Recovery Week is a Funny Thing

If you've done it right (which I evidently have), it seems that you should be tired during your recovery week and use the week to keep yourself moving but to still recover. This morning was another morning where I debated with myself. Do I get up and do the 25 mile bike, should I stay in bed and sleep, should I "cheat" a little and do the 25 miles at the gym on the stationary bike, or should I just stay in bed and sleep?

By the time I made my mind up, I had slept about 1/2 an hour later than I would normally, and Mr. Darcy hadn't gotten up either. I realized that if I didn't do the bike ride, I'd probably be annoyed with myself later on, so I figured that due to lateness of the hour and the fact that I wasn't feeling it, I would go to the gym and do 25 miles on the stationary bike.

For whatever reason (I think it may have to do with the fact that I don't have to worry about balancing or directing the bike and a difference in the type of resistance and body position), I am much faster on the stationary bike. So that was settled.

Angelfish and Ladybug were very excited about school today because they are having a party. Any party that involves cookies and juice boxes, and they're in. What they're not excited about is the reason for the party. It's their last full day with their current teachers. Angelfish loves her teachers, especially Ms. W. I asked her yesterday if she was excited about starting her new classroom and she said no. I asked her why and she said, "You know what I told Ms. W, Mommy? I told her I would go if she went with me." Having to explain that Ms. W. is going to have a new class full of students didn't go over well. She wants to be with Ms. W. Ladybug is feeling the same way about her teacher Ms. A. Ladybug told me "she loves Ms. A. so very much" and doesn't want to leave her. I have to say, in a strange sort of way, I'm thrilled about this.

No, I'm not looking forward to the calls from Mr. Darcy saying how awful it was in the morning to take the girls to their new rooms until they get used to it. But it makes me feel very good about the love, care and attention that they are getting at daycare. To become attached, they must be getting shown a lot of love and care. We've seen them always happy and loving with their teachers and seen that it's been returned when we were there, but it's good to know that it happens while we're not there too.

So, anyway, it was pretty easy to get the girls to the car this morning... aside from Ladybug who couldnt' get her hair just they way she thought her little boyfriend at school would like. Who knew this stuff would start at 3? Ladybug has already had 4 boyfriends in the space of a year, but this current one was the one she had before he went home for the summer (his Mom is a school teacher) and as soon as he came back, #3 was out the door. Evidently the feeling is mutual because they spent the afternoon holding hands and boyfriends' Mom even wanted them to be in the same class together, but Ladybug and he are set to be separated. He'll be in with Angelfish, but they'll still get to see one another on the playground. Heartbreak at 3!

Drama aside, proof of cookies for the party reviewed, off they went. And off I went to the gym. 25 miles in 1:06:30. 24 minutes faster than on the bike. If only that could happen on the real bike! But, I got the 25 miles done even if I did miss the wind in my hair and the sun shining down, not to mention the open road. Next time, I'll get on the bike.

Recovery week is a funny thing - want sleep, want workouts, want sleep, do not want workouts, want sleep!

My 100th Post - Herding Cats

This is post #100! Time has flown and you, my dear readers, have endured the ups and downs of it all. Hopefully this post will entertain and delight...

Being a mommy and wife is sometimes like herding cats. Take yesterday evening for instance. Mr. Darcy had a volleyball game and wanted us to come and watch. He sent out an email with alleged directions to the game... granted, it's my fault I waited until the last minute to look at the attachment but there was nothing helpful for someone who doesn't know where everything in downtown Orlando is already located. So, time was spent on the internet figuring out how to get there. Then off to get the kiddies. They were happy to see me and pretty much listening well, so things were off to a good start. I asked if they needed to go potty and the answer was No and No. So we piled in the car, and I buckled Amanda in and moved on to Ladybug. As I'm buckling Ladybug's seat belt I notice her pants feel a little damp.

I ask Ladybug, Did you go pee pee in your pants?
Ladybug: Just a little, Mommy. Only a few drops.
Me: Do you need to go more?
Ladybug: No.
Me: Ok, we need to get you out of those underpants and pants. Luckily, Mommy brought extras.
Ladybug gets out of her car seat and walks to the back of the mini-van so I can change her. Just as I get her underpants and pants down ...

Angelfish announces in an urgent voice: Mommy, I have to go potty!
Me: You really need to go potty?
Angelfish: Yes, Mommy. Need to go now!
Me: Ok. Hold it, Angelfish! Ladybug, lets get these pants up and we'll go into the potty. Quick!

So I unbuckle Angelfish as fast as I can, pick her up, have Ladybug jump out of the minivan and shut the back door, grab her hand and we run back into daycare straight to the bathroom. Angelgish has made it in time, save one drop of pee. She goes. She is happy and asks "Are you happy, Mommy?" I give her lots of praise and tell her, "Yes, I am happy." Then I get Ladybug's pants and underpants off and ask her to sit on the potty.

Ladybug: I don't have to go.
Me: Well, let's just give it a try because I'm not sure when our next chance to pee will be & we don't want to go pee in our pants again.
Ladybug: Ok.

She sits and about 30 seconds later, she pees. Not just a little bit either... like someone turned on a waterfall full blast. I say nothing but think to myself "Naw, you didn't have to pee at all, did you kid?" I give her praise and she is happy. We get clean underpants, pants, and shoes on all toddlers (Angelfish insisted she needed a new pair because hers had one drop of wet in them.); wash hands and start the minivan routine all over again. Except this time they want to go on a "nature adventure" and are inspecting every blade of grass, plant, and tree on the way to and next to the car. Finally, I get them into the car after explaining that we are running late and may miss Daddy's volleyball game. They cooperate. I attempt to buckle them in when Mr. Darcy calls me. I tell him I'm on my way and am having a difficult time so I will call him back. Everyone is buckled, I "loosen" everyone's too tight seat belt (which is a charade but it works), and then Ladybug starts fussing about not wanting to sit in her seat. I tell her enough and get in the car. We're off. I call Mr. Darcy and no answer. The game has obviously begun because well, it was supposed to start at 6 and it's 6 pm right now. That's right - 45 minutes at the daycare. 15 minutes at home getting intelligible directions.

Half an hour later we arrive at the park where there is no parking to be found anywhere... I drive in circles, down side streets and find nothing. Mr. Darcy suggests a parallel parking spot (via cell phone) he sees. I get there and the spot isn't even as big as the mini-van. 20 minutes later a spot about 1/4 mile away is found and Mr. Darcy is in the car because he had decided to help us park should parallel parking be involved. We walk to the park, diaper bag, snacks, and children in tow. Mr. Darcy plays one set while I chase the girls off the court, keep them from running into the lake that is only a few feet away, and run with them over to a playground that is within sight of the volleyball court (oh yes, and we're all barefoot at this point because it's a sand volleyball court and the girls decided it was the "beach"... plus I was wearing high heel sandals - not sure what I was thinking on that one). Next thing I know Mr. Darcy is standing next to us. 15 minutes at max after we arrived at the volleyball court. "What's up?" I ask. "Game's over. They're just playing for fun now." After an aborted attempt to eat dinner at a restaurant next to the park (Angelfish is fussy and tired... not surprised she was up at 5 am playing yesterday.), we go home. Mr. Darcy in his car, the girls and I in mine. Ladybug having a fit screaming "Stop the car! I ride with Daddy. My Daddy!" over and over. She finally stops screaming by the time we hit the highway, but continues with the crying and every so often yelling at me "Please stop the car!" (Yes, she used please. Not sure if she thought that would work because she was yelling "nicely"...)

Angelfish and I listen to the radio and sing songs, and ignore the screaming banshee. Finally, we get into the neighborhood (that's 1/2 an hour later, btw) and Ladybug stops with the yelling, crying, and we talk. I explain that sometimes she needs to ride with me, and that next time if she wants to ride with Daddy she needs to ask him before she gets into Mommy's car and has her seat belt on. I tell her, all you have to do is say "Daddy, could I ride in your car?" I say it in a very nice voice, and she repeats it word for word and inflection for inflection. I tell her that is very nice and that to try to remember for the next time.

And it's still lent, and I gave up alcohol for lent.

This morning, I had a wonderful swim. I did a 200 swim, 200 pull, 200 kick (with only time long enough to switch out the buoy and kick board), and then swam 1,000 m straight, and then did a 200 cool down. I loved it! And I felt very fast in the water too. I think I must be improving because I've felt and been decidedly faster this week in all of my training sessions. Go Kate Go! It is fun being faster and feeling faster. I was also thrilled after my workout too because... well my jeans fit. It sounds funny, I know, but these are jeans straight out of the wash and the dryer. Not been worn since they were washed and dried. Usually, they need a day to stretch out again and are tight in the waist and thighs until they stretch out. Not today. Buttoned with ease and no tightness in the thighs. Faster and thinner? What a morning!

Then I call Mr. Darcy to see how the tantrum that Ladybug was starting when I left turned out. Ladybug refused to wear either of the dresses she was offered (she wanted a dress, so we offered 2 to her), and Mr. Darcy after warning her she had 3 minutes to decide, counting it down, then decided for her. She continued with the fit and he let her wander around crying while ignoring her and putting breakfast together for the girls to eat at daycare. He put the breakfast and Angelfish in the car. He comes back and Ladybug is completely naked. Mr. Darcy tells her to put on her underpants and dress. She refuses. So he puts her in the car naked. She relents. He gets her underpants on and she refuses the dresses. He puts in the car in her underpants and brings the dress with him... and stops a few blocks away and puts the dress on her. Meanwhile, she is screaming "I don't want that dress" the entire time. She finally stops with the crying and the screaming as they pull up to day care. Mr. Darcy has successfully ignored her the entire time. (Go Mr. Darcy Go!) She has another crying jag when he goes to leave, so he asks me to check on her at daycare.

I call daycare and speak with her teacher, and I tell her that Ladybug is in a dress she didn't want to wear etc. She said we did great and that Ladybug is actually doing just fine. In fact, when Ladybug went to the classroom from the cafeteria, Ladybug went up to each of the boys in the class and asked them "Do you like my dress? It has pink and white in it." All except one said "yes." To the one that said no, she said "But why? It's pretty." And the little boy replied, "ok, ok, I like it." (Typical boy... shows how early it starts!) So, yes, we see that Ladybug is all about wanting to be in control... and likes to flirt with the boys. Wonder where she gets that!

So, let's keep our fingers crossed for a peaceful Easter weekend. And if it's not, at least lent will be over and we have wine in the house!

A Weekend of Peace and Other Things

In a way it sounds funny to say that I had a peaceful weekend, but I did. It's funny because on Saturday Ladybug was an absolute terror for a large part of the day and then ended the day with a huge fit because she was completely over tired (due to no nap despite 2 1/2 hours of trying to get them to nap) which ended with her falling asleep when I finally got her calmed down. Yet somewhere in the thick of it all (even in moments of frustration), I felt anchored as though I was right where I was supposed to be doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing. And it gave me a sense of peace... not to mention it somehow gave me some extra strength to keep my cool during it all. That's not to say I didn't yell once or twice, but it is to say it was only when it was completely warranted (like when they were supposed to be napping and I heard a giant crash 2 1/2 hours in and I run in to find them both jumping hurriedly into their beds while the glider chair and foot rest were completely upside down... I thought their dresser was pulled over on top of them due to the sonic boom sound emanating from their room).

Saturday was a bit rough on the potty training front, but Sunday was much better. Angelfish was the super pottier, keeping her underpants completely dry and poop free. Ladybug did great other than 2 poop mishaps. But the best part of Sunday was the girls' conversations with one another. One of them was when they were both going to go potty before we went to Target. Ladybug and Angelfish agreed that Ladybug would go first, and as Ladybug climbed onto the toilet...
She said, "Mommy."
Mommy: Yes, honey?
Ladybug: Please shut the door. I want pivacy.
Mommy: You want privacy?
Ladybug: Yes. Angelfish you out too.
Angelfish: I want to stay.
Ladybug: No. I want pivacy.
Angelfish: Ok.
Time passes... business is completed.
Ladybug: Ok, Mommy and Angelfish. You come in now. I done. I went pee! YAY! Your turn Angelfish.
Mommy: Great job, honey! It's your turn Angelfish.
Angelfish: Yay Ladybug! My turn. Hurry up! (Climbs on toilet.) Ok. Close the door!
Ladybug: You want pivacy?
Angelfish: Yes! (While doing a motion with her arms that was like slamming a door...)Close the door!
A few minutes later, Ladybug opens the bathroom door.
Ladybug: You ok Angelfish? Everything ok?
Angelfish: Yes. (Repeat of arm motion like before) Close the door!
Ladybug: You still want pivacy?
Angelfish: Yes, you close the door!
(This was repeated twice until I told Ladybug that Angelfish needed her privacy too and that her opening the door was invading her privacy. Mr. Darcy and I were doing our best not to laugh our heads off!)

As for my Saturday workout, my legs ached afterwards. My quads were pretty much on fire after the bike and my left shin was on fire after (and at some points during) the run. We did a 25 mile bike and then a 5 mile run. The bike was hard - not because of the distance but because of the hills. We biked a trail out in Clermont that started in one town, went to Lake Minneola, up a hill that looks small and then your bike almost stops despite the fact you are pedaling super hard in your smallest gear (can you say 6 mph while pedaling the heck out of your bike... I am not one to curse often, but I used a huge expletive while trying to get up the hill and to survive the asthma attack that decided to happen part way up the hill... my 1st one in 4 years), then back around the lake and back to the 0 mile mark of the West Orange Trail. At one point I was not pedaling and going down hill at 30 mph... so let's just say these hills were steep. But it was very fun and I really liked it. Then the run where my shin splints were evil yet again for the 1st 2 1/2 miles and then let me run the rest of the way. Pain radiating into the arch of your foot is not fun, but frozen peas are pretty helpful. I wasn't fast, but I got it done and I had a pretty good time while doing it!

And now I am looking forward to my weekly training and my girls' weekend this coming weekend. Swimming tonight is always fun, so I'll keep you posted!

The life and times of my shins...

yes, dear readers, you probably have already guessed. My shin splints are aggravated yet again. I dare say that they are back because I am not certain that they every truly left. Perhaps they just lay in wait for me to have a really good run that I actually enjoy to rear their little heads. (Last Saturday I actually enjoyed the 4 miles I ran.) When I woke this morning, I thought that I felt a little bit of pain in my left shin but ignored it because well, it was only one little jolt of pain. I should have listened, it was the warning shot across my ship's bow. I sallied forth to the gym. Biked my 15 miles and then hit the treadmill for my 3 mile run (which on a different note, amazing the difference in the amount of sweat between biking and running...). The 1st few minutes were a tiny bit painful but nothing I couldn't handle. I kept running at a nice, easy pace and the pain subsided. But around the 1 mile mark, my legs (both of them) started to hurt, so I walked a few minutes and started running again. A 1/2 mile later, my left shin felt like it was on fire with pain. So I walked 5 minutes. Tried to run again and this time, my right shin hurt too plus the back of my calves were so tight they were painful. So, I walked the rest. I got the 3 miles in, but had wanted to run them. So, I'm back to icing them, doing my leg exercises and special stretches (which I probably shouldn't have stopped in the 1st place), but reticient that I shall overcome the evil shin splints and be ready to run the 6.2 miles at the end of my triathlon on May 3rd... you hear me legs? Listen up and listen well. It has been decreed.

On a lighter note, Ladybug has been doing great with the potty training. Angelfish has had a few setbacks (like 2 sets of pee pee clothes from school yesterday), but is on her way to being potty trained. They went to the Recommitment Social with me (and Mr. Darcy) last night and I told them we were going to a party. This was a bit of our conversation from the drive over.

Ladybug: where party at?
Me: A restaurant. Daddy is meeting us there.
Angelfish: Daddy go too? We go to his ocice (that's how she says "office")?
Me: No, we're not going to his office. We're meeting him at the restaurant.
Ladybug: Daddy's office has a lot of people. They are his friends.
Me: Yes, that's right!
Ladybug: His friends good.
Angelfish: Daddy's friends go to party too?
Me: No, just us and some of Mommy's friends who she works out with.
Angelfish: We go swim?
Me: No, it's a party at a restaurant. We can't swim this time.
Ladybug: At party we have birthday cake!
Me: It's not a birthday party. There's not going to be a cake, but we can have spaghetti. Not every party has cake, but it would be a wonderful world if that was the case.
Ladybug: No cake?
Angelfish: It not a birthday party, Ladybug. Daddy be there though!
Ladybug: And Mommy, and Ladybug and Angelfish too!

My new baby...

I apologize for the hiatus in writing, but rest assured dear friends there has been no hiatus in training... just life getting in the way of my blogging as it is wont to do from time to time. And it is rather ironic that the last post I made was about biking. Even more ironic is the fact that in the last post I found a picture of a bike that I would love to own and posted it. Even more ironic than that is that I now own said bike and didn't even realize that I had a picture of it in my blog until this morning!!!

YES, I have a new baby. A beautiful white and black Fuji Roubaix Pro with Shimano 105 shifters, Shimano 105 front derailleur and a Shimano Ultegra (even better than the 105) back derailleur. And, I got it for $450 less than the MSRP that I saw online, which allowed me to get nicer clipless pedals and still save more than $350 off of that MSRP. And even better than that is the fact that it rides like a dream and is as though I am at one with the bike. It's fast, it's sexy and it's all mine!! WHOO HOO. So here's a picture (in case you didn't see it in the last post)...

Other than that we have been running around with chickens with our heads cut off. Work has been busy, then training of course, birthday parties, head colds, errands, cooking, cleaning, trying to catch up with ourselves, and children. But nothing that I would trade for the world.... although I wouldn't mind an extra hour or two in the day to help get things done and to help have some fun free time with my dear husband. Now if only the weather will warm up a bit by Wednesday morning so I can ride my bike!!

In all my rushing around, my brain has been thinking for me while I sleep, processing things that are said to me. (Thanks Coach!) Here are some thoughts that I've woken up with: 1) I need not to worry so much about my weight. I will just eat healthy, try to eat the right number of calories in the right proportions of fat, carb, and protein, and that will be that. Life is too short to worry about that! 2) I need to get new tubes for my new bike in case of a flat. 3) I want to be able to run a 7:30 mile (if not a 7 minute mile) by the May triathlon. 4) I need a vacation and to use my planner to remind myself of things I have to do!

Angelfish and Ladybug were super potty training champs this weekend. Both wore underpants all weekend long (except night time)! Ladybug only had one accident and it was during a nap (and we forgot to have them go potty before naptime), and Angelfish had 2 accidents - 1 when she was playing and wouldn't stop to go and the other also during a nap. Go wonder twins!

Overheard this morning in the car on the way to daycare:

Angelfish: Hold my hand, Mommy.

Mommy: I can't honey, I need to drive the car. I would love to hold your hand when we get to school though.

Angelfish: Ladybug, hold my hand.

Ladybug: Nooooo!

Angelfish: You hurt my feelings.

Ladybug: I not want to hold hands.

Angelfish: That hurt my feelings!

Ladybug: I sorry. I do not want to hold hands right now, Amanda, but I love you.

Angelfish: But you hurt my feelings.

Ladybug: I not hurt your feelings. I said sorry. (If only it worked that way...)

Angelfis: Still hurt. Hold my hand.

Ladybug: Okay...