! I'm going to try Jazzercise. The recent 80's Dance reminded me how much I love to dance...and any exercise I do, MUST resemble dancing. That's Jazzercise! I'm going to sign up Saturday. Since aerobics is dying out, I can't find these classes anywhere...but Jazzercise is going strong! They have so many times to chose from, I feel good about being able to fit it in. I'm thinking about doing Tuesdays 5:25pm, Thursdays 4:25pm (have Sam and Abby watch the kids for the hour I'll be gone), and Saturdays at 9:30am. If something comes up to mess any of those times, I can go to an evening slot (not preferred) or use their day care and do a 9:30am slot (also not preferred). Since it's not going to a gym and running a treadmill, doing stairs or pumping iron, I think I will like it and actually enjoy it. I'm hoping that will be enough to keep me going. I don't want this to just be a Lent thing. I want it to be a life change.
So after a week on this diet, I've lost 5 pounds. I'm sure it will be slower going from here. That was too easy. It must have been all water or something. I doubt fat could burn that quickly! Plus, it's not healthy to keep that pace anyway. I'm sure my body was just shocked by healthy eating.
Ok. I've divulged it all. I'll try not to talk too much about it.
It started with Lent. What can I give up? How can I cut back in my areas of excess? Do I stop eating my Rainbow Chips Deluxe cookies? I'd really been addicted those and it was getting worse and worse. Instead of just 2 after lunch, I was eating 3-4...and instead of just after lunch, I would eat them as a midafternoon snack and and after dinner dessert. It had to stop.
Or should I give up icecream? It's always been my favorite evening treat when the kids were all in bed and I could fully indulge myself. For some reason, after a tough day, frozen custard (especially my favorite turtle sundae) always cheered me up. After Thanksgiving, I always have to sacrifice this indulgence, but would still grab Dairy Queen every now and then.
Maybe I should cut back on my portions? I often eat past being full and never think twice about another helping of bread. My worst behavior doesn't really happen with meals at home, but parties with appetizers, eating out, and anything that encourages me to eat more than I normally would.
Or should I just eat more healthy? I often throw a meal together and realize later that I did not serve a vegetable. I always make sure I have fruit, granola and yogurt around for the kids, but did I ever make an effort to eat it? No.
I decided to do it all. Not give it all up, but cut back drastically on what I eat in a day and make sure what I DO eat is good for me. I decided to find food that didn't make me feel like I was on a diet. My breakfast hasn't changed much, because it was already pretty healthy. However, with lunch, I've changed my ham into turkey. I've cut back on my mayo and changed it to "light". I'm making sure my wheat bread is 100% whole wheat and not just "made with whole wheat" (I didn't realize the difference!). My chips have turned into baked Lays or wheat thins. And guess what...no more cookies (unless I want to waste 80 calories on ONE FRICKIN' COOKIE!!!). When your counting, if you add one place, you can subtract somewhere else...but sometimes that's at a great cost and it's just not worth it!
My icecream has been replaced with fruit and yogurt sprinkled with granola cereal. YUM!! And I don't have to feel guilty eating it mid day! If I'm hungry for a snack, I eat an apple, banana, a 90 calorie granola bar, or wheat thins. It's a challenge to find things that don't rob me of my allotted 1300 calories a day. Salsa, lettuce greens, pickles, mustard, parmesan cheese...are all surprises that contain basically NO calories. So I'll pile on the greens with a little of Paul Newman's Sesame Ginger salad dressing!! It's so good. I sprinkle it with Feta cheese for extra flavor and when I have fresh veggies, I love red onions and peppers thrown in.
This has been going on for a week now, and despite some boughts of real hunger (I kept telling myself it was burning the fat), it's not been too bad. Since I'm not totally strict and will allow myself a little treat (half a brownie at my sisters and an errant cookie every now and then), I think it helps me go the long haul. I'd never make it if it was too strict. I know myself better than that. My real challenge is at get togethers. At a Superbowl party I went to, I tried to eat lightly the day of the party and then let myself snack on chips and salsa and veggies in light dip. I did treat myself to half a chocolate cake. I know I went over that night, but I allowed myself to slightly over without a pig out binge (which is my normal party behavior...especially where there is buffalo chicken dip...DAMN that stuff is addictive!!)
OK...I know I'm making you sick now. I try not to talk about dieting. Does ANYONE really want to hear about someone else's diet? NO! It makes you feel guilty and jealous of the person with all the self discipline. I will talk at great length with other dieters (my sister, Becky, is on the same diet). People would vomit if they heard our conversations. I reserve all that obsessive talk with her. And since Lent is coming up, I will blend in quite easily. I just couldn't wait until Ash Wednesday. My Catholic neighbor thinks it's silly that I'm not going to have a true Fat Tuesday. Oh well. You have to strike while the iron is hot.
There is still one piece to tell you. I want to exercise, too. I know...isn't it all maddening?? I'm doing things my way this time. I've tried the treadmill in my house. It doesn't work. Kids follow me, they want to play on the treadmill and in the evening I'm too tired. I've decided to get out of the house! I'm going to try Jazzercise. The recent 80's Dance reminded me how much I love to dance...and any exercise I do, MUST resemble dancing. That's Jazzercise! I'm going to sign up Saturday. Since aerobics is dying out, I can't find these classes anywhere...but Jazzercise is going strong! They have so many times to chose from, I feel good about being able to fit it in. I'm thinking about doing Tuesdays 5:25pm, Thursdays 4:25pm (have Sam and Abby watch the kids for the hour I'll be gone), and Saturdays at 9:30am. If something comes up to mess any of those times, I can go to an evening slot (not preferred) or use their day care and do a 9:30am slot (also not preferred). Since it's not going to a gym and running a treadmill, doing stairs or pumping iron, I think I will like it and actually enjoy it. I'm hoping that will be enough to keep me going. I don't want this to just be a Lent thing. I want it to be a life change.
So after a week on this diet, I've lost 5 pounds. I'm sure it will be slower going from here. That was too easy. It must have been all water or something. I doubt fat could burn that quickly! Plus, it's not healthy to keep that pace anyway. I'm sure my body was just shocked by healthy eating.
Ok. I've divulged it all. I'll try not to talk too much about it.
Friday, February 01, 2008
SNOW DAY!!!
Today the kids had a snow day. I love snow days. The excitement reminds me of when I was a kid and we prayed that school would be canceled after the slightest bit of snow. To find out that we could stay at home and play in the snow all day was such a thrill. And now I get to relive that through my kids. It's great to have them home. And although it can get hectic with the in and out, snow trampled in and melting on the floors, and the coats, hats, snowbibs and gloves going in and out of the dryer, it's still a refreshing change from the regular day.
I would have to say this year marks a first for us. All four kids equally participated in all the sled riding activities. It was Ben and Mary's first year sledding down a hill. I can't honestly remember them doing it last year. I know the older kids went out to a special hill, but I think I stayed home and watched Ben and Mary. I was so happy to get out there and document it this moment. Not only did I document it, but I also went down the hill on a snowboard with a handle (kind of like a scooter). It was so fun and exhilirating. I felt like a kid again! I love showing the kids a different side to me.
As lovely as it was, it wasn't all roses. Mary had a rough time and cried most of the time. She wanted a sled that was the neighbors, but couldn't have it. Ben was pretty good most of the time. Despite the tears, we had a great time. We were in our neighbors yard, so it was easy to scoop Mary up and take her home after I felt everyone had had enough listening to her whailing.
After the neighbors, Sam and Abby went to a friends house to sled, then I picked them up and we went to my sister, Lisa's, to eat dinner and then sled some more! What great sleep they will have tonight!
Ted is on retreat this weekend so I'm going at it alone. Sam has a basketball game tomorrow at 9am, and then I'm going to a fundraiser tea with my mom and sisters. Other than that, we are pretty free.
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