Shred Update

April is quickly coming to an end--which I can't believe!

I've been pretty faithfully shredding. I missed a few days last week due to travel. There have been many days I didn't want to do it or could have found excuses not to, but I have made myself. Even waking before 6am to make sure I do it.

I've found that mornings are much better and it's worth it to get up early because I may not get it done later in the day. Evenings are especially out.

Jillian Michaels will kick your butt! I just moved up to Level 3 yesterday and wow--a whole new intensity. There are a couple moves I just can't master yet--I don't have the physical ability. But it gives me something to work towards.

While I haven't seen any results on the scale, my body definately is changing. Once I can get the scale to start moving ( a whole other topic) I think I'll be even more pleased. I've banished desserts from our house this next week in an attempt to get the scale moving.

I'm looking forward to the end of the month because I won't have the mental pressure to do the workout daily. But I know that I am going to keep it as a part of my exercise line up. I have a race coming up in June, so I need to get back to running to prepare. But on the days I work, even running can be a challenge, so it's great to know I can wake early, Shred for 20 min and have a great workout!

A Photo Update

Clearly, blogging time is slim to none right now. Which is a bummer because I have (what I think are) some pretty funny blog topics in mind. I guess they will have to wait.

But for now, here's a little update in photos of life lately.

I know I already shared about Gracie's birthday, but here's a bit more.


Our little monkey Gracie turned 2...

Mama made an attempt at a creative cake...cupcakes that looked like Curious George's balloons.

Gracie had so much fun (during her nap time) that she conked out on the couch minutes after we got home.

Gracie went to her first Easter Egg Hunt.

Miss Rose is an Egg Hunt pro!

Bean and his firsts two girls. Yes, that's a scowl on Gracie's face. Why, we're not sure. Sometimes she just decides she's bent out of shape.

Mama and the "big" girls.

Gracie striking a pose.

No, it's not choking...it's sisterly love. I decided not to fight Miss Rose about wearing a dress and settled for a cute top and capri's on Easter.

And little Lily showing off her Easter duds. Yes, she looks like she has clown feet. No, she doesn't. It's just the fact that her shoes are a bit too big (is there a such thing as shoes that fit a newborn?) and the angle of the shot.

I learned that if I want a photo of all the kids together...it's better to try on a day other than the holiday! It wasn't worth waking Lily to get her in on the photos at church...and by the time church was over we were all done! My mom does have a shot on her camera of all of us, but I haven't seen it yet.

Lily has begun to develop a bedtime around 9pm...so maybe, just maybe I'll be able to blog more.

Shredding Update...

I'm still at it! I had to miss 3 days due to a minister's conference. I brought the DVD and a small DVD player with great intentions, but I spent very little time in my room and was of course caring for Lily too--so no shredding. I was having some issues with my back, so it probably was good that I rested. Level 2 is a real tail-kicker, but I like it. I'm still not sure how much weight I've lost, if any. My body is really resisting losing right now. I guess it's just from nursing and the post-pregnancy adjustments. I think I have lost inches though and I'm feeling more toned and strong. Next week...Level 3!

What a night, what a Champ

Wednesday night was one for the books in our house. After getting off the phone with a nurse about 10:30pm, Bean went out to purchase some fever-reducer administered other than orally, for Gracie who wasn't keeping a thing down. She was burning up at 103 by then.

After he returned home, the medicine was administered and we waited for it to take effect. Gracie was finally a bit more comfortable and we headed to bed by midnight. We decided to put Gracie in the pack-n-play at the end of our bed in case she vomited or needed attention during the night. Lily of course was next to me in the co-sleeper.

We did not get much sleep. Gracie ended up in between us most of the night for comfort. Bean was A CHAMP and primarily took care of her. I was passed out from being so tired. It probably didn't help that I had been awake at 5:30am that morning to Shred. I still was up a few times with Gracie or Lily.

Let me take a minute to brag on Bean. He is such a great father and contributer to the family. He does whatever is needed, wakes during the night when I need assistance with something, runs out for medicine late at night. Bean went into work late on Thursday so he could take Miss Rose to school while I stayed home with the sick girl.

I'm happy to report Gracie is doing MUCH better. She wanted to be with me on the couch all morning on Thursday, but around noon her fever broke and she got off the couch some to play and eat bland foods. I guess it was one of those 24-hour viruses but so far the rest of us are healthy.

SHREDDING
I'm done with Day 3 of The Shred. There is definite soreness in several areas of my body. For some reason my calves are the worst. It hurts to just walk around and going up stairs--KILLER! Hopefully in a day or two they'll adjust to the exercises. The routine is getting a bit easier--but I know in 7 more days we move up to Level 2 and it will be a new soreness!

I've decided to not weigh myself this entire month. I usually get on the scale several times a week...which isn't the best. On one hand it does hold you accountable--but on the other hand it can be quite depressing when you think there should be a change and there isn't. In the last 4 weeks my body has changed, but the scale hasn't. Hopefully when I weigh in on May 1st there will be some change on the scale--but really I'm counting on my clothes being looser!

Are you serious?

I came home this afternoon to a lethargic Gracie, burning up with fever on the couch. I had seen her at lunchtime and she was a bit out of it and didn't want to eat. She's cutting her back molars, so I gave her Motrin and figured she'd perk up.

It was not to be so.

She clearly felt terrible. She hardly tolerated touch and just laid on the couch. I gave her motrin, which she vomited up with the conents of her stomach from the day, less than 30 minutes later.

Bean brought her to the bathtub where she vomited a bit more. Poor little thing kept saying "messy" in her feverish, quivering voice.

I quickly cancelled my responsibilities at church for the night, but Miss Rose was very upset to have to miss her class. Thankfully a friend who lives near us was already at church--so Bean took her and the friend brought her home.

This is the glamorous life of a parent. Bean has been right here the whole night. Lily isn't running a fever any longer, but has strong opinions about being held.

Last I checked, her temperature was 102.9. I'm hoping it's a simple virus that will pass quickly. Since she was a baby, whenever Gracie runs a fever she usually vomits. It sometimes seems more related to the fever then to whatever illness she has.

It can't always be like this, right? It's just a bad spell. Everyone will get healthy and we'll find a routine.

Gracie turns 2 on Sunday and we have a party planned. I certainly hope everyone is healthy and whole by then.

Shredding
I did it this morning! I was actually able to get out of bed at 5:30am, which is just 30 minutes earlier than normal on a workday for me.

People pretty much think I'm crazy for getting up so early to exercise. In some ways I agree. But I've learned over the past few years that exercise has the ability to keep me sane. I'm sure it's related to the endorphins and adrenaline. Plus my state of mind can also be closely related to how I feel about my body.

So sacrificing 30minutes of morning sleep is well worth it. This has been a busy, crazy day--but all day long I've felt good that I already exercised.

Trust me though, I won't be getting up EVERY morning at 5:30. The days I'm home with my babies, I'm sure I'll exercise later in the morning or afternoon.

Tidbits

It's difficult to blog as much as I would like to. The evenings after the girls are in bed is usually my blogging time...but lately that's also when Lily is most fussy and I'm holding, nursing, shushing, rocking, swaying, bouncing, burping and doing whatever else it takes to make her happy. I'm up later than I should be tonight and Bean is holding her (she's asleep!) so here are some tidbits.

Yes...I've decided to just call the baby Lily on my blog. The other girls go by nicknames--partially for anonymity, partially because they have somewhat uncommon names and I am rather possessive of them! But Lily is just Lily...

Miss Rose is on round 2 of antibiotics for a nasty sinus infection. When the girls had sinus infections at Christmas time, Gracie needed two rounds--this time it's Miss Rose's turn. The first antibiotic she was on seems to have caused an allergic reaction and we've been fighting hives for over a week now.

And the sickness just never ends! Lily has had a cold for at least 3 weeks. Last week I took her in and the dr. felt like it would probably work itself through but gave me some guidelines for monitoring her. She developed a fever this afternoon--so into Urgent Care we went. The diagnosis is an ear infection and antibiotics. I feel terrible that my 9-week old is having her first introduction to antibiotics, but I guess that's what happens when you have two older sisters. Unfortunately I know a few families who are fighting illness after illness like we are.

The 30-Day Shred starts tomorrow! I'm scared and excited. I think it's majorly going to kick my behind...but I thrive on being sore from exercise. I just hope my pregnancy-weakened back holds up. Of course I would choose a Wednesday--my busiest day--to start. Which means I must drag myself out of bed at 5:30am to make sure I fit it in.

Life with three kids still continues to challenge us. Nights are a whirlwind. When I got home from Urgent Care tonight Bean said "I got a taste of your life tonight, and it's hard!" Our top priority is being good parents--which means some of the other things slide, and that's what we are having to get used to. Bean and I are typical oldest children who like our ducks in a row. But we're lucky if all the ducks (the children and other things of life) are just in our line of vision.

I can't believe Lily is already two months old. And Gracie turns 2 on Sunday. Next week I'll make sure to share some new photos.

Life is zooming by.