A day in the life

1 month down

2012-02-01T12:53:00.000-06:00

The first month of our weight loss competition has me 5.5 inches down and 8.8 lbs down. I ran 86.6 miles in January too!!

So this month, we have been cursed with 3 out of 3 sick kids, eating out multiple times, twisting my ankle on the treadmill and an treat of grabbing a mocha for fun. My one standard item is to run. I think I took 3 days off during the month. My husband's birthday, the first day I was sick (yep the kids got me sick too!) and another "rest" day.

We have been blessed here in ND with a warm winter, so getting outside to run has been a blessing. Of course, as a SAHM most of my days are on the treadmill while kids sleep.

Milestones!

2012-01-23T07:06:00.000-06:00

Today marked a milestone for me. I acheived my goal of running 60 miles in the past 4 weeks. Really, 23 days but whose counting. In the past 23 days I have also lost over 5 lbs and inches off my body. I really, could not be happier! 60 miles in month 1 of my 800 mile goal for 2012. I guess to acheive 800, I need 66 miles a month. Good thing the month is not over and I have 7 more days to get the other 5.5 miles... I think I can do it!

A week of struggles

2012-01-17T12:25:00.000-06:00

A week?! It is only Tuesday! :o)
Sunday I opted to take the day off from working out and to sleep in. Yep, kids got up at 6 am. Fail.
Monday I struggled through my 4 mile run like it is hard or something. :oP
Today I had ZERO desire to get up before the sun to workout. I have one kid with a cough, 1 kid up with a runny nose (the baby), so before 3 am I was up 5 times with the two of them. ::Yawn.::
I drug my dog tired ass out of bed and ran a mile bearly under 10 minutes and did the shred complete with 7.5 lb weight up from my past 5 lbs.

Now it is nap time. Please give Dylan the memo. I need to fold laundry, unload & reload the dishwasher and figure out dinner.

... still so sleepy.....

34.67 miles in 2012!

2012-01-14T07:30:00.000-06:00

In 14 days of the New Year, I have ran 34.67 miles. I feel amazed about this acccomplishment, it's a great start! I ran just over 20 miles this week and 4 this morning. I am happy to say that it is getting so much easier! My weight loss is not as great... 2.8 lbs in 2 weeks. It is okay, but I really hoped for more...

I think I can, I think I can.

2012-01-12T08:41:00.002-06:00

So the New Year is almost 2 weeks in. Tomorrow is week #2 weigh-in for me. At this point, I know I will see a loss. Last night on a whim, I took out my tape measure. I took measurements before I started. 11 days of running (well, 10) - and I lost 1 inch off my hips and 2.5 off my waist! I knew that working out really helps me to keep my baby belly sucked in as opposed to the alternative which is a not so flattering, let it all hang out.

So, I will take my official measurements after the first month, but this is incentive!! I also realized if I can run 4 miles on the treadmill or outside - after only 2 weeks of working out then in 4 more months I should be ready to run 13.1 miles.

1 week down!

2012-01-08T19:02:00.000-06:00

So today is January 8th. 8 days into the New Year and 1 week down of working out.

I have to confess that yesterday I did not eat the best or exercise at all. It was my husband's birthday and we made a buffet of appitizers to watch the NDSU Bison win the National Championship in Football. I made breaded baked mushrooms, baked crab rangoon - with fat free cream cheese. I also made quacamole and fruit & veggie trays.

After 7 days of working out, I have ran 18.2 miles and did Jillian Michaels 30 day shred 3 times. I set a goal on Nike running to run 60 miles by 1/23 - I set these before the new year! Well, I have over 40 miles to run in 2 weeks to achieve this goal. Not sure if it is acheivable at this point. I have been running 1-1.5 miles as a warm up to the shred one day. The next day, I run 3-4 miles. Today I did almost 4 miles outside. It felt great to get outside in the sun!! I am so thankful we don't have snow yet!!

Week 1 Weigh-In

2012-01-06T07:17:00.000-06:00

I said I wasn't going to weigh today since I am bloated, but I couldn't resist. 2.4 lbs lost this week! Whoo-hoo! I think more importantly is to look at my fitness level. I am running everyday. One day I run 3-4 miles (okay, farthest I have made it is 3.25 mi), and the next day I run a warm-up to the 30 day shred. I feel awesome! Okay, waking to workout has me feeling frumpy, so after I shower I grab jeans and a t-shirt, a hat. I have no desire to try to look cute these days.

One big factor is my food intake. A 1/2 cup FF vanilla yogurt, 1 banana, 1/2 cup strawberries, blueberries or peaches with 1/2 cup water and a scoop of protien powder. Under 300 calories and tastes good AND fills me up!!!

Lunch has been a salad, dinner is a healthy but normal meal.

Happy 2012!

2012-01-01T12:52:00.000-06:00

So, I rang in the New Year fast asleep next to my hubby who had to get up very early to go to work. I had a twinge of excitment as I laid out my workout clothes and set my alarm for 5:30 am. I am not excited about getting up early. I am excited about starting anew, having a healthy start to my New Year. I woke about 5:15 when Dylan was whining and got up to go workout. I ran 3 miles in 36 minutes (nothing impressive by far, but more the start). I have ate well through breakfast and lunch, though it has been a struggle. Dinner will be a normal family meal, with a small to average serving size.

Good Luck in your resolutions for 2012!!

Plan it, do it!

2011-12-30T15:49:00.000-06:00

So I have been saying for the lasy last 3 months that I was going to run the half marathon in Fargo in May 2012. Yep, I paid the money and registered today to do it. Now on to training.... LOL!
I just took my measurements and they are BAD. Like almost the same as 2 months after I had Dylan bad. Guess I had one too many Christmas cookies and need to get running!!

So, 21 week to train and 13.1 miles to run... that day! 20x15 miles a week minimum = 300 miles to run training between now and then. I will track it and keep track. I am betting I run closer to 400 miles by May. I better keep it up and I can run a good 800 miles in 2012!

So... I better set my alarm, fill the ice in my cup, set out my clothes and make it a plan to get on the horse! I have a lot of miles to run!!

Kneophla Soup

2011-12-29T17:57:00.000-06:00

Today has been a cleaning frenzy after the hurried Christmas tree take down last night. I dusted the living room last night. Vacuumed the living room including moving the furniture and vacuumed IN the furniture. ::Shutters.:: I swept the entry way and the dining room/kitchen. I cleaned the bathroom. I washed, dried and folded 3 loads of laundry.

All of this while a freezing rain advisory is going on outside that caused me to meet the pavement while getting the mail.

Well, tonight in the spirit of cold rainy days, I made a ND favorite, Kneophla soup. This recipe comes from my husband's uncle and we tweaked it a little through the years to accomidate our tastes. I have learned that there are tons of variations of this soup, so I thought I would share mine.

Kneophla Soup

Kneophla
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
a dash of salt
1 cup of flour
mix well and add more flour if sticky. Should be able to handle it without the dough sticking to your hands.
Take the dough and roll it between your hands to create "worms" about 1/2 - 1" thick. Usually each "worm" is about 6" long. Lay on a plate while rolling the remaining dough.

For the soup part you will need the following ingredients:
1/2 pint of heavy cream.
1/2 pint of half and half
1-2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced.
chicken bullion to taste
2-3 potatoes peeled and cubed.

Peel and cube the potatoes and add to a pot of water and boil until soft. While potatoes are in the pot, using kitchen scissors, cut the kneophla's into bit size peices directly into the pot. Boil until the potatoes are soft and the kneophla's are floating. Drain and place back in the pot. Add cream & half & half and stir. Add chicken and chicken bullion to taste. Cook until warm throughout. Enjoy!

(This dish also freezes well.)

Another day, another try!

2011-11-06T07:05:00.000-06:00

So the last two days have not been great eating/drinking wise. I ran 2 miles on Thursday, 4 miles Friday and did the 30 day shred and 20 minutes on the eliptical yesterday.

So on Friday my major slip up is that I had a cappicino at the football game. In the great 40 degree ND wonder, anything to keep me warm. I should have opted for real coffee instead of the sugary substitute.

Yesterday I took my girls to McDonalds to redeem 2 free fry coupons we won at the Monopoly days. Snack at McD - complete with a milkshake for all of us to share. Then we made cookies and took them to my SIL's where my hubby went to cut up his deer.

I guess I can work out with the best of 'em. Life is about making memories with your kids.... so I am finding it hard to get that balance. If I have free coupons for a snack my kids will think is awesome, a once in a great moon type of thing, why not?! If making cookies for Daddy to celebrate his big kill as a master hunter, why not?

I do know one thing that would make life easier. To never stop doing Jillian. My body hurts too much when I start again!! I hate what Jillian does to me, but I honestly love how toned my body is when I am doing it.

My hate of laundry

2011-11-05T10:13:00.003-05:00

I hate laundry.

I hate having piles of dirty stinky clothes piling up in my house.

Because of this, I am doing laundry every other day or every 3rd day at the most.

I suck at folding laundry and putting it away though.

I honestly blame this mostly on my toddler.

Forgive me baby.

I fold our laundry on our bed.
I have rows along the bed for each person,
Wade's goes on his dresser behind me.

I make rows for Dylan, Taylor, Alex and me in that order.

The hang up clothes for Wade and I go at the end near the clothes basket.
The girls go on our pillows.

Most times when I try to fold laundry without Wade home,
Dylan is in our room.

Most toddlers I assume follow Mom where ever they go...
mine have always done this!

So, Dylan is getting into my jewelry or playing with my bottles of lotion.

Today is a laundry day. I have to catch up!

I am doing more laundry, so laundry HAS to be folded and put away as I only have 2 laundry baskets.

I also just decluttered our bedroom and having 2 full baskets of clothes to be folded in there is a serious distracter.

As I was folding clothes, I found one of Taylor's most loved shirts.

It is coral colored so it looks great with her red hair.

It feels like satin and makes her feel good.

I bought it at a rummage sale in perfect condition which makes me feel good.

Well, Taylor's sticker from storytime was still on her shirt.

The dryer acts like glue perma-sticking those on!
I am a Mom. I will get it off!
I used to say pre-kids that a Mom had to be a genious at laundry.

Well, I am not prefect and always learning, so I'll try my best!

Another cruel fact of my world and laundry is that my husband works shift work. 4 on, 4 off and rotates days and nights. When he works nights, I cannot do laundry until he wakes at 3-4 pm. That gives me 4 hours maybe 5 to do laundry before the kids go to bed. I am blessed that our laundry is main floor, but it is in a small closet just across the hall from the girls room and right next to our room. We all know that laundry is not quiet either! So.... when you take in Wade's work schedule AND the fact that the girls have dance class on Tuesday and Thursday night, church school on Wednesdays.... that really takes those 3 nights out of the week to do laundry. So, if you are at my house on a Friday when Wade is working nights, expect it to be laundry night.

Ahh... time to switch the washer/dryer!

Day off struggles...

2011-11-04T12:58:00.001-05:00

Well, my eating is not an A++ today. I am okay with that. If I can go 6 weeks with minimal exercise and eat whatever I want and not gain, I don't think one day will kill me.

Alex is off of school today and wanted biscuits for breakfast. I ate 2.5 biscuits and some peaches for breakfast. We made quasadillas for lunch, which was 1 tortilla with onions, reduced fat cheese and black beans... so not too bad. I plan to get a workout this afternoon and have round steak with onions and cream of mushroom soup in the crockpot to have over mashed potatoes for dinner. Smells delish!

I am betting tomorrow which is Wade's deer hunting day will also be a struggle because it seems so natural to bake something with the kids! Maybe we can share them with the neighbors?

1 month to do it!

2011-11-03T07:11:00.000-05:00

This morning, 3 days after the Halloween sugar haul, I have had enough. I took all the chocolate and froze it, downstairs to save it for a rainy day.

Today marks 1 month until Wade and I take a weekend get away to go watch a football game. Sadly, I am still the weight I have been since we returned from our Oregon vacation in July.

This morning the scale showed 175.2 YUCK! I would sure like to look at that scale in a month and see it say 165.... not sure if that is possible, but I am going to try! First small change is to drink at least 64 ounces of water everyday!! Second is to make time to work out, everyday!!!

A first!!

2011-10-23T21:05:00.000-05:00

So, this is a milestone in our house.
Alex lost her first tooth tonight!

Last night Wade suggested she tie her mildly wiggly tooth to the door knob and close the door. She was all excited to try it. We did, but her tooth did not come out. It kind of hung there and she was tickled to move it easily. Well, this afternoon she suggested we try it again. She wanted her little sister to "gently" close the door. Well, her tooth must have now been ready and it slid out like butter. Shockingly to me though, there was about as much of the root of the tooth out as there was the tooth above the gum line.
She was so happy about having it out that she never complained about it hurting.
She did make sure to rinse her mouth out to not swollow the blood since last night it made her puke.

So.... the first of many at our house.

10/23/11 - the date my first baby lost a tooth!

Wednesday Weigh-in

2011-03-30T06:54:00.000-05:00

170.6!! To me that number means that I lost about 2.5 pounds this week. It also means that I only have half a pound of baby weight left! Why is it no matter how much weight you lose, you don't change your view of yourself as quickly as you lose the weight? I am afraid to pull out smaller jeans for fear that they will be too tight. I'd rather wear the bigger size and have then fit too loose. I guess feeling in my jeans how far I have come makes me feel good. This year, in 2011 I have lost 17.4 lbs in 3 months. We were constanly sick in Febrary, so that month really didn't count. My husband has lost 20 lbs as well! Even better, now that he works out he doesn't snore which means that our couch has been lonely at night for several months!

Wednesday Weigh-in

2011-03-23T10:46:00.000-05:00

Well, after a 4 pound weight loss last week, I was not expecting much this week. Hoping for a pound, maybe two. Well, both thoughts were far fetched. I thought my eating was on track since the stomach bug made the way through our house. It is tough to have much of an appitite when your little ones can't keep their dinner down. I believe that I had a very mild case of this last week, before my weigh-in - so that may be part of those 4 lbs last week. So, would I just get to it?

Well, this week my weight was 173.2. Don't look back to last week. That means that I lost -0.6 of a pound. Not great, but I'll take any minus sign even if it is little. 8.2 lbs left to lose and 6 weeks left to do it. I think I am going to sign up to run a 5K that is the weekend before my birthday - just shy of this 6 week mark. I have been running about 3 miles a day anyway... so why not?! I also have found a partner to run a 10K race with me in June, so I suppose I will have to get to training for that one as well!!!

I am still going strong on my running 30 minutes a day for 30 day challange. Today is day 26, so I am almost there!!! I am a little surprised because I never considered myself a runner. I have logged 2.5-3.26 miles a day! Even after breaking my ankle, shattering my leg, 2 knee surgeries, I can run. This really just started as the quickest way to lose weight after my 54 lb weight gain with my littlest one. 3.2 baby pounds left to lose!

After this challange, I will do Jillian Michael's 30 day shred for 30 days. I will do each level for 10 days. I should be at my goal weight after this 30 days.... but then I think I will try checking workout DVD's out from the library.... if it is not nice enough to go outside and get some air.

Wednesday Weigh-in

2011-03-16T08:13:00.000-05:00

Today was 173.8, that is a 4 lb lost from last week. Watching what I eat AND running everyday works! Yeah, 8.8 more lbs to lose!

11 days of running

2011-03-09T06:37:00.000-06:00

I have ran for 11 days now. It appears that I should pay more attention to what I eat though. After burning more than 400 calories per day on the treadmill, I have lost a whopping 3/4 of a pound. I was 178.6 at my last weight and today I was 177.8. Really? All that hard work and I can't stop shoveling it in my face so I lost not even a pound. Well, I have to control my eating or I will not reach my goal. I began journaling what I ate yesterday. I am off to enjoy my coffee with far less creamer than I enjoy.... just to save a few calories which hopefully will transfer to a few inches from my waistline.

Personal goal

2011-03-06T13:10:00.000-06:00

I don't know if I have too many people that read my blog, I really don't update it that much, so I wouldn't be surprised if no one reads it. If you do, please help me.

I am attempting a lofty workout goal. My plan is to run 30 minutes a day for 30 days. After that, I plan to do the 30 day shred for 30 days. This will take me just past Easter to the end of April.

Right now, I am 9 days into my running, varying between 2.5-3 miles a day. I have 12 pounds that I would like to lose before my birthday, which is 68 days away (9.5 weeks). I have a special event 2 months after my birthday that I would like to look my best for, so I will need to maintain my weight loss for the summer and hopefully forever.

I will try my best to post my weekly weight loss on here, so please comment if you'll keep me in line and cheer me on if I succeed!!

An attempt at a crafty mom

2011-02-13T11:20:00.000-06:00

So, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. I am working with the kids on making heart collages as placemats for dinner. Since the hubbs is working, dinner will be with MIL and her Mom - and of course my wonderful girls.

We already made the jello, that we will cut out with heart shaped cookie cutters that will become dessert with a little cool whip. MIL is bringing over lobster tails she has in her deep freeze. I will make some sausage for my little ones as they cannot/will not eat lobster. I will also make some mashed potatoes and veggies since the girls like them a lot. I will also make up the jiffy rolled biscuits and cut them out with heart shaped cookie cutters.

Banana oatmeal muffins are in the oven now for breakfast tomorrow morning. Of course the muffins are in heart shaped muffin pans as well.

Of course, lunch will be heart shaped grilled cheese sandwiches. :o) I figure I should attempt to do these things while I am a SAHM and have the time. Hopefully these jestures are making memories for my girls.

It's all about me!

2011-01-25T17:50:00.000-06:00

I think as a Mom, nothing is ever about YOU.

Especially as a SAHM, very little in life is all about YOU.

Well, here is one thing that I am doing for me.

The last 24 days I have half-heartedly attempted to lose a few dress sizes. I would like to go from a (gulp) size 12-14 to a size 10-12. I know realistically that any smaller than a 10 is probably not going to happen. I was an 8 when I graduated high school, a 12 graduating college, an 8 when I got married.... lets shoot for a 10 after 3 kids.

So, in 24 days I have lost about 4 pounds. Not bad, 1 pound a week. Not great either. I am not a patient person. I do not have much self control when it comes to food. I enjoy cooking and enjoy eating probably more.

Well, the last 2 days I have gotten motivation to try monitoring my food choices. First, and probably hardest is that I am limiting carbs. I am not cutting them out - but if I am hungry, I choose to eat fruit, veggies or dairy instead of my typical go-to snack of carbs. So far, so good. I am a champ at working out. I can work out all day. However, I will not beat myself up if I and the kids have a bad day and I doin't get my miles in.

I have 16 pounds to lose (current weight -181 - goal weight 165) and 14 weeks to do it - by my birthday May 4th. My current BMI is 26.1, which over 25 is considered overweight. At 165, that would take me to 24.5, within the healthy weight for my height.

New Me progress report

2011-01-13T13:06:00.000-06:00

Well, the new me is off to a good start. I can workout. I am good at exercising. If I got time away from the kids, I can run, walk, hike with the best of them. I have been alternating doing the eliptical for 30 minutes, running a mile and going Jillian Micheals 30 day shred - which I am now enduring level 2.

Food continutes to be my weakness. Isn't it everyone's?! Really, we are not animals that kill another for dinner. We do not graze on the grass for nutrition. Food is not merely energy to us, it is an art form to create in the kitchen. My food downfall is probably sweets the most. I can do without the salty chips but give me a treat and I am all over it!

Another issue that I have with food is limiting my portions. I will never be a small woman. I am 5'9" and need adiquate caloric intake to fulfill my body's function. I am also a nursing Mom, so that is what another 500 calories a day? I have never really been a salad person. Really, a salad for lunch or dinner? Guess what I have been eating for lunch? Yep, a salad. Rich, dark leafy greens, sunflower seeds, avacado slices, tomatoes, green onions, bacos, mushrooms minced, feta cheese and smoke salmon. When it is arranged like this - it sounds more like a feast than punishment. I still probably use entirely too much dressing....

Well, today is what day 12 of the new year? I have now worked out for all 12 days of the year. Opps, I just looked and it is the 13th! :o) I have worked out 13 days of the New Year! I need to keep it up and keep drinking lots of water and before you know it those 12 & 14's will be jumping out of my closet and the 10's will be floating in.....

New Year, New Me.

2011-01-02T13:05:00.000-06:00

Well, it is now 2011. For the New Year, I am not going to say it is a resolution. My goal is to lose at least 20 pounds, if not 25 by May. That is about 16 weeks away.

I got a gift card for Christmas to buy a new pair of jeans (because really, how can anyone pick that out for you?), however I said that I have to wait until at least February to buy them so I will be skinnier.

I will wake at least on Wade's work days, to work out before the kids wake. We'll see how this goes because a lot of the time Dylan wakes at 5-6 am and only goes back to sleep snuggled up next to me.

So, I will eat smaller amounts, healthier food choices and work out daily.

Thanks Santa!

2010-12-26T12:18:00.000-06:00

Well, there goes another Christmas season coming and going... I think the anticipation makes it so special. Gathering with family and friends to enjoy the season. Looking at Christmas lights, enjoying too much candy, finding the perfect gifts. This year I feel that we are truely blessed by what we recieved. I have the best husband ever. He is awesome on gifts!! The kids enjoy thier presents and have been mostly good while enjoying them. Now that Christmas is over, what do we look forward to? Camping??

Christmas gifts

2010-12-21T17:50:00.000-06:00

So, the pic of my kids on my blog. Remember me posting about taking them? Well, we did Christmas with the husband's family, well immediate family on Friday. I gave the hubby a framed phot because I was giving his Mom the same pic. He was really surprised that I got the pic taken and that we all kept it a surprise for so long. However, I think that I was more pleased than him. I like to do gifts like that - sentamental ones. Because I would prefer to receive those. Like the year I had Alex, my sister gave me an album filled with pics of her and I growing up. From birth through college. I cried. That was my best gift that year. She had sister and girly quotes through out as well as personal notes on each page. I am a sucker for that stuff. Give me a sweatshirt and it'll keep me warm, but the photos warm my heart.

DIY baby legs!!!

2010-12-19T10:24:00.000-06:00

So a few days ago my friend sent me this link. It is for DIY baby legs. I am in love. I did buy Dylan 3 pairs of knock off baby legs from Target- and 3 pairs of real ones for Christmas... here are the DIY ones.Here is Dylan this morning in her fur trimmed, Christmas legs.

Good thing she is a skinny baby or thick fur on her thighs may give her a complex!

Outfit is complete with her Christmas dancing socks!

Okay, not an outift... I was trying them on after I made them.

I am excited that I got her a pink dress for Christmas that will look good with these ones!

She has light pink danicing socks on in this picture... hard to see though!

These may look black, but they are charcoal grey. I bought them to match the grey in this dress. Of course notice her dancing socks - my other fettish!

Here are the three girls for our Christmas at Grandma's the other night.
Dylan is wearing more homemade baby legs!!

I guess I thought I made 5 - but I also have black and white, so I made her 6 pairs (socks were $2 a pair!!).

Tis the season....

2010-12-18T13:44:00.000-06:00

The girls requested a camp out. Here is a pic of the 3~

Of course, Dylan did not sleep on the floor with Alex & Taylor - but a cute pic was in order! Here are my girls pre-Christmas.

We always have a Christmas with the step-siblings about a week before.

It's beginning to look...

2010-12-12T18:46:00.000-06:00

... a lot like Christmas! Of course, we already had snow on the ground. The snow we got this weekend was just icing on the cake. Tomorrow's snow - well - what's that?!

I kind of wish that I could put presents under the tree already. I am not too sure my 3 yo and 5 yo would stay out of them. I do know that my 6 mo old would be in the min a heartbeat. I don't have nergy for that.

Let the holiday baking begin!!

2010-11-26T11:40:00.000-06:00

Here is our Thanksgiving baking...

I am proud to say that I added the ingredients, or rather measured the ingredients, handed them over to Alex & Taylor and they mixed the batter. I poured them into cups and baked them. Alex then frosted the cupcakes and inserted the candy corn. The girls wanted to bake sugar cookies for Christmas for a few weeks now. I put it off until the day after Thanksgiving. So, this morning we made the dough (which is now in the fridge). While the dough was cooling, we made a batch of banana bread and a batch of cranberry orange bread. I baked the bread in mini loaf pans and intend to give the bread to our neighbors with their Christmas cards this weekend. We do need to start cutting out the cookies soon....

Sugar cookies are not my favorite. I really don't like sugar cookies. I figure that we are making these and decorating them merely out of tradition. Not that we did it as kids, but more the experience for the girls. I tell you what, I hope I am making bakers out of them! They sure do a lot of cooking with me!!!

Gonna be a bear

2010-11-23T17:44:00.000-06:00

I thought that this was fitting especially since I posted earlier about being a man. I bear wouldn't be so bad either. :o)

Dylan Marie is 6 months!

2010-11-19T12:28:00.001-06:00

So, yesterday was photo day at our house.

I took the following pictures of Dylan to include in family Christmas cards. I always write up a letter with the milestones the kids are doing at 3, 6, 9 & 12 months and send pics to the aunts & uncles. I started this with Alex since we lived in KS and our families were in ND and OR. But - why should I stop just because we live closer to family? So, I still send the updates to family. I think this is my least favorite pic. Something with the shadowing....
This is my favorite shot.
You'd never know with those cheeks that she is only 14 lbs, 11 oz!!
This will be hanging on our wall in a 8x10 size!

This is a cute take, not too sure about the shiny background so close in color to her skin and her clothes colors though!

I didn't notice until I got the prints back that in this one you can see her two bottom teeth! Okay, so I thought that these were *decent* pics. Since I needed to mail them next week, I did not order them through shutterfly as I normally do. I went online to Walmart and had one hour done last night so I could pick them up today. Well, I was questioned upon picking them up if they were professional pics.
I do not feel that they are even close to professional quality, but I will take that as a compliment!

In my next life, make me a man

2010-11-16T13:58:00.001-06:00

I decided that I want to be a man in my next life. Not that I don't appreciate all the perks of womanhood. Child birth, breast feeding - just to name a few!

But it seems that men are pre-wired differently than a woman.
* They do not wake when they hear a crying baby - much less their own crying baby.
* They are not awaken by their preschooler whining in the hallway in the dark of night to be tucked back into bed after a midnight potty trip.
* They appear inept at running a washing machine, much less separating clothes and initiating such a task.
* They do not appear to know where their children's clothes go - after they are magically washed and before they are worn.
* They do not know how to decide on dinner when it is merely breakfast time.
* They are not able to buy cards, even for their own family.
* They have lost the ability to sign a card, even if it is for his family.
* Forget about Christmas cards. Someone else will handle the pictures, the format, the letter, etc. It must magically happen like everything else.
* They lose the ability to pick up after oneself. Dirty dishes are left steps from the sink. Underwear are found in the living room - or maybe just the bathroom.

I am sold. In my next life I am putting my request in now to be a man. All I have to do it outdoor maintenance, take the cars in for oil changes and watch sports. ~ maybe even while scratching myself and drinking beer.

Do you need a new stocking hat?

2010-11-08T15:17:00.001-06:00

Well, I have had a really hard time finding a winter hat for my almost 6 month daughter, Dylan.

My parents have an alcapa ranch and mentioned that they were going to make hats to the girls for Christmas. I think I presuaded them to make ones for Dylan sooner, since I will need it for her before then. These hats are 100% alpaca.

This is Dylan in the 6-12 month hat.

To purchase one, click here.

Here she is in the 3-6 month hat. To purchase a similar hat, click here.

They have toddler, childrens and adult sizes too. I think that this is the first baby hat I have felt that is a tight knit, tight fitting and feels warm.

They appear to have only hats for the winter on their website now. I also have coasters, a cardigan, a sweater, and slippers made out of Alpaca.
I really think at $11.99 these hats are a steal!

They also have an etsy site.

People are insane

2010-11-03T09:31:00.000-05:00

My first WTF moment is that I was asked Monday when I was pushing Taylor in Dylan in the double jogger, if they were twins. (My apolgies to the elderly woman for my snarky "NO!" reply.) I just thought that 2.5 years difference seemed obvious. Correct me if I am wrong and these two appear to be twins.My other WTF moment came when a man 2 houses down asked me if I had a little boy.

This picture was taken seconds after that as I texted a girlfriend (with a boy) and asked her if I looked to have a boy. Sadly Dylan is in pink and a bow!
Do I look like a boy? Really?!
Embarrassing for any baby boy whose Mama dresses him like this!

How to handle delayed solids?

2010-11-01T17:49:00.001-05:00

I am not going to site the "experts" who say that it is best to exclusively breastfeed your baby until they are at least 6 months. I am not going to spout about how solids are not necessary.

I actually would be on the other end of things, if only my kids agreed. I have tried rice cereal with Dylan ~ she is less than impressed. I have gave her butternut, buttercup and acorn squash with less than warm reviews. She merely tolerates it. We tried applesauce with lukewarm reviews. I have tried bananas now twice. Not nasty store canned baby food bananas, but real bananas pureed. She refuses to eat.

Now I know at 5.5 months, I am not "delaying" solids, not by definition anyway. However, in the eyes of a few choice family members we would be.
'because I started my kids on cereal at 2 weeks old to help them sleep because I had to. I was a working mom.' ~Yes, I have heard that before.

However, it is easier said than done. Taylor had a gag reflex until 9 months that she gagged and usually puked on everything. She puked on Chocolate, yet that did not stop a family member from giving it to her every chance she got. (Really?!)

So, Dylan is her own person and different than Taylor. She can tolerate textures. I have actually yet to buy any store bought baby food (except the rice cereal). She does appear to have lost the tongue thrust reflex recently. However... it is hard as a Mom to keep trying baby foods without any success. So, really I don't. Call me a bad Mom, but I know my baby is not starving!

I guess what I am hoping for is someone to tell me how I can handle the words I know I will get for not feeding my baby "real" food. Can I also voice that I am the only person in this side of the family to breastfeed their children. I am also weird for that - then probably seen as a Oregonian hippy for baby wearing all the time.... and now this. :o) I guess my babies just love for us to be different!

How does a Mom stay healthy?

2010-10-25T09:08:00.000-05:00

So, yesterday afternoon Alex started to complain of a headache. I thought she was trying hard to earn a sticker for a good quiet time - and she fell asleep (two days in a row!). Well, she woke up and complained again of her head hurting, and had a 102 fever. She pretty much laid around all evening yet did eat dinner good. She kept complaining of being cold too.

The girls went to bed about normal time (8:30) and Dylan woke about 2 to eat. Taylor got up at 3:30 and turned the living room lights on, but went back to bed (huh?!). Alex then asked for a drink. Wade's alarm went off about 4, Dylan woke about 4:30 and refused to go back to sleep in her own crib until about 5. Alex & Taylor woke up at 7. Uhh.... I am so tired!

Alex woke with a fever, but after taking a bath it appears to be gone. She ate a waffle and cup of milk for breakfast and seems to be doing well. She was disappointed I called school saying she couldn't go - but better to be safe than sorry!

So, what are your tricks to stay healthy?

Time to update...

2010-10-24T08:20:00.000-05:00

I am not really sure what I am writing about.
I guess 3 things have happened this week at our house.

1) The husband got on board with losing weight, so I have done good this week. I am at 179.4 as of yesterday morning. This is where I was a few weeks ago when I stopped trying. My origional goal was to be at 165 by Nov. 1st (this was at 2 lbs per week). I will not make it, but I will keep trying!

2) We finished our list from insurance. We had hail damage to our house 8/2 and got it all accomplished in the last 2 weeks. We hired out having our roof and gutters replaced. The husband repainted the trim on the north side of the house. He also pressure washed and refinished both the front and back decks. We also had to replace a utility door into the garage. I would say that all of this has our house looking better than when we bought it. (Seriously, the old gutters leaked on the walk to the front door creating ice in the winter and the decks were very peeled. The garage door was cheap to start with and did not have trim on the inside - so it is all taken care of now!) And, with the husband's labor, we should get money back from the insurance claim!

3) My 5 month old has gotten her first tooth, the lower left one. She got it like a champ!

Happy Birthday Alex!

2010-10-15T13:03:00.000-05:00

My birthday girl's pictures in very random order Alex & Taylor playing in the leaves in their party dresses.

They do have whistles on their necks.

What kind of a crazy lady gives whistles as party favors?!

The chocolate chip number pancake.

This is a yearly tradition.

Alex smiling as we all sang her Happy Birthday.

Birthday party #2, singing to her...

Well, this was her cake I made her.

It was very good.

Chocolate cake (so moist and yummy!), with strawberry frosting, stawberry whoppers around the bottom and pink M&M's all over the sides. AND the princess crown on the top!

I am so proud that my first baby is now 5!

Let it be fall....

2010-10-06T16:09:00.000-05:00

Here are some annual fall pics. We have a huge tree in our front yard, so it leaves for lots and lots of raking every fall.

Here is Alex and Taylor's cute faces as they are burried in the leaves.

A not so skinny Mama throwing Taylor into the leaves.

Dylan posing in her own mini pile of leaves.

(She took a nap and slept until they were mostly picked up!)

Wade playing in the leaves with Alex & Taylor

Alex & Taylor jumping in the leaves.

I hope these stay as lasting memories for them.

The girls at the pumpkin patch this weekend.

Random thoughts

2010-10-05T09:13:00.001-05:00

So, as a SAHM there are those days that you cannot wait for the H to be home to help. Do you ever have those days that you just want to send him back to work? Yes, I know that I yell at my kids too. However when you are sleep deprived, sick and cranky - trying to hear your shows - it does not help. DVR the TV and watch it later. In the meantime, take a little patience because they really are only kids.

Our whole house has been sick. The kids and I got it 2 weeks ago, got better and the H left for the weekend. He returned and re-infested all of us. Lucky us. I hate when babies have colds. I feel so helpless. A two year old can verbalize what is wrong, a baby just wants cuddles.... Our baby is a drool monster... with a cold, she is an excessive drool monster, yet still adorable!

So, I started Christmas shopping this week. I bought 2 items for the H and 3 items for my 3 neices. I need to hide everything together or I am going to start losing things.

We also have our oldest ones birthday this week. I hope we are all healthy for it!

Yesterday we embarked on what has been a yearly tradition in our house. The raking of the leaves. This also involves throwing the kids in, burying and jumping in the leaves. Our tree out front is far from bare and the neighbors trees behind us aren't missing a leave... 4 bags down and 16 to go (I got 20 bags of leaves last fall). I will download pics and post them soon.

A fun fall photo shoot...

2010-10-01T12:15:00.000-05:00

So, all 3 girls have stipey pants this fall.

None match but all are cute. The dress Dylan is wearing with her leggings was mine and my sisters when we were little.
They thought for a ground shot they should all hold hands.
I am not sure Dylan would aree!
Kind of a mug shot of Dylan.
We borrowed the neighbors tree for this one!

This may be a Christmas card shot.

This is next to the apple tree in our backyard.

Busy, busy bumblebees!

2010-09-29T15:05:00.000-05:00

So, I guess I am that Mom who runs their kids everywhere.
* We have 1 in preschool, so I am running to and from school 3 days a week.
* Currently we have 1 in swimming, which runs M-TH for 2 weeks. (I hate this schedule!)
* Next week we start Church School on Wednesday nights for the oldest while I take the little ones to church service (this should be fun!).
* We attend most Moms Club activites that we can.
* The two older girls are starting gymnastics on Tuesday nights in a few weeks.

I guess it is only beginning since now the older one will be old enough for fun things like soccer and t-ball. I guess I wish my parents exposed me to things like that when I was younger. So, run on for now and if they don't want to do it - we will stop...

OMG! Look at these pictures!

2010-09-25T16:01:00.000-05:00

So, I took the girls to the Applefest parade this morning, then headed to the Applefest.

For $15 I got a 5x7 matted pictured of the sepia pose, and for $5 more, I got a CD of all the poses (18 total!). Here is the untouched pic of my angels...
Here is the Sepia pose that I got -
Shh! It will be a gift for my husband!

The above pic in color-

Another pose, with my color doctoring...

Another pose that I messed with the saturation...

I am super excited. I thought I lost the CD and had to go back to get it... (or see if they could copy another) however - I found it in my bedroom. Hmm... how did I get to be so scatterbrained?! Well, I think that my parents and in-laws are also getting these for Christmas - cheap and cute!

Back in the saddle...

2010-09-23T14:43:00.000-05:00

After 2 weeks of not watching what I ate, exercising sporadically, I have gotten back in the saddle. Those 2 weeks, I gained 3-4 pounds. Lucky me. After 4 days of being on track, I have lost 5. I am now 179.6 - the first time I have seen the 170's since I was in early pregnancy. So... now I have 14.6 lbs left to lose and 6 weeks to hit my goal. This isn't going to be easy, but I have to keep this up. I knew I had gained because my fat (size 14) jeans were getting tight.... now lets see if I can hit the 12's.... I have been seeing Jillian Michael's regularly and enduring her 30 day shred plus plugging away on the elliptical machine daily.... I wonder why I have been so tired too?!

Pumpkin patch fun!

2010-09-22T12:38:00.001-05:00

Today was a milestone in my Mommy-life.

I supervised my daughter's first field trip.

They went to visit Papa's Pumpkin Patch.

We we're there long, so here are some pics!

Alexandra, Alex & Taylor walking at the patch.Taylor in the pumpkin house.

Taylor & Dylan posing (Dylan slept most of the trip).

Alex, Alexandra, Taylor & Dylan posing for me.

We have to go back when we have more time. This was a really rushed trip.

And the baby grows...

2010-09-21T09:06:00.000-05:00

Baby Dylan is 4 months old now!

She is not loving that she had to get shots yesterday.

She was 13 lbs, 6 oz and 25.75 inches long (50% for weight, 70% for length)

Here are some cute pictures! Cheesin' for the camera!

Cheering on the Vikings with Daddy!!

All tuckered out from too much cheering...

Who is this?

2010-09-20T07:57:00.000-05:00

I have been told that my kids look alike as babies...

Who am I?
Who am I?

.... or is it the same baby?

Another 5K done!

2010-09-18T12:27:00.000-05:00

I woke this morning and got out to run. It was 35 degrees this morning after our snow flurries yesterday. (Seriously, it is SEPTEMBER!) I did not set any records. I ran the entire race and I completed it shortly after my third child turned 4 months old. I do not know my results (I think 33, my friend says 31... we'll know for sure when the results are posted on www.bismarckmarathon.com)

My said daughter, was an angel for her father. She did not cry or throw a fit. She cuddled and took a nap and woke when I returned home. I am so relieved. That 2 hours was the longest I have ever left her and I think that 3.5 hour stretch may be the longest time she has went w/o a feeding... though she did sleep most of it.

The smells of fall...

2010-09-16T13:29:00.000-05:00

I guess from the cooler weather that fall may have arrived. This morning our house was filled with the smells of fall as well. I got a bag of apples from the husband's grandma this past weekend. So, then of course I asked to borrow her canning kettle so I could make apple sauce out of them (which she happily gave me filled entirely with more apples!). So this morning while only Dylan was awake (and enjoys her "kick time" on the floor), I chopped apples and threw them into a pot to boil. The yummy smell of fresh apples filled the house. I them blended the apples and some of the water to make 5 quarts of fresh applesauce. I even strained some of them and froze them in an ice cube tray so baby Dylan can have them soon.

Are you ready for some football?

2010-09-09T13:46:00.000-05:00

Today rings in the 2010 NFL season.

Football is big at the Arnegard house.

This was bright and early, with all 3 girls in their Viking apparel ready for game day.

How does this happen?

2010-09-05T14:46:00.000-05:00

The past 4 days I have not worked out. I have ate what I want, within reason (like a Bacon Cheeseburger and curls from Hardees, enchaladas, mochas...) yet I have still lost 2 more pounds!

I am getting closer! I gained 54 lbs with Dylan and have 11 pounds of baby weight left. I want to lose 5 more in addition... so 16 lbs to go! My goal is Nov 1st, that is why the bats in my ticker... 8 weeks to lose my final 16 lbs, I have been on track at 2 lbs a week. Oddly enough, after my first which I gained 48 lbs, I had lost 70 by the 4 month mark and I am 2 weeks away from 4 months - I guess it goes slower the 3rd time... (With Taylor I gained 38 and lost it all in 3 weeks).

The best part of my day!

2010-08-30T16:32:00.001-05:00

So the last two days have been ones that I would rather spend drinking than with my kids. I have had a 3 month old going through a growth spurt - eating constantly and having issues napping today. Last night she slept well at night, but the two previous nights she had 2 wakings a night. My darling 2 year old and 4 year old are the best of friends, but this does not help the noise level in my house. With a husband who works sleeps during the days 10 days a month, this causes me quite the anxiety... Where are the drinks?!

Well, last night I got the "big girls" to bed at 8:15 pm. Taylor wanted cuddles, but Dylan was fussy and was yet to go to bed. I told her that after I got Dylan to sleep I would come check on her.
She said, "And cuddle me?"
"Yes," I told her.

So, 15 minutes later, I snuck back into her room. Her big sister asleep already on the top bunk. As I walked closer to her, I could see a HUGE smile on her face. It melted my heart to see the look in her eyes with that smile. I made her night by coming to cuddle her and she made my day. She wrapped her arms around me and fell asleep.

Today's Craft

2010-08-26T14:15:00.000-05:00

I had a wild hair today to go buy the supplies to make a birthstone necklace for myself.

I have seen similar things online with crazy prices... so here is mine:

The beads on the top and the bottom of thier names are their birthstones.

Alex is October which is pink, Taylor is December which is light blue and Dylan is May which is an Emerald (green).

First Day of School!

2010-08-25T10:01:00.000-05:00

This is my oldest daughter's first day of preschool. It almost feels like when I dropped her off at daycare at 8 weeks old, almost. Now she can play with other kids, smile, laugh, talk, pee in the toilet, eat solids and feed herself.

Here is Alex on her first day of school.

Maybe I should get used to calling her Alexandra. She has to go by Alexandra at school since there is another Alex in her class.

Well, I was a little sad to leave her... a little sad to have a quiet house when she was gone.

She didn't seem to care, she just got to play with new friends, her cousin and an old friend. Her little sister was mad she couldn't stay to play too. Her baby sister celebrated this milestone by napping in her carseat.

Gone are the times we can pick up and go on a trip in the middle of the week. We may not work 8-5 M-F jobs, but we have school now!

My first 5k!

2010-08-21T14:31:00.001-05:00

So, I accomplished my goal. Please pass the doritos, pizza, donuts and ice cream please!

I ran a 5k this morning that I planned for less than 24 hours. It was the Miles for Smiles run to benefit pink scarf and the Bismarck cancer center.

I bribed my Sister in law (by paying her fee) to walk the race pushing Dylan in the stroller. Her wonderful husband allowed me to drop my other girls off at his house to lounge and watch cartoons with their two kids. The only foul was that Taylor peed on the bathroom floor, her pants and panties trying to go potty there. I did provide breakfast for them making the struessel banana muffins I blogged about here. I also made homemade granola bars. These were awesome. I made them yesterday and there is barely any left! The kids all LOVE them!

Okay, back to the run... I jogged the whole time repeating to myself as I was passed many, many times that time does not matter because I have a 3 months old. I have never ran a 5k, much less 3 months and 6 days after I had a baby. I had my heart rate monitor on but tried not to pay attention to it and tried to push myself.... I ran 20 minutes of the race with my heart rate above 85%. It took me about 33 minutes to complete the race (5.5 mph - not too bad!). Of course, I was second or third from the end of the runners - but I did it! I have the Friends of Youth race in a month that is put on with the Bismarck marathon. I would love to finish it in less than 30 minutes, so that is what I have to strive for over the next month.

I celebrated my success this morning by taking my three angels grocery shopping at Wal-Mart (after I showered, started laundry and gave the girls a snack). We then went to Wendy's drive thru for lunch which I had the new Apple Pecan chicken salad. It was great! I inhaled it I was so hungry... The website says that it is 580 calories, which is a little more than my normal salad I make for lunch... still GREAT! After, I unloaded groceries, put them away, emptied the dishwasher, loaded the dirty dishes into the dishwasher (and hand washed a few), emptied the trash, switched laundry and picked up clothes that we took this morning.

I am exhausted. I will close my giving myself this:

Not because I think I did super, duper excellent. Not because I beat a few people in my run. But because I jogged the whole thing and I accomplished a 5k after 3 kids (one who is just 3 months!).

My first 5k!

2010-08-20T14:08:00.000-05:00

I signed up to run a 5k in September, but I saw in the paper one that is being held tomorrow. With the help of my Sister in law, to walk pushing my 3 month old in her stroller and her husband to watch my two older kids, I will be running tomorrow! I am super-duper excited! :o) I also weighed myself and it read 185. Super!! I am down 39 lbs and 15 from my pre-PG weight and 20 from my goal 10 weeks to get there. I guess it may have been easier to not gain 54 lbs with my pregnancy, but then Starbucks would have went out of business! :o)

My girls - picture comparisions

2010-08-18T15:56:00.000-05:00

Feel free to guess who is who in these pictures:

Picture #1

Picture #2

Picture #3

Do they look anything alike? This is at about age 3 months for each.

Here are a few more just for fun!

Game #2,

Pic A

Pic B

Pic C

Place your guesses now!

My highlights~

2010-08-18T13:37:00.000-05:00

I post about my kids a lot and my struggles with them. Here is one blog entry just about me...

I have been running most days of each week for about 3 weeks now - usually 2-3 miles a day. I have been watching what I eat, most days for the past 3 weeks. I am happy to say that I am now down to 186 - with 21 lbs to go by November 1st.

Baby's crying... that is all. :o)

My naughty daugher...

2010-08-15T18:00:00.000-05:00

It has not been a secret that we have had our share of challenges with our dear 4 year old since the birth of her baby sister. I think this latest one takes the cake for naughtiness. Yes, she has started to pee the bed at night since her sister, yes, she gets into trouble when I am feeding the baby, yes she pushes and bosses her two year old sister around, yes she is always in the babies face.... however this one makes the rest look so minor.

Despite her actions a few weeks ago, I ran on the treadmill and put the baby on her blanket in the living room while I showered. Alex comes running into the bathroom telling me that baby puked. I tell Alex to hold her on her side and I will take care of it when I get out (I had conditioner in my hair). Alex leaves and runs back saying that baby has puke on her eyes. I jump out of the shower and poor Dylan is screaming like she is hurt. (I tried to cover with my towel, I just pray no one was out taking a walk by my house that day. We have a 8x6 foot bay window in our living room that would have had quite the show in it!) I get baby cleaned a bit and place her in her bouncey and reprimand Alex. I return to the shower, throw something on and give the baby a bath. Alex later fessed up that she was trying to shove a pacifier (which Dylan does not like) into her baby sister's mouth to get her to be quiet.

NOPE, that was not the naughtiest thing!

Last night the girls really want to see the 11 year old neighbor girl. There had been no activity at their house all day and she saw that her dad was home then. I told Alex that we would go outside after Dylan woke up because she had just fell asleep. The girls were watching cartoons and Dylan was asleep in her bouncey seat. I took advantage of the moment and went to my bedroom to fold laundry. I come out to check on them just in time to hear Dylan start screaming, from a dead sleep. At first, I thought she was having a dream - but then it progressed and got worse. Taylor first tells me that she hit baby in the eye. It comes out shortly that ALEX flicked her sleeping baby sister in the eye to get her to wake up so she could see the neighbor girl sooner. REALLY?! If you turn off the baby's vibrator on her chair, she wakes. If the girls yell, she wakes. But NO! Her sister thought that it was somehow a good idea to hit her baby sister in the eye while she is sleeping! WTF?!

Have I ever mentioned that I am glad she starts preschool soon, very soon.

New recipes!

2010-08-14T17:25:00.001-05:00

So, I have made a commitment to be healthier, so I went through an old issue of Healthy Cooking Magazine to pull recipes. (My Grandma bought us Taste of Home subscriptions and when she passed, my Mom decided that with her inheritance it was her roll to pay for my and my sister's subscriptions, but switched to Light & Tasty which later changed to Healthy Cooking.)
Here are a few that we have made in the past few days. Wheat Germ Streusel Banana Muffins - this got top reviews from all of us. I have to admit that I could not find wheat germ, so I skipped it - but the streusel is the best part! Fruited Mixed Greens Salad - to my surprise this was actually liked well by my kids too!!! They did not like the walnuts, and Taylor did not like the rasperries, but they ate it better than I expected! I did add a chicken breast to Wade's and mine and split one between the girls. I didn't want it to be a side but a meal.
Tonight, I made the Texan Ranch Chicken Casserole which was a big flop in my house. Taylor refused to touch it, Alex ate 3 bites and asked if she could be done.... Then they ate a yogurt instead....
Much to my husband's dismay, I picked all of my recipes for this month (or I should say, pay period - I plan meals & shop every 2 weeks) from this magazine. My goal was to keep dinner about 400 calories so I can lose weight. So far, so good. Today I slacked from running but was down to 187 (17 PG lbs to go!) and probably 22 to my goal and 10 weeks to do it.

Here are a few other light recipes we throw into rotation:
http://halfmysize.com/index.php/recipes/cheesy-chicken-macaroni-cheese-casserole
http://halfmysize.com/index.php/recipes/crockpot-cheesy-chicken-spaghetti
http://halfmysize.com/index.php/recipes/broccoli-cheese-tater-tot-casserole

So, what is my goal weight?

2010-08-04T14:05:00.000-05:00

When I was doing Weight Watchers last year, I think the top weight for my height of 5'9" was 169 - by current BMI standards. So, of course, this was the goal - 165-169 or so. I think I got down to 160 at one time....

Well, I found an old calorie counter book. I wanted to look up calories in the tomato, onion and avacado in my salad. Well, the book was published in 1972 (before I was born). According to the chart in that book, my top weight should be 158 lbs. Now, it may be doable, but harder to maintain.... lets be real. How many Moms of 3 (or more) kids can really be that small? If you can, I hate you. Okay, not really, but you are the girl we all wanted to be in school. Oh - wait - that was me in school! Having kids has certainly messed with my metabolism. I think I was 145 when I graduated high school and maybe 150 when I got married (but I worked out 1-2 times a day and ate 1500 cal/day to acheive that at 27!). Just to compare, I never tried to lose weight or watch my waist until I got engaged. I was 165 when I graduate college and I age whatever I wanted, but I also played softball and had team practice 3-4 hours a day.

I guess what caught me by reading this old book was how the standard of slim has changed so over 35 years. I have set my goal of 2 lbs a week, 2000 cal a day (since I am nursing!), 300-500 a day calorie burn AND to reach my goal weight by November 1st! I am not sure if my goal will be 158, 169 or maybe somewhere in between.... all look better to me than 189-194 that I have been fluctuating since June.

Pics of the kids

2010-08-01T11:21:00.000-05:00

So, here is an easy update to my blog... Alex & Taylor goofing around. Such pretty smiles!
The littlest princess thinking Daddy is SO funny!

Smiling in her princess shirt....

Don't we all have pics like this that the kids dressed themselves?

I've let her go out in a dress and rainboots before... the husband is a little embarrassed at that.

Here is Dylan's picture that will be on the screen at church Sunday at her baptism.

Preschool!

2010-07-26T16:33:00.001-05:00

Well, it seems surreal that one of my girls is starting preschool. Yet, I cannot tell you how happy I am about it. I have had a very trying last few months with our preschooler and will welcome the reprieve that school will give me. However, thinking that next year will be everyday, all day makes me a little sad. 3 mornings a week seems doable though. Of course we are not really morning people, so getting her to school by 8:30 may be difficult... I have been getting up about 6 - 6:30 with Dylan and Taylor is routinely up by 7:30, but Alex is the sleeper in the house... I guess Tuesday/Thursday will be sleeping days and bedtimes will have to be enforced in our house (supposed to be 8:30 pm).

On another note, I think that Dylan has reached a point that she needs to nap in her crib rather than in her bouncy seat.... She sleeps awesome at night, but rarely at all during the day.

Explosive diapers

2010-07-21T17:49:00.001-05:00

So yesterday my dear daughter had her 2 month shots - poor girl! :o( She has been down to 1-2 poops a day but the rotavirus vaccine causes diarehea, so she had more yesterday. I was feeding her at bedtime and she started pooping. Well, I then feel something warm on my crotch. Well, it turns out that her poop went out the back of the diaper, as it does when she poops while I am feeding her. It was a lot of poop, so it ran down the front of ME and all over the chair I was sitting in. You know there is a problem when the MOM needs to shower after the baby poops. It is just wrong that I had poop in my butt crack from her diaper! I already planned this, but after this pack of diapers, we are going up a size. :o)

I am so tired of this!

2010-07-18T13:34:00.001-05:00

I am pretty disgusted with myself. Though I weigh only a bit more than I did when Taylor was this age, all my weight has changed places, yet again. My ass and my middle have taken the blunt of my weight and it is not leaving. Of course, I have not tried that hard long term to eat right or to stick to exercise. I do good for about a week, then stop. Prior to getting pregnant last fall, I was wearing a 10-12. Now I am a 14-16. I did buy a pair of jeans and a pair of capris in a 16 - but was hoping to go down quicker... so I didn't buy more. Well, in a 14, I have quite the muffin top and the waist rolls down under my belly when I sit. This makes me feel like a hot mama, let me tell ya!

It is hard to stick to exercise daily when the H works 4 on, 4 off plus mandatory summer overtime (5 days this week, 6 night next week). Somedays I like his shifts, others I would kill to have a "normal" 9-5 husband. When he works, he is gone 15 hours a day - and does not eat a single meal with us. I know that I have the joy of being a SAHM, but his hours can be frustrating and lonely.

It is so sad that I started this pregancy weighing the least amount that I have with all 3 girls (170 this one, 180 w/ Alex and 184 w / Taylor), yet this time I gained the most and am so far, having the toughest time getting it off. I lost 70 lbs in 4 months of having Alex (gained 50 w/ my PG), lost all 38 I gained w/ Tay w/i 3 weeks and stayed there for the next year and a half until I did weight Watchers to lose another 30. I gained 54 with Dylan - I lost 30 lbs in the first 2 weeks and I have been STUCK since! 194 does not look pretty on me! I have ran or walked 1.5-2 miles a day for 7 days. I took today off and have decided that I really need to look at what I am eating more. However, I wonder if my body hangs on to fat while I am nursing....
If you have any solutions, let me know!

Life of a runner?!

2010-07-16T13:47:00.000-05:00

Well, I think 5 days in a row I have ran now. (Ha! Does that make me a runner?!) Well, I ran 1.5 mi outside in 17 minutes, then 2 miles outside in 22 minutes. I ran 1.5 miles the last 2 days on the treadmill and a little over 2 miles today. I wanted to go more, but the 2nd interuption by my 4 yo, made me stop - and the baby was starting to cry too.....

So, I wake with the baby in the morning and shower before the morning activities - because that is what I do. I shower in the morning to feel human. So, I typically eat lunch - get Dylan and Taylor down for naps - then change and run on the treadmill downstairs. I then shower again to feel human and not like a sweat monster... I also have to put on a tight sports bra to run since I am nursing... so I feel the shower has to happen fast in case my now 2 month old needs to eat, since the sports bra is tight and does not allow any wiggle room (thankfully!).

I don't know if this working out is helping my waistline... I know to want results after 5 days is expecting a lot (isn't it?). Well, I am not limiting my diet though. I think this is a fine line to walk. To eat enough to produce for your kid - yet to eat little enough that your body will feed the baby off your fat reserves.... I still have 25 lbs I want to lose so this may take a few more months. I think I will focus on running until after my 5K in September, then I will do more 30 day shred for toning in addition to running.

My big note for the week is that my 2 month old slept 3 nights this week from 9-9:30 pm until 6 - 6:30 am! 8-9 hours 3 nights out of 4! That makes a Mommy have a great big smile! :o) Alex didn't sleep like that until she was 4.5 months, Taylor didn't sleep like that until LAST SUMMER!

Update on freezer meals

2010-07-14T13:46:00.000-05:00

Well, having the freezer meals before baby was such a wonderful thing that I am thinking of doing it for good. When what I have is gone, I am thinking of making 10-15 meals per month to have on hand. I am really liking not cooking when Wade is working. Not that I make gourmet meals, but it frees up time for sure. We are having meatloaf and broccoli & rice bake for dinner tonight! We are getting to the end of our meals. :o(

Baby's First Camping Trip!

2010-07-10T17:55:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I know we are insane.

We took Dylan camping in Devils Lake, ND at 7 weeks old. We left on July 5th - which was a 3 hour drive (turned pretty much 4). Stayed 2 nights and returned. We went up there to visit friends from Kansas who have family in Devils Lake. We figure if they travel that far - and are so close we can go 3 hours to see them. Here is Wade, Alex and Taylor as they are preparing to go fishing. They got to go out on the boat, but returned empty handed.
Here is Dylan sleeping in a mushroom chair at our campsite.

Here is the view from our campsite.

Here Dylan is looking around in her pack n play.

Another of our little lady.

This trip would not have been possible if I did not stay in the camper with our friends and their kids. They have Jack who is 2 months younger than Alex, Bodie who is 4 months younger than Taylor and an opps - Tucker is 6 months older than Dylan.

Priorities

2010-06-30T16:40:00.001-05:00

Well, I am working on priorities. The house is clean (enough), dinner is in the oven and all 3 kids are content....

I have not worked out in probably a week with the exception of walking a mile roundtrip to the park yesterday (which really is not enough to count especially since it was to eat lunch with girlfriends). During nap times, I have napped or attempted to instead. I have lost a pound or two recently how I am not quite sure....

I guess, I haven't put working out as high of a priority lately because I know that rest is just as important (if not more). The baby weight will come off eventually. Not this week with the 4th of July festivities and a camping trip (cabin or tent?). I bought junk for camping - pop tarts, smores stuff, chips, etc.... I keep thinking if I should make brownies, krispy bars or other goodies to take to! We will have our 3 kids plus we will be meeting friends who also have a 4 yo and a 2 yo - plus an 8 month old (and maybe a 10 year old).

Okay, dinner tonight is a chicken n cheese casserole - from my sister. Super Duper easy. 1 can cream of mushroom, 1 chicken breast, cooked and chopped. 1 cup cooked macarroni noodles, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Mix together and bake at 350 for 45 minutes, covered - then 15 minutes uncovered (I added more cheese on the top at this point). I also added some chopped mushrooms. Okay, this is the recipe halved for my family. Double it and that is the origional to fit my sisters family of 8.

What's new....

2010-06-29T18:08:00.000-05:00

Here are some recent pics of the girls.... Alex & Taylor playing dress up...
Taylor's green eyes

Baby Dylan's almost smile

And Alex & Taylor jumping in the puddle after a recent thunderstorm.

Here are our rockers. Alex is in Godsmack, Dylan in AC/DC and Taylor in Guns & Roses. Ironically, Dylan pooped on hers before we got to the birthday party....

If it is not poop it is puke (or both!).

Life of a Mom of 3

2010-06-16T13:42:00.000-05:00

You probably noticed that for the last month, I have been horrible at blogging. Well, as a new Mom of 3, I do not get downstairs to use the computer much- to check email let alone blog.

For 6 days now, I have made a commitment to run a mile on the treadmill during Taylor's nap, so I have been downstairs once a day. Dylan sleeps or watches me from the swing. Alex watches cartoons and plays in the toy room. I am now up to a 12 minute mile or 5 miles per hour. Slowly but surely, I will get into shape - and a shape that is less round.

So, as a new Mom of 3, I think that I keep the house cleaner - because I am on the computer less. My kids watch the same amount of cartoons... I have resorted to freezer meals (pre-made pre-baby) while the husband is working. I need to work on drinking more water, especially before 11 am and not eating so many sweets. I vow that after the current treats are gone, I will not make more. THEN maybe I will lose weight. This week's weigh in was no change. I can wear jeans now - though they are tighter than I like... I just need to further deflate this belly....

Should I?

2010-06-11T13:42:00.000-05:00

My pondering is should I sign up to run a 5K in Spetember? This would be about 4 months post partum.... I am 4 weeks out now and just ran my first entire mile, straight. I ran at 4.5 mph, which is not impressive, but I did it w/o stopping!!!

Wednesday my weigh in was 194- down 30 lbs since I gave birth. 24 pounds of baby weight to go. I am going to start trying now..... (yep, 30 lbs w/o an effort.)

Back to my question... I know that 3 miles is doable, so I know I can do it. Paying a registration fee would make me invested to do it. Having a fitness goal 3 months out to train for, would keep me on track. I have ran in the past to lose weight for my wedding, but I have never done a race (even though to me it would be about completing, not competing). I look at it as an opportunity to help me lose the 24 lbs faster....

I am almost sold...

The newborn

2010-06-06T16:42:00.000-05:00

So, I am one handed typing as I feed the baby with the other. I am adjusting to 3 kids well. I am shocked that my baby is almost a month old!!! We went to the zoo for a few hours today because the husband was sleeping and the two older kids were driving me crazy!! I fed the newborn twice and had to carry her in the sling most of the time... but it was a good trip. We did a picnic lunch and got home for all 3 to nap. :o)

Before #1 & #3 napped though, Dylan pooped while she was eating. I swear this kid is 'insert nipple to poop'. Well, she was wearing a two piece outfit, short and a tank - but the poop came out the back of her diaper. She avoided getting poop on her AT ALL and it ran all over the crotch of my navy blue pants instead. I grabbed the burp rag and wiped up a little, took her to her room to clean her up (diaper change).

The eldest child is still in my face and the baby's ALL THE TIME.... she has not tried to pick her up, but it is very annoying...

2 weeks down....

2010-05-31T09:59:00.001-05:00

Well, the husband went back to work. This is day 3 or being alone with the girls. I am not complaining... I did take a few adventures on my own before he left so I knew I could do it alone... it is always nice to have an extra set of hands though. Alex asked me last night when we could go outside and I told her, on Daddy's day off. :o) With a baby that does not like the wind and two active girls that drag every possible toy out, it just seemed like too much.

Dylan is a good baby. For the most part, she eats, sleeps, poops and pees. She gets fussy when she has a poopy diaper or when she is tired (or if she needs to eat and isn't fed immediately). Taylor is a good big sister. I am not too sure she realizes that anything has changed. As long as she gets about 10 minutes of Mommy time each day, she is fine. Alex on the other hand is having a tough time adjusting... She has been the harder child even before Dylan came out though. She has a tough time listening most days and was waking earlier than normal - which entailed naps pretty much every day in exchange. It is getting better, but she has a tough time allowing the baby to sleep instead of pestering her all the time.

Here is my frustration. I expected my baby weight to melt off a little quicker... I am 2.5 weeks out and have lost half my baby weight (27 lbs). Saturday and Sunday I did Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred, so hopefully workouts help.... I cannot fit into any jeans I own yet.... I was in a size 10 when I got pregnant and a 14 still is tighter than I am comfortable. We are seeing old friends from Kansas over the 4th and I am hoping to lose a good deal of the remaining 27 lbs before then. I know my toughest part is watching what I stick in my mouth....

She's here!

2010-05-23T11:05:00.001-05:00

Dylan Marie Arnegard arrived Friday May 14th at 6:01 pm.

Her birth was induced the day before my due date.

She entered the world weighing 8 lbs, 5 ounces and was 21 inches long. She has dark brown hair and blue eyes.
She loves to eat, sleep and poop.

Her big sisters Alex and Taylor could not be happier to have a new baby in the family.

Still here...

2010-05-12T04:54:00.001-05:00

I guess I should update my blog since I got one call and one text yesterday asking if I still had the baby or how I was doing...

I was unmotivated to post anything after my uneventful doc appt on Monday. Last Thursday (5/6) I went in and had my membranes stripped. Saturday, Sunday and Monday I was crampy with painful contractions. When I went to the doc Monday afternoon, I had only progressed from 10% effaced and 1 cm to 40% effaced and 1 cm. I was super duper disappointed that with all the cramps, pressure, and pain that was all I had progressed. I had my membranes stripped again which sent me to the ceiling of the office....

So... I went home and did what any rational expectant Mom would do. I loaded my girls in the double jogger and took them on a a 3.5 mile walk. It really didn't do anything for my contractions.... they were barley there at all.

Yesterday I was still feeling down about this lack of progress, so I took recycling in (3 huge trash bags of plastics, 2 bags of plastic bags, 1 overflowing tote of cardboard and a box of newspaper) - then I went shopping. I spent $120 of my birthday/Mother's Day money and got 5 t-shirts, 3 tanks, 1 pair of casual capri's, 1 pair of jeans and 1 pair of athletic pants. I hit the clearance racks and think I got some cute items that are a little bigger for after baby.

So, after my time alone, I came home and ate lunch with the husband and kids. The husband made homemade mac & cheese and defrosted some leftover chili to put in ours. Funny thing is that he put probably 1/2 cup of chili in his bowl of pasta where he put about 2 tablespoons in mine. I am not complaining. I got the flavor without heartburn which is something since french toast made with leftover beer bread gave me heartburn as well as a strawberry banana smoothie that I made later in the day. Of course as did the nachos I made for dinner, but can a PG lady really eat Fiesta Nacho Cheese sauce and expect no hb? :o) I also walked my 1.5 miles on the treadmill after I got home despite the incredible pain and pressure - but I made it!

So, I am up this early again... the birds started chirping at 4 am. The husband got up for work, but I was up before that having contrax about 5 minutes apart... Nothing painful or too annoying... so I thought I would eat since my stomach was growling (isn't it always?!) - and drink some water to see if it helps the contrax. Planning to go walk with the kids around the zoo this morning with friends....

The birds start chirping....

2010-05-10T05:26:00.000-05:00

Did you know that the birds start chirping between 4:30-5 am?!

They do.

I have been cursed with pregnancy insomnia for what 8 months or so now. Usually I wake early to pee, tend to one of the already born kids, or both and cannot get back to sleep. Or like this morning, when the husband gets up at 4 am to go to work... I am used to this by now and I do not try to fight laying in bed forever and not sleeping, so I typically get up. So, it is 5:30 am and I have been awake for at least an hour now... to avoid waking one of those before mentioned born children, I sneak downstairs to enjoy some Captain Crunch and a glass of chocolate milk. I may be able to fall back asleep for a little bit before I need to be up with the kidlets....

Today I am going to a Mom's Club Mother's Day brunch and then hitting the doc's office again in the afternoon. The girl's Great Grandma will be coming over to watch them for an hour and a half or so while I go to the doc's.... they are very familiar with her, but this is her first time babysitting for me. I just hope the girls do not melt down when I leave.....

Last belly picture?

2010-05-08T09:37:00.000-05:00

Could this be my last belly pic? We shall see!!

Snow in May?!

2010-05-07T05:12:00.000-05:00

Really, is this necessary?? When I went to bed last night there was still just rain. I woke up this morning to white stuff at least where I can see on the deck. Hello Mother Nature!! It is MAY! We are supposed to have sunny skies, warm temps to let our kids outside to play and lots of flowers to look at! Days like this, I do not think I have "settled" into North Dakota.... not that it is warm or nice in Oregon where I am from - but I bet flowers are blooming (oh, wait - oh neighbors here had flowers blooming last week too - they are probably dead now!). Despite the thunderstorms (and occasional tornado), I liked the Kansas weather. Well, I say that loosely.... I hated the 100 degree humid summers, so I guess if I want to escape the KS heat, I have to take the ND snow?!

Well, I guess our Coffee and Chat this morning will be inside at the mall.

We're progressing!

2010-05-06T18:45:00.000-05:00

Today at the doc I was 1 cm dialated and 10% effaced, wth baby at -2. I got my membranes stripped (which made me rethink an epirual this time). I also go in Monday afternoon and Thursday morning for more stripping. This has made me more crampy and contrax more painful....

Baby's nursery

2010-05-05T14:54:00.000-05:00

So, after our inconvenient timing with our crib's recall, here is the baby's nursery. I am well aware that the woods do not match, but what are we going to do?

The crib and changing table match (which my Mother-in-Law bought and brought us yesterday) and the dresser (Picture below) matches our twin bed that we have in storage. The toy box was made by my Step-Father-In-Law for Taylor's 1st birthday - but we have no where else to put it. He has two grandchildren (three with Taylor) that were born all born from Halloween through the end of January (what is that - 3 months?). Here is the crib and changing table. There are baskets on the changing table that contain diapers and wipes, bibs, towels and burp cloths. I bought espresso baskets from Signature Homestyles at a party I did last year. As well as the car seat sitting on top of the changing table.

This is the other side of the room. The white cabinet has blankets in it - the box on the dresser is a snack pack that a friend made me for when the baby is born! (How sweet!!) The blanket on the glider was made by my parents. They have an Alpaca Ranch in Oregon, so this is made of pure alpaca.

So, with 10 days before my due date, the nursery is finally ready for the baby!!!

I walked 1.5 miles today and yesterday at 3 miles an hour (quick for a 9 month pregnant lady!!)

Age question answered!

2010-05-04T16:34:00.000-05:00

Well, since I found out I was pregnant, the question remained if I would be 32 when I delivered (prior to 38w, 2d) or if I would be 33 (after 38w, 3d). Well, I turned 33 today, so that question is answered. So far, we made breakfast, I walked on the treadmill, got ready and went to lunch at Red Lobster. After lunch I came home and took a nap. :o) Now, we are having family over in about an hour for a pizza dinner. I will focus mainly on salad so I can have a piece of my fabulous ice cream cake from Coldstone. Okay, I linked the cakes, I have the peanut butter playground in my freezer as I type. I wanted to dig into it earlier....

So far, the husband gave me a Starbucks giftcard, I got $25 from my parents and $20 from my FIL. I am already planning to go next week for a pedicure so I have pretty feet when I have this baby. Of course, I have already had my fair share of contrax, so I guess I would let baby come out even if I have ugly feet!

3rd tri fatigue?!

2010-05-03T06:48:00.000-05:00

Well, yesterday was a lazy day and I did not walk again! Is this 3rd trimester fatigue?

Well, I do know one thing. This baby better come out with hair. I had the worst heartburn ever the other night after the H made chili. It wasn't even spicy and I asked him if he should put some chili powder in it so you can taste the spice. :o) We ate at 5:30 and at 10:15 I was still in pain after 6 tums. Last night we had a smoked pork roast and I had to take 4 tums. I am ordered to buy more today since the bottle will not make it another 12 days (or 14 to my induction date).

I'm a slacker!

2010-05-01T08:43:00.000-05:00

Well, I did not walk yesterday.

I also did not sit down for a break until after 7 pm, so I think it is okay.... I took the girls to play with friends at the play mall and did sit and chat while I watched the kids for that 2 hours. My key to sanity is to dress them in the same color when they will be in a crowd of kids. Weather it be lime green, pink, purple, yellow - to only look for one color is priceless.

So I went grocery shopping after I met the H for lunch. He kept the girls at home and I got to shop all alone. Unfortunately I had to inquire at Wal-Mart about the Simplicity Crib recalls. Yeah... this was our crib... We had to take it apart and return it to Wal-Mart. In my surprise they gave us a cash exchange for it. They only had 2 cribs in stock at Wal-Mart, neither that we liked, so we went to Target and bought a new crib there.

I am getting ahead of myself.... I got home from grocery shopping and unloaded $200 worth of groceries and because our model number was on recall, I then began to take the crib apart - after calling the store and they said that I could not keep the changer part... (Boo!) So.... We took the crib apart and returned it to Wal-Mart. We bought a new crib at Target and by the end of the night, I had the new crib put together and ready for baby to arrive. We still need the matching changing table - but they didn't have it in stock.... but it is better than thinking if you have the baby he/she may end up sleeping in the bouncer or swing upon coming home! :o) I will post pics of the new crib soon.

Eviction Date Set!

2010-04-29T13:06:00.000-05:00

So, if this little one does not decide to come on his or her own, we will start the eviction process Tuesday May 18th - either at midnight or 6:30 am depending on how things look before that. Today, was just a standard doc appt with weight, BP, measurements and heart beat. Baby's heart beat was mid 150's today. The doc was stuck at the surgery center and I had the girls with me, so I saw the PA. We skipped the internal this week (my choice). No need for added questions from the kidlets. So, 5 days until my birthday, 10 days until Mother's Day, 16 days until my due date, 19 days until baby's eviction and 30 days until our 6 year anniversary. Looks like a busy month ahead of us!

2 for 2 asleep!

2010-04-28T15:03:00.000-05:00

Of course, what is Mommy doing? Blogging! :o) I actually hit the treadmill for my mile and a half walk too. I found out that I have to return to the church this afternoon that we have Moms Club events at to retrieve my daughter's beloved baby Cinderella doll.... So with dinner at MIL's about 4:45 - I doubt with these late nappers I will have time to get outside in windy ND for a walk.

17 days...

2010-04-28T09:41:00.001-05:00

So what does a Mama do when she has 2.5 weeks left until her due date (and probably 3 weeks left until her induction date)?

This morning, I have washed 2 loads of clothes (I hate dirty clothes sitting around). I loaded the dishwasher and ran it. I love my new dishwasher. I can take a sink full of dishes and even baked on pans and throw them in and they come clean! I gave the girls a bath... I have to run and exchange a printer cartridge before I do lunch with girlfriends. Then this afternoon will be nap/quiet time and a walk and park time. We had FIL's birthday party last night, so we are invited to MIL's tonight for supper to eat leftovers. I am just estatic that I do not have to cook two nights in a row! :o) I took the girls on my standard 1.5 mi walk yesterday, but had so many contractions and pressure that it was almost unbearable. I am thinking of increasing this to 2.6 mi today to hit a different park than yesterday.... this may change with how I am feeling and how long the Tater Tot naps.

Tomorrow is the doc and I am turning down being violated so I can bring the girlies with me.

19 days... what's left?

2010-04-26T07:52:00.000-05:00

Well, today is a rare rainy day that we have no plans. We are going to run to the grocery store to get brownie and cake mix before the sale ends... but that is it. I already started laundry and ran vinegar through the coffee pots after I fixed mine. Alex, who gets vinegar for being naughty thought I should get in trouble for having the vinegar out - and told me, "Daddy doesn't like the smell of that." Well, that is why I did it at 7:30 and Daddy won't be home for 12 hours! :o) Maybe it will diffuse the scent of bacon from yesterday though!

As far as the baby front, I am still walking at least 1.5 mi a day - somedays 2.5-3 but doubtfully with the rain since I am not that big of a treadmill fan. Nothing is happening... I go back to the doc Thursday and will not be checked because I am taking the girls with me. So, the 6th or the 13th I can hope for progression and then will have my membranes stripped. If I have no luck on my own, we will go to the hospital at midnight on the 19th to begin the fun of my 3rd induction! I washed baby clothes, packed my hospital bag and the girls Gma bag... I just need to install the car seat in the van. I also have to go grocery shopping this week and think about it as stocking up so I don't have to run out with a 1-2 week old. I do need to take recycling to the recycling center as well.....

22 days and so many thoughts...

2010-04-23T14:37:00.000-05:00

Well, today the H was home and I got to take a walk by myself. I lengthened my normal walk of 1.45 mi - and walked about 2.3 miles in about 50 minutes. Of course, beyond swelling like a balloon in the heat of 68 degrees there is nothing notable beyond pelvic pressure, contractions and good tunes. I wish I knew how to get this baby to engage in my pelvis, how to control swelling and how to avoid another induction. This weekend I need to pack my hospital bag and the girls "Grandma" bag. I also need to install the car seat into the van, just so we are ready. I washed some baby onsies that I had been given (that still had tags on). I am pretty much ready, just waiting for my body to progress.... I hate to say it but I feel great. I have very few aches and pains and I have a fair amount of energy. Once I can get to sleep, I sleep great. (Though 3 days this week I heard the newspaper delivery guys come.) I have 30 meals in the freezer waiting for after baby to arrive.... I don't know what else I can do.... 22 days and counting....

Baby Update!

2010-04-22T13:58:00.000-05:00

Hello! We had our final ultrasound today. Baby is now measuring 7 lbs, 3 oz and is adorable! We got to see him/her stick its tongue out as well as try to put his/her hand in its mouth. I did ask to try to see a gender, but baby had its butt up and legs closed, so it remains a mystery! We have the option of doing an induction May 10th, or waiting until the 19th and right now I am leaning towards the 19th if nothing happens on its own before then. By then, baby is estimated to weigh about 9.5 lbs give or take. My due date is May 15th - only 23 days from today! Attached is a picture of baby's profile from today - so cute!

If you have not yet taken a guess as to what our baby is, when he'she will arrive, the weight and length, join the game at www.expectnet.com and enter the game name: ourbabynumber3.

Baby turned!

2010-04-20T08:24:00.000-05:00

So last night, my fears of a breach baby disappeared when I woke at 2:30 am to rib kicks. They never felt so good! Baby has been his/her active self this morning giving me a bunch of kicks to watch!!!

Breach baby?

2010-04-19T16:36:00.000-05:00

So, here is it less than a month before my due date and the baby has flipped. I am fairly certain that after having baby head down for the past two months, he/she has turned and is hanging out head up or transverse. I woke last night to pee and was up for 2 hours having my cervix kicked. I am really hoping and praying that this baby turns so I can avoid a C-section. The very thought scares me. I am NOT a homebody and not being able to do my usual outings will drive me stir crazy. I really don't realize how much I pick up the girls, but at 36 weeks pregnant, I still pick them both up. I am a Mom and I cannot help it! I pick up Taylor and carry her more, but she is only two and is only 27 pounds. I do pick up Alex to help her into the chair to sit with me, put her on her bunk occasionally and help her on the swing at the park. I am really trying hard not to think about it, but I know my doc and I know that if the u/s does not show a head down baby on Thursday, she will schedule a section. Hopefully if that happens, baby will turn before the date and we will not need that. I also believe that I heard that my doc's surgery day is on Tuesdays (could be wrong), so if it is.... she would either want to do it on my B-day (May 4th - 38 weeks, 3 days) or my sister's B-day (May 11th - 39w, 3d).
This thought scares me. Do not ask me why, but I would rather know I will have stitches down a little farther than a doctor cutting my stellar abs! :o)

I also need to say that last Thursday was the 3rd day I have taken off from walking in the past 4.5 weeks. I did not walk because I grocery shopped in the morning and it was a cool, windy day. I finished up my freezer meals that day. I made 4 more meals and 2 snacks. I have 30 or 31 meals total plus 6 loaves of bread (5 garlic, 1 amish), and 1 fruit salad that can be breakfast or a snack and wonderful PB bars that I will have to post the recipe!! So, bring on the baby, I am ready!!!

36 weeks!

2010-04-18T13:03:00.000-05:00

Holy Baby Belly! Seriously, how much bigger can this thing get?

Most of my shirts okay, ALL of my shirts are are now too short. I am carrying so much lower than I did with my girls... I guess things that are made as dresses (yet bearly cover my rear) is my only option!

I enjoy feeling baby move and I look forward to holding our baby. I could live without heartburn/reflux and pelvic pressure (really, I NEVER felt this w/ the girls!).
Plus my girls are probably looking forward to me holding them on my lap as opposed to the side of the chair....

I'm so anxious!

2010-04-13T06:50:00.001-05:00

I have 4.5 weeks of pregnancy left but I am so anxious to get it over with. However, I know that the longer the baby stays in, the better. Taylor was induced at 37 weeks, 5 days and I still believe to this day that her severe reflux was because she was early. Though, no doc will confirm that it makes me wonder if she had stayed in a week or two longer. All I can think about is meeting baby and trying to go into labor on my own (after 2 inductions)! It doesn't help that I have heartburn and reflux so I feel terrible when I attempt to lay down to sleep at night - and have been waking up at 4-5 am and not being able to get back to sleep..... I have been walking daily and little one is active - so I guess that is the main importance that we are both healthy. Anyone want to occupy me to help this last 4-5 weeks go quicker? I may need strength to help me avoid an induction and hold out....

Stock the Freezer!

2010-04-11T12:39:00.000-05:00

I am so proud of myself!!!

Here is our garage fridge freezer. Right now, this is holding 14 meals plus 7 loaves of bread. I also have 6 containers of soups and 2 freezer bags of calzones on the top shelf of the other freezer. In addition to my list I posted the other day, I made Broccoli Tater Tot Casserole, Baked Chicken, Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti, and Glazed Carrots today.

I have left on my wish list to make: hashbrown casserole (adding sausage to make it a meal), seafood lasagna, cheddar broccoli soup, taco chili, breakfast egg casserole, champagne salad (mainly fruit & cool whip), and peanut butter bars.

After it is all said and done, I will have 34 complete meals in my freezer in preparation for when the baby arrives. If I use these meals 3 days out of my husbands work week, they should last about 2.5 months.

Now I just need my husband to get the baby car seat down from the loft in the garage!!

Zoo Day!

2010-04-10T17:13:00.000-05:00

We love Zoo Days!

Only a few more weeks until the Zoo opens full time again!

Here are some of our pics from our trip today!! Taylor's favorite, the buffalo.

(that's right, both girls walk the mile loop in order to see the buffalo!)
The girls walking the said lap...

Alex playing with the "stinky monkey's". The little one on the branch would jump on the edge of the glass to "get" her. It was really cute. Cuter if Taylor didn't run our repeatedly because, "It stinks!"

Another shot of the "stinky monkeys".

This is the Puma.

It was pretty intimidating.

It kept walking up and down the fence line watching the girls.
Lastly is the Moose.
The girls were infatuated with him though all he did was lay there...

35 weeks, 35 days left!

2010-04-10T06:32:00.001-05:00

So, this pregnancy is really flying by...

I cannot believe that I am really 35 weeks pregnant now. Does it look it? :o) (Don't answer!) I tried to take a belly pic, but our bathroom mirror is embarrassingly dirty, so please excuse it. I will try to get a better one after my daughter wakes. How sad is that? I need my 4 year old to take a picture of me!!
I had a doc appt on Thursday and I am measuring about 5 weeks big. I gained only a pound (YEAH!) and am doing well. My next appt I get an internal and an ultrasound. Right now, my induction happy doctor says that she would let me go until my due date on my own, but not past 41 weeks. My husband is hoping for the 16th of May so that he will be off due to the baby for this. I told him then he needs to arrange for his Mom to take the girls if he is going out 4 days after I give birth!
Well, I have successfully walked 19 of the last 21 days at least a mile with 4 miles or so being the longest. Today, I think we will get our walk at the zoo. :o) I am looking forward to the girls running all over outside.

35 week pregnant baby belly (measuring 40).

So here is a slightly better pic. After my shower and taken by my 4 year old.

Pre Baby Freezer Meals

2010-04-09T12:19:00.000-05:00

Over the past 5 weeks, I have been busy prepping our freezer for the impending arrival of our baby. Here is my list so far. I think I have counted 8 casseroles, 7 breads, 2 sides, 3 meats and 8 soups (though I may be wrong). The items that are duplicated indicate multiple dinners for that meal. (i.e two dishes of Zuppa Tuscana soup.)

Yum Yum Pork Chops
Broccoli/Rice Casserole
Pasta Fagoli Soup
Zuppa Tuscana Soup
Zuppa Tuscana Soup
Lazy Cabbage Hotdish
Chicken/Rice/Broccoli & Mushroom Casserole
Pizza Calzones
Veggie Cheese Soup
Kneophla Soup
Kneophla Soup
White Chicken Lasagna
Mini Cheddar Meatloaves
Mini Cheddar Meatloaves
White Chicken Chili
Chicken Taco Bake
Baked Corn Casserole
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread
Amish Bread
White chicken Calzones
White Chicken Chili
Sour Cream Enchaladas
Salsa Chicken
Burritos
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread
Lasagna

Happy Easter!

2010-04-05T16:52:00.000-05:00

Here are my angelic looking kids on Easter....

Here is their fat Mama on Easter...
34 weeks pregnant doing the dishes...