Oh when I put on my Supermom Jeans I felt powerful and energetic. After cutting my hair I felt like a brand-new woman!!! The tresses had to go. I haven't had a proper haircut in two years, maybe a quick trim - two at the most. That's a lot of time and a lot of damaged hair that held too many stresses. My hair was the longest it had ever been. As a society I believe we have taught many people that long hair usually equals a pretty factor. That there is pride in our locks and it shows we have willpower and patience to grow out our hair. Or people like me who just don't get around to the hairdresser. Believe me this haircut is long overdue and been on the to-do list for at least six months. My poor fantastic hubby patiently listened to every one of my complaints, whines, outbursts about this too long of hair. He listened as I yakked about how I pulled my hair (accidentally) and my son pulled on my hair (for sport), how the chairs would tug my hair and I would wake-up with headaches as I continually gave myself whiplash as I would roll over my hair and then try to pull my head up. Argh! And finally it was time. I called, I made an appointment and slashed it off my to do list. The stylist cut my hair within five minutes of my arrival and as soon as that scissor snipped my hair - angels sang and I smiled the mega-watt smile.
Because it wasn't just hair she cut. She helped my de-stress the tresses. That hair held heartache and worry as I would run my hands through my hair as I sang and whispered to my son in the NICU so many months ago. Those abandoned strands held pain and frustration as I tugged it into a messy bun after my hair being pulled yet again by one of the many sources. Those locks were loaded with guilt as I hid my face behind them in hopes to fade away from the world. There were some dark moments these last two years and those hairs held every memory of sadness, every second of anger, and every instance of worry. It held no joy because I keep that in my heart :) But the tresses were stressed and therefore became more stress.
Last night I slept like a baby as I drifted into the land of slumber roughly nine o'clock. Which is crazy unheard of behavior from me. Which meant I woke up early with energy. Not anger or frustration at the early rising but well rested and headache free. I was able to be at my daily goal of seven thousand steps before ten am as I had a work-out with the Bollywood Burn (newest dvd from the library ) and yes it did burn. I haven't worked-out besides walking in far too long of time. Good time to mix things up since I was a brand new me :) Then unto a walk with one of my favorite guys and canine :) Then for an encore this afternoon I was back to raking. I did a small section with my supermom jeans but without my stressful tresses I was able to conquer 2/3 of the yard. Yay!
Hair does tell a story. I love how a seasoned hair stylist can read your lifestyle by the state of your tresses. As we were deciding on cut and color (as I felt two years without a haircut meant there was room to splurge :) my stylist mentioned how I could pull off a lighter blonde as I had light hair as a kid. I did. But I thought that shade was long gone but she knew. She could tell how many countless tugs of ponytails and buns my hair experienced. But my hair was telling a different story that I no longer wanted to co-author. My tresses were displaying all my stresses and resentment and hurt and on and on. But these days I have a pep to my step and a sappy to my happy :) It was time to share that story with the world. Thank you tresses for being a long for the ride - but in the nicest way possible - GOOD RIDDANCE!
May your HealthFULL Journey eliminate the stresses, polish the tresses, and make you feel like a more joyful energized brand new version of yourself. 'Til we meet again. . .
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Friday, April 13, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Mrs. Mommy
My hubby Corey and I joke a lot - his sense of humor and mine just meld so we laugh and joke together a lot. Well in one of our jokefests he started to call me Mrs. Mommy. Which I giggled alongside him. But the nickname has stuck in my head as quite a poignant remark. Very rarely do I still feel Suzy for more than ten minutes at a time. Most of the time I feel like a Mrs. or Mommy and very often a Mrs. Mommy. As you read this it is important to know this - I count the reasons behind both of these titles my biggest blessings here on Earth. BUT...if I am to be completely honest wasn't my dream titles (I am so proud to be both today just not what I envisions years ago). Hear me out though. . .
Titles are funny things. We crave them. We work for them. We like to give them. We as humans love labels. They give us pecking orders. They give us futures to desire. They give us people to dislike or at least labels to pin the blame so we don't have to face that emotion factor. We tend to wear our titles for reasons of pride, classification, clarification, honor, and a million other reasons. It wasn't that I didn't want to be a wife nor a mom. I figured someday in my distant thirties I would most likely have a husband. And perhaps a child. But I really didn't "crave" either. There were three titles I have shared my desire for since I was young (when thirty seemed a distant future and not a recent memory). I wanted to Aunt Suzy (I have a theory that most people have an Uncle Bob or an Aunt Suzy - there was not extensive research and this was discovered from a small sample pool. But most people I know have an Uncle Bob or an Aunt Suzy). I enjoy kids. I think they are funny, nothing makes me feel more loved than cuddling with a youngster especially singing songs together or reading and find it fascinating to join forces with their creative minds. But I also enjoyed giving them back to their parents at the end of the day. This sounded like a great start to following my call of being an Aunt. (This dream did come true and I love my nieces and nephews - they are fabulous, precious, smart, creative, funny, sweet, kind, and beautiful. I am so grateful God answered my prayers on that front!) Another title I wanted to be was a Countess, an Italian Countess ( I <3 Italy!). I was serious about this career/lifestyle choice. For years I hired my perfect entourage - I had court jesters, I had garbage collectors, ladies in waiting, chefs, event planner, preacher - pretty much everyone but the actual Italian Count. When I was in eighth grade we had to do research for our future career. The guy who sat in front of me asked what I planned to be when I was a grown-up. I said I already know but the research will be hard. He asked me what I wanted to be. Straight answer " A countess". His reply "Is that like a female accountant?" And I looked at him strangely (I now as adult realize that probably should play out the other way), but in the brief exchange I realized two things. One) I simply had not shared my future intentions with enough people if this guy had no clue what I was talking about and Two) that not everyone saw this title as an average realistic option. So I ended up researching my third dream title for this eighth grade research project - a Broadway stage actor. I still haven't been to Italy (probably the best place to find an Italian Count - but I think my Louisiana Prince might get jealous :) But I did go to school for Theatre as my major which became my minor the second time around. I didn't make it to Broadway to perform but have performed (for money) in 5/50 states (MN, ND, MT, AK, and CA) and Canada. So we'll call that a 1/2 title realized - 50%. Not bad.
So you see I had what I thought were big dreams - big Suzy dreams. But I fell in love at nineteen - not puppy love that starts off amazing and fizzles usually just as dramatic. But to the core fell in head over heels full hearted completely committed true love. I got married at twenty-two and became a Mrs. . . in North Dakota. I wouldn't change it for the world. However, my thirteen year old version of myself saw a completely different picture - Italy was involved (which the full fantasy was to turn one of our Italian castles into an impressive internation theatre school), and my title wasn't Mrs. it would be Countess.
And the mommy factor. Whew! Not that I was against having children. It was always a future dream. We even dreamt in our early thirties we would like to have kids. Thats a great talk when you are twenty-four and married to a great partner. When you're thirty and pregnant, that dream talk a little too real. Which sounds after writing that line like we completely planned when we were having children - completely a God thing that shocked us out of the blue. I have had a lot of friends who have had a variety of female issues and conception is difficult if not impossible (but a few of those impossibles have been PLEASANTLY BLESSED! Praise God!) So, knowing this I figured God didn't burden my heart with desire because I honestly thought between my weight and other factors that I probably couldn't conceive at least without medical assistance. I was terrified of the responsibility of being a mom. As an aunt I figured I could only do minimal damage of anyone's psyche that could be repaired by their parents, selves, and God. But complete responsibility for another human being I found that frightening to a degree I can' even verbalize. My esteem like most areas of my life go extreme - I can do anything (like be an Italian Countess) or nothing right (which I kind of placed Mommyhood in that category for me).
I love my son. God granted (and my hubby helped) answer the deepest desire of my heart that I couldn't even vocalize. I wept for days when I took my first pregnancy test (while pregnant) and it showed a negative. I then hyperventilated when I took one three weeks later and there was a plus sign where I tried to tell my husband between hysterical tears that turned into hysterical laughter the news. In my defense, I had taken at least forty pregnancy tests in my lifetime and not once had there been a plus. Its a little surreal. Then to really throw me off my A-game, my son was eleven weeks early. If you know me I tend to run ten minutes late to everything and am a procrastinator to the hilt. And my son arrives not just early - but super early!!!
If I was to describe Suzy. I would say she's funny, fun, playful, creative, and a bit loud. But those words for Mrs. Mommy seem to be inappropriate. So sometimes, I feel lost; because of this ideal image I have for Mrs. Mommy. A woman who cares for her guys and takes care of them - perfectly. I forget the title may change what some people call me, but not who I am. I still am Suzy who just happens to be married to a great guy and the happiest little boy (seriously this kid giggles and smiles - ALL the time). I try to be organized and early as Mrs. Mommy. I try to cook, clean, and still look "relaxed". But as I try to be Mrs. Mommy I lose a little bit of Suzy who is the one who received those titles.
So what's in a name? Appearance, effort, but it doesn't change the person - at least its not supposed to. So here I write as Suzy who also happens to be Mrs. Mommy.
May you earn the titles life bestows you, but never forget the person you were when you received them. 'Til we meet again. . .
Titles are funny things. We crave them. We work for them. We like to give them. We as humans love labels. They give us pecking orders. They give us futures to desire. They give us people to dislike or at least labels to pin the blame so we don't have to face that emotion factor. We tend to wear our titles for reasons of pride, classification, clarification, honor, and a million other reasons. It wasn't that I didn't want to be a wife nor a mom. I figured someday in my distant thirties I would most likely have a husband. And perhaps a child. But I really didn't "crave" either. There were three titles I have shared my desire for since I was young (when thirty seemed a distant future and not a recent memory). I wanted to Aunt Suzy (I have a theory that most people have an Uncle Bob or an Aunt Suzy - there was not extensive research and this was discovered from a small sample pool. But most people I know have an Uncle Bob or an Aunt Suzy). I enjoy kids. I think they are funny, nothing makes me feel more loved than cuddling with a youngster especially singing songs together or reading and find it fascinating to join forces with their creative minds. But I also enjoyed giving them back to their parents at the end of the day. This sounded like a great start to following my call of being an Aunt. (This dream did come true and I love my nieces and nephews - they are fabulous, precious, smart, creative, funny, sweet, kind, and beautiful. I am so grateful God answered my prayers on that front!) Another title I wanted to be was a Countess, an Italian Countess ( I <3 Italy!). I was serious about this career/lifestyle choice. For years I hired my perfect entourage - I had court jesters, I had garbage collectors, ladies in waiting, chefs, event planner, preacher - pretty much everyone but the actual Italian Count. When I was in eighth grade we had to do research for our future career. The guy who sat in front of me asked what I planned to be when I was a grown-up. I said I already know but the research will be hard. He asked me what I wanted to be. Straight answer " A countess". His reply "Is that like a female accountant?" And I looked at him strangely (I now as adult realize that probably should play out the other way), but in the brief exchange I realized two things. One) I simply had not shared my future intentions with enough people if this guy had no clue what I was talking about and Two) that not everyone saw this title as an average realistic option. So I ended up researching my third dream title for this eighth grade research project - a Broadway stage actor. I still haven't been to Italy (probably the best place to find an Italian Count - but I think my Louisiana Prince might get jealous :) But I did go to school for Theatre as my major which became my minor the second time around. I didn't make it to Broadway to perform but have performed (for money) in 5/50 states (MN, ND, MT, AK, and CA) and Canada. So we'll call that a 1/2 title realized - 50%. Not bad.
So you see I had what I thought were big dreams - big Suzy dreams. But I fell in love at nineteen - not puppy love that starts off amazing and fizzles usually just as dramatic. But to the core fell in head over heels full hearted completely committed true love. I got married at twenty-two and became a Mrs. . . in North Dakota. I wouldn't change it for the world. However, my thirteen year old version of myself saw a completely different picture - Italy was involved (which the full fantasy was to turn one of our Italian castles into an impressive internation theatre school), and my title wasn't Mrs. it would be Countess.
And the mommy factor. Whew! Not that I was against having children. It was always a future dream. We even dreamt in our early thirties we would like to have kids. Thats a great talk when you are twenty-four and married to a great partner. When you're thirty and pregnant, that dream talk a little too real. Which sounds after writing that line like we completely planned when we were having children - completely a God thing that shocked us out of the blue. I have had a lot of friends who have had a variety of female issues and conception is difficult if not impossible (but a few of those impossibles have been PLEASANTLY BLESSED! Praise God!) So, knowing this I figured God didn't burden my heart with desire because I honestly thought between my weight and other factors that I probably couldn't conceive at least without medical assistance. I was terrified of the responsibility of being a mom. As an aunt I figured I could only do minimal damage of anyone's psyche that could be repaired by their parents, selves, and God. But complete responsibility for another human being I found that frightening to a degree I can' even verbalize. My esteem like most areas of my life go extreme - I can do anything (like be an Italian Countess) or nothing right (which I kind of placed Mommyhood in that category for me).
I love my son. God granted (and my hubby helped) answer the deepest desire of my heart that I couldn't even vocalize. I wept for days when I took my first pregnancy test (while pregnant) and it showed a negative. I then hyperventilated when I took one three weeks later and there was a plus sign where I tried to tell my husband between hysterical tears that turned into hysterical laughter the news. In my defense, I had taken at least forty pregnancy tests in my lifetime and not once had there been a plus. Its a little surreal. Then to really throw me off my A-game, my son was eleven weeks early. If you know me I tend to run ten minutes late to everything and am a procrastinator to the hilt. And my son arrives not just early - but super early!!!
If I was to describe Suzy. I would say she's funny, fun, playful, creative, and a bit loud. But those words for Mrs. Mommy seem to be inappropriate. So sometimes, I feel lost; because of this ideal image I have for Mrs. Mommy. A woman who cares for her guys and takes care of them - perfectly. I forget the title may change what some people call me, but not who I am. I still am Suzy who just happens to be married to a great guy and the happiest little boy (seriously this kid giggles and smiles - ALL the time). I try to be organized and early as Mrs. Mommy. I try to cook, clean, and still look "relaxed". But as I try to be Mrs. Mommy I lose a little bit of Suzy who is the one who received those titles.
So what's in a name? Appearance, effort, but it doesn't change the person - at least its not supposed to. So here I write as Suzy who also happens to be Mrs. Mommy.
May you earn the titles life bestows you, but never forget the person you were when you received them. 'Til we meet again. . .
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sometimes you have to just try. . .
Aren't Sundays nice? Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. I do love the family day aspect and I am lucky enough to work a job that I can enjoy every Sunday afternoon with my loved ones. My hubby unfortunately does not have that luxury. He tries to take this day off as often as possible so that we can have a family day but as he works as a department manager for a grocery store he tries to be fair and let others also enjoy the day with their families. (He really is a good guy like that :) But I love when we can get up as family, get ready for church and worship together. Well here is the part when you just have to try. I have been an overprotective (with many many reasons - some good some just first time mom jitters :) mom of our little one. I haven't let my little guy out of my sight too often unless relatives have been around. I did try one time recently to drop my son off in a church nursery but I knew the caregiver and he was playing with one of his cousins. But today we did the big moment. We dropped off our little boy who is growing up way too fast with our church nursery. And both him and his mommy did great! He dove to one of the caregiver's arms for a cuddle (which lasted almost the entire hour :) And I'll admit a little bit of jealousy - it was really nice to sit with my hubby the ENTIRE church service including the whole sermon! It has been awhile since we have been able to do that since we have a babblin' toddler. Our son tends to have something LOUD to say just about the same time our pastor wants to start his sermon. So me and my little guy have tried to discreetly slip out so we can crawl and babble without competition. So that was successful attempt number one.
Our other milestone as a family was to have our son drink out of a straw. I tried to teach this feat quite awhile ago with little luck. Do you know how hard it is to demonstrate to a very young child how to suck up a drink through a straw? It is kind of like magic. Watch mommy put her lips around her straw. That is a pretty easy step to demonstrate. However the next step and the more important step a little challenging to teach. Now see how mommy sucks water through the non-clear straw. No you didn't see that? So without thinking about this lesson I just carried sippy cups in his bag. But play the disaster music in your head - dun dun dun - as a family we were going out to eat after church and major obstacle. I forgot to pack a sippy cup :( Oh no!!! We can't ask our kid to not have anything to drink since before church - eat lunch - and run errands without any beverage. So with a nervous request to the server we asked for a kids water. And wait for it - sure enough it comes with a straw - and the cup is pretty flimsy to attempt to drink from (and that takes a lot of rhythm and timing - not my strong suit). So nervously I hold the sippy cup in front of my son - angle the straw towards him - and success (play celebratory music)! What? When did this guy pick up such a tricky skill? I'll confess after a unsuccessful attempt the first time I figured let's chalk off this skill for a good couple of years and try again when we both speak the same language fluently :) But no today was the day to drink from a straw because we simply tried.
It's a long story for a simple concept - but aren't we all guilty of writing ourselves off or others because the first try wasn't a marvelous success. Many of us have tried many diets and say to ourselves after the last defeat " It's not going to happen for me. " Or perhaps we look for a job and go on many interviews that end with the all too common "We appreciate your interest but have decided to go another route - blah blah blah" . Its hard not to get discouraged. Especially it seems the harder you try or the more you want something the deeper "the failure" wounds your spirit. I like to get things right the first time. I like to be that star rookie who was meant to complete a certain challenge. But you only get a few times in your life to have that moment. And if we wait only for what we believe to be our guaranteed success stories we all tend to wait a little too long on the sidelines and miss those moments of learning that actually triple our chances of success, happiness, and opportunities that are far better than what we could even imagine. This message "Sometimes you have to just try..." is the foundation of why I write this blog. I realized that several years ago for too many years I had let fear not only control my choices but paralyze me from attempting almost anything. So slowly I began to challenge myself. Share my weight. Share my struggles. Attempt activities that seemed impossible. And to not be afraid of falling or failing. And even if I was to be afraid (because I am me through this whole journey and I can be a bit of scaredy cat!) to not let my fear paralyze me and keep from living. I have fallen many times on this journey. Sometimes, I have taken myself off the path and hid in the bushes for what seems forever. But then I remember I don't have to achieve guaranteed success in ALL of my attempts but that sometimes I do have to just try. . .
May your HealthFULL (Fully Understand Life by Living) Journey celebrate your successess especially the successes that came after many attempts, challenges, and the occasional heartbreak. 'Til we meet again . . .
Our other milestone as a family was to have our son drink out of a straw. I tried to teach this feat quite awhile ago with little luck. Do you know how hard it is to demonstrate to a very young child how to suck up a drink through a straw? It is kind of like magic. Watch mommy put her lips around her straw. That is a pretty easy step to demonstrate. However the next step and the more important step a little challenging to teach. Now see how mommy sucks water through the non-clear straw. No you didn't see that? So without thinking about this lesson I just carried sippy cups in his bag. But play the disaster music in your head - dun dun dun - as a family we were going out to eat after church and major obstacle. I forgot to pack a sippy cup :( Oh no!!! We can't ask our kid to not have anything to drink since before church - eat lunch - and run errands without any beverage. So with a nervous request to the server we asked for a kids water. And wait for it - sure enough it comes with a straw - and the cup is pretty flimsy to attempt to drink from (and that takes a lot of rhythm and timing - not my strong suit). So nervously I hold the sippy cup in front of my son - angle the straw towards him - and success (play celebratory music)! What? When did this guy pick up such a tricky skill? I'll confess after a unsuccessful attempt the first time I figured let's chalk off this skill for a good couple of years and try again when we both speak the same language fluently :) But no today was the day to drink from a straw because we simply tried.
It's a long story for a simple concept - but aren't we all guilty of writing ourselves off or others because the first try wasn't a marvelous success. Many of us have tried many diets and say to ourselves after the last defeat " It's not going to happen for me. " Or perhaps we look for a job and go on many interviews that end with the all too common "We appreciate your interest but have decided to go another route - blah blah blah" . Its hard not to get discouraged. Especially it seems the harder you try or the more you want something the deeper "the failure" wounds your spirit. I like to get things right the first time. I like to be that star rookie who was meant to complete a certain challenge. But you only get a few times in your life to have that moment. And if we wait only for what we believe to be our guaranteed success stories we all tend to wait a little too long on the sidelines and miss those moments of learning that actually triple our chances of success, happiness, and opportunities that are far better than what we could even imagine. This message "Sometimes you have to just try..." is the foundation of why I write this blog. I realized that several years ago for too many years I had let fear not only control my choices but paralyze me from attempting almost anything. So slowly I began to challenge myself. Share my weight. Share my struggles. Attempt activities that seemed impossible. And to not be afraid of falling or failing. And even if I was to be afraid (because I am me through this whole journey and I can be a bit of scaredy cat!) to not let my fear paralyze me and keep from living. I have fallen many times on this journey. Sometimes, I have taken myself off the path and hid in the bushes for what seems forever. But then I remember I don't have to achieve guaranteed success in ALL of my attempts but that sometimes I do have to just try. . .
May your HealthFULL (Fully Understand Life by Living) Journey celebrate your successess especially the successes that came after many attempts, challenges, and the occasional heartbreak. 'Til we meet again . . .
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Under Construction!!!
Oh don't you just cringe at the sign "Detour Ahead"? Blech! And we all have our gripes about road construction. But usually we all want the end results. Yes we want the wider interstates so there will be less traffic jams and hopefully LESS car accidents. But we hate the inconvenience. I want the awesome results just don't mess up my daily routine to get them, right?
Well as I tend to call this my healthFULL journey I am learning that I want the end results but that means I have to put in the extra work of adding detours and mapping out my new blueprints. You don't go from 300+ pounds and in two weeks at optimum health looking great in a bikini. (Although there are a lot of diet pills, scams, and books that want you to believe ANYTHING is possible ;) But if I want the end result to be better for the future that means some uncomfortable detours now.
First I have to listen to my body of today. Yes I want my future lifestyle to include healthy eating and exercise to be my daily fun not my daily chore. Its getting there, somedays I feel I am there at the end of the construction project and other days I look in the mirror and say "DANGER AHEAD!" . So first I have to eat for this body of today. Not the one I had two years ago and need to let go of those comfort foods of past (pop/soda, chips, and sweet pastries) and I look forward to craving my daily needs of beans, greens, and little meat. But not quite there. Too much health food might have me running back towards the comforts of the past :) I ate chinese two nights in a row. Oh many of you know how I crave those sweet sauces, and fried tastiness. How does this fit into my new blueprint. One night we ordered in and one night we cooked it ourselves. Our version twenty times tastier than the delivery version. I don't know how fresh the restaurant's food is but I know exactly the freshness and what ingredients we cooked with.
I want to get more active and I wish I could say that my family never overlooks the beauty of a beautiful day. Today was a gorgeous day for a family walk. We however ended up taking a family nap. Which also can be healthy. Obviously, we all needed a bit of extra sleep. This is something we should either adjust at night or that we all do have a tish of a bug. I am getting over a cold and my sweet darling son decided to puke on me three times in a row (there is nothing worse than sour milk). It actually was this last incident that made me think of the detours we need to take for the betterment of our later journey. His second bath for the night and my evening shower weren't necessarily on our agenda but when a detour pops up sometimes we don't have a choice but to follow.
It would have been easy to say after the low key day and not feeling a hundred percent to say oh phooey to the exercise portion. But after two suppers of Chinese food back to back - my body kind of begged for a little health stop. So I checked my pedometer at 11 pm and still had about 1500 steps to equal at least my regular daily goal of 7000+ steps. This had me exercise for my body of today and not for the ideal road conditions of the future or the abandonment of the past. I didn't grab shoes, or a sweat towel and honestly just stayed in pjs and began to pace my house. With a steady non-quick pace in twenty minutes I was able to check on my son, switch over laundry from the "sick" incident, straighten a couple of things in the kitchen, and manage to walk my 1500 steps to complete my daily goal. Yes, I could have easily finished those couple of things in less than two hundred steps and call it a night. But if I want different results I need to approach things differently so in my mind it was time for a detour.
It isn't easy to change old patterns of comfort into healthy routines but with a few detours and adjustments along the way; I have the utmost confidence we can all maximize our HealthFULL Journeys.
May your path conditions improve with the help of detours that encourage hope for a better life. 'Til we meet again. . .
Well as I tend to call this my healthFULL journey I am learning that I want the end results but that means I have to put in the extra work of adding detours and mapping out my new blueprints. You don't go from 300+ pounds and in two weeks at optimum health looking great in a bikini. (Although there are a lot of diet pills, scams, and books that want you to believe ANYTHING is possible ;) But if I want the end result to be better for the future that means some uncomfortable detours now.
First I have to listen to my body of today. Yes I want my future lifestyle to include healthy eating and exercise to be my daily fun not my daily chore. Its getting there, somedays I feel I am there at the end of the construction project and other days I look in the mirror and say "DANGER AHEAD!" . So first I have to eat for this body of today. Not the one I had two years ago and need to let go of those comfort foods of past (pop/soda, chips, and sweet pastries) and I look forward to craving my daily needs of beans, greens, and little meat. But not quite there. Too much health food might have me running back towards the comforts of the past :) I ate chinese two nights in a row. Oh many of you know how I crave those sweet sauces, and fried tastiness. How does this fit into my new blueprint. One night we ordered in and one night we cooked it ourselves. Our version twenty times tastier than the delivery version. I don't know how fresh the restaurant's food is but I know exactly the freshness and what ingredients we cooked with.
I want to get more active and I wish I could say that my family never overlooks the beauty of a beautiful day. Today was a gorgeous day for a family walk. We however ended up taking a family nap. Which also can be healthy. Obviously, we all needed a bit of extra sleep. This is something we should either adjust at night or that we all do have a tish of a bug. I am getting over a cold and my sweet darling son decided to puke on me three times in a row (there is nothing worse than sour milk). It actually was this last incident that made me think of the detours we need to take for the betterment of our later journey. His second bath for the night and my evening shower weren't necessarily on our agenda but when a detour pops up sometimes we don't have a choice but to follow.
It would have been easy to say after the low key day and not feeling a hundred percent to say oh phooey to the exercise portion. But after two suppers of Chinese food back to back - my body kind of begged for a little health stop. So I checked my pedometer at 11 pm and still had about 1500 steps to equal at least my regular daily goal of 7000+ steps. This had me exercise for my body of today and not for the ideal road conditions of the future or the abandonment of the past. I didn't grab shoes, or a sweat towel and honestly just stayed in pjs and began to pace my house. With a steady non-quick pace in twenty minutes I was able to check on my son, switch over laundry from the "sick" incident, straighten a couple of things in the kitchen, and manage to walk my 1500 steps to complete my daily goal. Yes, I could have easily finished those couple of things in less than two hundred steps and call it a night. But if I want different results I need to approach things differently so in my mind it was time for a detour.
It isn't easy to change old patterns of comfort into healthy routines but with a few detours and adjustments along the way; I have the utmost confidence we can all maximize our HealthFULL Journeys.
May your path conditions improve with the help of detours that encourage hope for a better life. 'Til we meet again. . .
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Power down! Deal with it. . .
Oh if the world truly graded our efforts and not the end result both my hubby and I would have A's for the day. But instead we grabbed our remote flipped on our newest episode of "The Chew" and stuffed our faces with Chinese food. This wasn't the plan but then every attempt of a schedule or plan for today met with obstacle, snub, or just plain didn't happen. We tried. Both of us. In our own way to make today a great day but pffffffffffffft was much of the reply.
I woke up to the sound of an unhappy baby at six a.m. I went to check up sound asleep. Back to bed for mommy. Then seven-thirty one blare of a scream with no follow up. I took it as an early alarm that would allow me a chance to get ready for the day. These are rare moments that I can piece together two thoughts to kind of get a plan for the day. So I was grateful and got ready. No more awake sound in the first thirty minutes. Awesome I am on a roll. This mama is going to get some breakfast together. Another fifteen minutes pass and still silence. Now frustrated because I probably could have gotten a work-out in. And then - yup - there it is the scream of a disgruntled morning toddler. Drop everything and immediately head to the crib. It's like the gunshot at a race to start my crazy day. On your marks get set - GO! Already point down -wet bed. Boo! But no problem an extra load of laundry on the to - do list. Will get in the wash later as we have a hungry boy on our hands - grab today's outfit. Then a quick breakfast and we begin the baby olympics to burn off energy. Up the stairs like a rocket (he doesn't walk but give him a set of stairs and he can move!)
Oh no - stinky meter rising as we climb the steps. Quick descent with the help of mom unto clean diaper. Then to the fridge to play with our magnets. Really? Stink meter is going off again - not a good sign - maybe false alarm - oh no no no! Definitely not a false alarm. Unhappy baby changed again and then walking with assistance. Going to impress our Early Interventionist who is due in three minutes...oh no sleepy baby has struck down my boy. We are rubbing our eyes, yawning, and becoming a limp noodle unresponsive to even the tickle monster. Our E.I. arrives and the little boy is exhausted. Wake up baby boy you get to play with someone besides mommy with new toys - YAY! Slowly he responds until he finds the bubbles. He is quickly revived and enjoys "popping" bubbles in the living room. Yay! Next round of breakfast and sleepy boy hits. Good timing. I sneak him into his crib with a few protests and then golden silence.
I slip into my work-out clothes, grab my water bottle and reaching my hand out for the stairwell. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Seriously? I drop off the water bottle enter the doorway of our son's room and wha....*gag* never mind figured out what woke you up. New diaper time. Oh and look not ready for a nap now. Let's go and play in the living room. We need a quiet activity. Sesame Street it is. *world judge me if you must - I know children under two shouldn't watch tv and my response I don't do it everyday. And when he does he rarely gets more than one Sesame Street episode a day. I say rarely because today he did - and there are just worse crimes in the world than a two sesame street episode in a day*. I got some paperwork done and some little cleaning jobs. And the kid was exhausted. We grabbed milk and listened to some music and tried a nap again. Not very happy nor cooperative but we finally reached the silence stage of the house again. I grabbed my bottle and headed upstairs. Who knew how long this nap would take so I paid a couple of bills due on the computer and turned on my Wii Fitness.
Error message - Wii Remote needs replacement batteries. No problem I'll just grab a couple and pop them in. In the zone let's get our sweat on. Wait Error message. Just replaced the batteries - oh no the Wii board needs battery replacements. Grin and bear it. I'll just go and grab some more batteries. Okay they're replaced. Let's weigh in - and the Wii cursor is stuck on the screen. Why? Oh you've got to be kidding. The wireless remote sensor needs charging. Hear this message world : I am working out today! So throw me your obstacle course but I am even more determined - battery replacement, upset child, and uncharged sensor - pull it together. Yay success - I've lost 5.3 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks. *happy dance* Caught last night's "Parenthood" while I stepped my way through thirty minutes. Bye bye 200 calories - hello guilt free afternoon. Wait is it still silent? I am grabbing me some lunch. Two meals in quiet - wowsers! Still quiet I am going to actually sit on the computer for fun. Sitting down. . . .and yes there is the cry that my lunch hour bell has dinged - finished. Back to baby duty. Coming love.
Lunch is ready to be served. Oh we did not like the lunch menu that we have previously loved. Carrots not on the baby's menu today - however you can find carrots on my floor, in his high chair and I am pretty sure on my piano. Awesome! Let's play some more. Oooh checked the clock daddy will be home soon. Should straighten the house a tish and get baby laundry in the washer. This requires a bit of movement on mommy's part in different rooms. So let's place the baby in his crib to play with a couple of his favorite toys. eight minutes tops! Well look my mother in law is at the door as she is helping my hubby go pick up our car in the shop(stupid battery - wait is that this week's theme that no one told me about - power down - work around it). I would help but out of two vehichles only one is baby friendly. The other is a truck.... with an air bag. So no go - and no hubby at this point. No problem. Ahh the sound of hubby's arrival and the squeals of delight from our son. (Everyone in the world lied to me. When I was pregnant and shared I was having a boy. Everyone smiled and said - oh the relationship between a mother and son is so precious. No one mentioned that its precious but won't compare to a daddy's boy which we 100% have. Which I adore - but slightly get jealous of - especially the "rougher" days. Mommy = tears - Daddy = giggles of delight. Sorry for the tangent!) So quick stop just enough to hear that hubby was late but most likely had to return to work because the store lost power as he was leaving - COME ON WORLD!!! Our son was kind of sad to see his daddy go so soon. So yup Sesame Street it is again. I never do this. But if the world is going to bring me down, turn off most of my power -then I will do what I can to finish the day with a smile on mine and my son's face. And I wouldn't change our second episode. I got toddler cuddles for almost an hour. And that was a pick me up I definitely needed. We played unto dinner. Guess what peas were not on my son's wish list for the day either. More of these in my son's chair than his belly. I even gave it the yummy in my tummy with thumbs up and lots of smiles after obnoxiously cheerful big bites. (p.s. I am not a fan of peas. I will eat them mixed into other dishes and enjoy a good pea soup. but eating straight up peas = unhappiness. Maybe it reminds me of a Canadian Anglican Priest shooting them at me across the dinner table but I'll stop with that tangent as well.) He did agree to a few bites. Some more floor play - tickle session - he loves this falling down game on the bed - we played that. Oh look bath time YAY!
Bath time almost broke me. I was setting up a couple of items and Drew was playing with the hair rinser. (A pitcher that has a flexible top to bend around the head to keep from soap dripping in his eyes or water down his face. ) I didn't realize he was actually pulling water out of the tub until the second attempt. When water went sloshing all over the bath mat. And as I reached for him he got in a third fill-up and shared that with the toilet seat cover and waterfall effect over the other side of the toilet. Oh this awesome day gets better and better. Now we have WATERWORLD. And I haven't even attempted washing down the baby yet. YAY! So I grabbed the not wet but SOAKING (could he have really filled the pitcher all three times - as much water as I was cleaning - possibly!) bath mat and toilet seat cover and to the washer they go. Throw down a couple of towels to mop up extra water. Phone rings hubby can finally return home. Power has been restored and product was back on the shelves. I begged for chinese. I was a weak woman who didn't have plans of cooking and I could tell my hubby didn't have plans for cooking either. Chinese it is! With a vigor to my step as my better half was soon on the way home with a piping hot supper. Onward to bath time. We got through bathtime okay. He was like a seal pup that kept sliding through my hands and his trick was to splash "the audience" meaning mommy and the rest of the bathroom with his own created typhoon while I wrangled him into sitting positions between scrubbing and rinsing. I should have worn a swimsuit.
But we made it to pjs and our nightly bottle. Hallelujah! So no not the day I planned. Not an everyday kind of day in hopes to see results on the healthier side of things. But a good day with a 100% survival rate. I shared today because it was a real day trying my best. I tend to blog when I am on the successful side of things. I am usually on a high and want to share my good news. Sometimes I am on a down day trying to pick myself up. But there are those in between days - like today - where there are some great highlights (down five pounds and got a 30 minute work-out in even with some obstacles) - but some not great choices (like chinese food with sauces and fried foods). These days are a part of the journey. I constantly strive for improvement (well perfection if I am honest but I am working on IMPROVING my unrealistic expectations :) but settle for doing the best I can , with what I have, where I am. And today I was home stranded without a vehichle with a cranky energetic little boy missing my better-half and a craving for Chinese food.
May your HealthFULL Journey include the unscripted moments so that you can really see the new you emerging. Because when the power goes down we all have to deal with it. "Til we meet again. . .
I woke up to the sound of an unhappy baby at six a.m. I went to check up sound asleep. Back to bed for mommy. Then seven-thirty one blare of a scream with no follow up. I took it as an early alarm that would allow me a chance to get ready for the day. These are rare moments that I can piece together two thoughts to kind of get a plan for the day. So I was grateful and got ready. No more awake sound in the first thirty minutes. Awesome I am on a roll. This mama is going to get some breakfast together. Another fifteen minutes pass and still silence. Now frustrated because I probably could have gotten a work-out in. And then - yup - there it is the scream of a disgruntled morning toddler. Drop everything and immediately head to the crib. It's like the gunshot at a race to start my crazy day. On your marks get set - GO! Already point down -wet bed. Boo! But no problem an extra load of laundry on the to - do list. Will get in the wash later as we have a hungry boy on our hands - grab today's outfit. Then a quick breakfast and we begin the baby olympics to burn off energy. Up the stairs like a rocket (he doesn't walk but give him a set of stairs and he can move!)
Oh no - stinky meter rising as we climb the steps. Quick descent with the help of mom unto clean diaper. Then to the fridge to play with our magnets. Really? Stink meter is going off again - not a good sign - maybe false alarm - oh no no no! Definitely not a false alarm. Unhappy baby changed again and then walking with assistance. Going to impress our Early Interventionist who is due in three minutes...oh no sleepy baby has struck down my boy. We are rubbing our eyes, yawning, and becoming a limp noodle unresponsive to even the tickle monster. Our E.I. arrives and the little boy is exhausted. Wake up baby boy you get to play with someone besides mommy with new toys - YAY! Slowly he responds until he finds the bubbles. He is quickly revived and enjoys "popping" bubbles in the living room. Yay! Next round of breakfast and sleepy boy hits. Good timing. I sneak him into his crib with a few protests and then golden silence.
I slip into my work-out clothes, grab my water bottle and reaching my hand out for the stairwell. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Seriously? I drop off the water bottle enter the doorway of our son's room and wha....*gag* never mind figured out what woke you up. New diaper time. Oh and look not ready for a nap now. Let's go and play in the living room. We need a quiet activity. Sesame Street it is. *world judge me if you must - I know children under two shouldn't watch tv and my response I don't do it everyday. And when he does he rarely gets more than one Sesame Street episode a day. I say rarely because today he did - and there are just worse crimes in the world than a two sesame street episode in a day*. I got some paperwork done and some little cleaning jobs. And the kid was exhausted. We grabbed milk and listened to some music and tried a nap again. Not very happy nor cooperative but we finally reached the silence stage of the house again. I grabbed my bottle and headed upstairs. Who knew how long this nap would take so I paid a couple of bills due on the computer and turned on my Wii Fitness.
Error message - Wii Remote needs replacement batteries. No problem I'll just grab a couple and pop them in. In the zone let's get our sweat on. Wait Error message. Just replaced the batteries - oh no the Wii board needs battery replacements. Grin and bear it. I'll just go and grab some more batteries. Okay they're replaced. Let's weigh in - and the Wii cursor is stuck on the screen. Why? Oh you've got to be kidding. The wireless remote sensor needs charging. Hear this message world : I am working out today! So throw me your obstacle course but I am even more determined - battery replacement, upset child, and uncharged sensor - pull it together. Yay success - I've lost 5.3 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks. *happy dance* Caught last night's "Parenthood" while I stepped my way through thirty minutes. Bye bye 200 calories - hello guilt free afternoon. Wait is it still silent? I am grabbing me some lunch. Two meals in quiet - wowsers! Still quiet I am going to actually sit on the computer for fun. Sitting down. . . .and yes there is the cry that my lunch hour bell has dinged - finished. Back to baby duty. Coming love.
Lunch is ready to be served. Oh we did not like the lunch menu that we have previously loved. Carrots not on the baby's menu today - however you can find carrots on my floor, in his high chair and I am pretty sure on my piano. Awesome! Let's play some more. Oooh checked the clock daddy will be home soon. Should straighten the house a tish and get baby laundry in the washer. This requires a bit of movement on mommy's part in different rooms. So let's place the baby in his crib to play with a couple of his favorite toys. eight minutes tops! Well look my mother in law is at the door as she is helping my hubby go pick up our car in the shop(stupid battery - wait is that this week's theme that no one told me about - power down - work around it). I would help but out of two vehichles only one is baby friendly. The other is a truck.... with an air bag. So no go - and no hubby at this point. No problem. Ahh the sound of hubby's arrival and the squeals of delight from our son. (Everyone in the world lied to me. When I was pregnant and shared I was having a boy. Everyone smiled and said - oh the relationship between a mother and son is so precious. No one mentioned that its precious but won't compare to a daddy's boy which we 100% have. Which I adore - but slightly get jealous of - especially the "rougher" days. Mommy = tears - Daddy = giggles of delight. Sorry for the tangent!) So quick stop just enough to hear that hubby was late but most likely had to return to work because the store lost power as he was leaving - COME ON WORLD!!! Our son was kind of sad to see his daddy go so soon. So yup Sesame Street it is again. I never do this. But if the world is going to bring me down, turn off most of my power -then I will do what I can to finish the day with a smile on mine and my son's face. And I wouldn't change our second episode. I got toddler cuddles for almost an hour. And that was a pick me up I definitely needed. We played unto dinner. Guess what peas were not on my son's wish list for the day either. More of these in my son's chair than his belly. I even gave it the yummy in my tummy with thumbs up and lots of smiles after obnoxiously cheerful big bites. (p.s. I am not a fan of peas. I will eat them mixed into other dishes and enjoy a good pea soup. but eating straight up peas = unhappiness. Maybe it reminds me of a Canadian Anglican Priest shooting them at me across the dinner table but I'll stop with that tangent as well.) He did agree to a few bites. Some more floor play - tickle session - he loves this falling down game on the bed - we played that. Oh look bath time YAY!
Bath time almost broke me. I was setting up a couple of items and Drew was playing with the hair rinser. (A pitcher that has a flexible top to bend around the head to keep from soap dripping in his eyes or water down his face. ) I didn't realize he was actually pulling water out of the tub until the second attempt. When water went sloshing all over the bath mat. And as I reached for him he got in a third fill-up and shared that with the toilet seat cover and waterfall effect over the other side of the toilet. Oh this awesome day gets better and better. Now we have WATERWORLD. And I haven't even attempted washing down the baby yet. YAY! So I grabbed the not wet but SOAKING (could he have really filled the pitcher all three times - as much water as I was cleaning - possibly!) bath mat and toilet seat cover and to the washer they go. Throw down a couple of towels to mop up extra water. Phone rings hubby can finally return home. Power has been restored and product was back on the shelves. I begged for chinese. I was a weak woman who didn't have plans of cooking and I could tell my hubby didn't have plans for cooking either. Chinese it is! With a vigor to my step as my better half was soon on the way home with a piping hot supper. Onward to bath time. We got through bathtime okay. He was like a seal pup that kept sliding through my hands and his trick was to splash "the audience" meaning mommy and the rest of the bathroom with his own created typhoon while I wrangled him into sitting positions between scrubbing and rinsing. I should have worn a swimsuit.
But we made it to pjs and our nightly bottle. Hallelujah! So no not the day I planned. Not an everyday kind of day in hopes to see results on the healthier side of things. But a good day with a 100% survival rate. I shared today because it was a real day trying my best. I tend to blog when I am on the successful side of things. I am usually on a high and want to share my good news. Sometimes I am on a down day trying to pick myself up. But there are those in between days - like today - where there are some great highlights (down five pounds and got a 30 minute work-out in even with some obstacles) - but some not great choices (like chinese food with sauces and fried foods). These days are a part of the journey. I constantly strive for improvement (well perfection if I am honest but I am working on IMPROVING my unrealistic expectations :) but settle for doing the best I can , with what I have, where I am. And today I was home stranded without a vehichle with a cranky energetic little boy missing my better-half and a craving for Chinese food.
May your HealthFULL Journey include the unscripted moments so that you can really see the new you emerging. Because when the power goes down we all have to deal with it. "Til we meet again. . .
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