I emailed Coach yesterday and told her I was feeling better. She told me I could do a 3 mile easy run, doing 5/1's but if I started coughing or felt light headed to stop. So, this morning, after the kiddies and Mr. Darcy were out the door, I set out on my run.
It felt SOOO good to be out there running again. I have missed it. I even dreamt about running twice in the last 3 days. My loop is 3.2 miles, and it seemed to go by so quickly... 37:10 (11:36 average pace). Not bad for doing 5/1's, one of which was actually a 5/2 because I was coughing a bit during the 1st minute I had a hard time keeping my HR in zone 2, but didn't cough while running. I coughed some while walking, but chalked it up to post nasal drip. I didn't think I was getting light headed, but when I finished up the run, I definitely was. OOPS. I couldn't help but run like I did. I tried to hold myself back some more, but it didn't feel comfortable so I just ran in a way that I felt good. After coughing up my lungs the 5 minutes after I finished and having to stand still and gulp down Gatorade so I could stop feeling light headed, I realized that maybe I went out a little too fast for my first day back.
I won't go as far as to say I shouldn't have run though. It felt much too good to be out there. Listening to my shoes squeak as they hit the pavement. Feeling the sweat beading up (I opted for a long sleeve performance shirt... not sure what I was thinking it was 60 when I left the house... not nearly cold enough for it). Thinking about my arm posture and driving my hands toward the "finish line." Looking ahead and thinkng about the next turn in my route and little else (except for when I had to do the math for the next 5 minutes in the 5/1).
I've never been a big fan of Galloway. I like the idea of being able to run the entire distance and somehow getting faster from there. But, I fully admit that it works. You can cover a distance faster and feel pretty good both during and after. Plus my back doesn't feel as bad afterwards, which is a definite plus.
On the non-running side of things, we've decided that the girls are going to have to finish out their soccer season. They claim that they are "afraid" of playing soccer, of the other kids running at them. Saturday we let them skip their game because I was sick, Bill wasn't feeling the greatest, and we had just gotten back from vacation. But they'll be at the rest of the games. Not sure that they'll play but we'll be there. The Y is now saying that no parents can be on the field with the kids during the game anymore. That's the only way we could get our little ladies out on the field.
On the potty training front, Ladybug is making me crazy. We've been at this for over a year and she'll do great for several weeks (like on our vacation) and then be terrible about it (like this past weekend and yesterday). I have to say I HATE pee and just completely feel like she's never going to be potty trained. I think she uses it as a control thing. So now I'm reverting to making it into a HUGE deal everytime she pees in the potty at the house, cheering and clapping and the whole 9 yards to try to keep from having to do a million loads of disgusting laundry. (Which reminds me, I have to put a load of pee clothes and sheets in today.) Angelfish on the other hand (KNOCK ON WOOD) is potty trained. She has an accident once in a blue, blue moon... like once every 2 months or so. At least I can be thankful that one of them keeps her underpants clean. I hated this stage of having a dog too. Ugh.
The girls are being sweet but WHINY. And Ladybug is trying to order us around, which we (of course) are nipping in the bud. It gets under my skin. Yesterday she ordered me to give her a piece of gum and when I told her no she threw herself on the floor at daycare. On the floor. Over a piece of gum. It didn't work of course, but it was a bit embarrassing. I just told her she could lay on the floor if she wanted but she wasn't going to get a piece of gum and that I was going to get Angelfish from her classroom. Next thing I knew she was pretending to cry and holding my hand. Still no gum.
But then there are those great moments when all they want you to do is hold them and read a story or chat with you. That makes it all worthwhile.
That and getting to go for a run. : )
Showing posts with label potty training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label potty training. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Some Things Defy Explanation
like my morning. At 4:30 am I heard yelling from the girls' bedroom, so I hopped sleepily, groggily out of bed and ran to their room. Opening the door, the smell was unmistakable. Pee. Lots of pee. Both Angelfish (which is a rare occurrence) and Ladybug had completely emptied their bladders in their sleep. Angelfish was the one who was yelling. It's unusual for her not to be able to hold her bladder the entire evening. And then I remembered. When the girls were giving us a hard time going to bed, they claimed they needed to use the potty. Thinking it was mere subterfuge, Mr. Darcy told them that if they still needed to go potty in 10 minutes he would let them. But they fell asleep... and evidently were telling the truth. But why they always cry for Mommy is inexplicable thing #1. (Although I have to say I'd be sad if they started calling for Mr. Darcy all the time.)
So, after getting all children into new pajamas, having them use the potty, stripping their beds and remaking them with clean sheets, and starting the load of pee pee laundry, I returned to bed.
Inexplicable thing #2. My back itself is not necessarily bothering me, but I know something is not quite right with it because I have what I can only describe as nerve pain that shoots across my right quad and sometimes wraps around the bottom of my knee, and when it's bad (like it is today) the bottom of my right heel also hurts when I walk. Unfortunately for me, the chiropractor is on vacation this week. I am trying to ignore it the best I can. This translated to sleeping on my back with my knees bent and a pillow folded in half under them for support. It helped me sleep until the alarm went off at 5:30. It's the oddest manifestation of a back problem I've had to date.
Up again, this time drinking water and trying not to think about food. My stomach was hungry and clearly did not understand why I was not feeding it as I packed my gym bag and dressed in my swim suit. Or as I drove to the gym. I cannot help it if the doctor ordered 12 hour fasting before my "full lipid panel and liver function" (aka cholesterol) blood work. To make myself feel better, I packed a cliff bar, my recovery drink, and a peach for right after my blood work. All it did was make my stomach growl at me more.
Once I hit the pool though, my stomach forgot all about it. My body is inexplicably like that. (Inexplicable thing #3.) If I have to go to the bathroom and one is not available, or if I am hungry, and I start exercising those urges go right away and don't return until I am finished with the workout. Odd, but true. Anyway, I stretched out and then hit the pool. A 2,000 m swim. Straight. No stopping. It was awesome! I think I am somehow programmed to swim a certain way from all of my years of competitive swimming as a child because without intending to, I noticed that each set of 8 lengths of the pool I progressively got faster and then in my last lap I almost sprinted to the end. I just let it happen and it was like observing someone else but from inside their head.
When I was done, I stood up and looked at the clock. 40 minutes and 27 seconds after I started my 2,000 m, I was done. This seemed too quick. I double checked my math - twice. 2000 is 20 x 100m, which is 4 lengths in each 100 m, so 80 lengths, divided by swim number 8, is 10 continuous sets of 8 lengths each. That's right. I mentally recounted. As I swam my sets each and every time I said 1st 1, 2nd 1, 3rd 1, and so on every time I finished a set of 8 lengths. Didn't skip any numbers. Each set had 8 lengths, didn't skip any counting. I was just fast today. It put a huge smile on my face as I got out of the pool. 40 minutes and 27 seconds! It seems impossible... but evidently it's right! (Inexplicable thing #4.)
Then it was on to get my blood work done. As I drove, my stomach seemed to remember that I had a recovery drink, cliff bar, and peach waiting for me. I was forced to turn the radio up and ignore the calls of my stomach. And then I had to sit and wait for my appointment. I had banked on my swim taking 50 minutes not 40 minutes, so I was a bit early as I hit traffic just right as well. My stomach rebelled, but luckily I got Francisco my favorite of the "vampires" at the lab. He has never bruised me or missed my vein when he takes my blood. I was thrilled to see him. We chatted and he said "come back soon." I laughed and said that I must be coming in too regularly as it is (every 3 months since I moved here trying to convince my doctor not to put me on cholesterol medicine, plus one other time for my thyroid blood work), but I know I'll be back for a repeat of my thyroid blood work in August. I just hope to get Francisco again!
As I was leaving, Mr. Darcy called. Evidently the girls were a handful this morning and he had forgotten their towels (the only thing I didn't put with their swimsuits before leaving for the gym this morning - it's water day at school so they get to play in the sprinklers). So I headed home while chatting with Mr. Darcy about our difficult to get ready in the morning children, one in particular, but I'm not naming names today (you can probably guess based on past posts). Then I got the towels and headed to daycare, which is right next to the fire station.
I figured, I'm right here, I'll just have my blood pressure taken. The doctor said to have it done when I felt relaxed and this is as relaxed as I'm probably going to feel today. I wandered next door, chatted a moment with the fire fighter. The next thing I know there are 3 fire fighters in the room with me. They were all attractive, although one was about my Dad's age, which is something that also defies explanation. (Inexplicable thing #5) I have not yet met a fire fighter who is unattractive. Is that a job requirement? Not only do you have to be willing to save the lives of others while putting yourself in harms way, but you also have to be an attractive person. Sure the one that was old enough to be my Dad was the least attractive of the 3, but it was because he was older not because he had not at one time been attractive and young and for a man his age he was attractive. But attractiveness aside, 3 fire fighters for 1 blood pressure check seemed excessive.
Then I realized that they thought I might have wanted my blood pressure taken because I might be having an emergency event. Once I explained I needed the blood pressure taken because it had been somewhat high and my doctor was trying to track it a little, the Dad said "we're OK" and 1 fire fighter left the room. The Dad and the guy taking my blood pressure were left. The first time it was 150/90. WHAT? I couldn't believe it. I can't remember my blood pressure ever being that high. They let me sit there, talking about my triathlon training and how the Dad's wife has done a couple and wants to do more, and then they took it again and it was 142/86. Better but still high. Completely inexplicable (#6).
I chatted some more about training, drinking water, nutrition, cholesterol and blood pressure with the Dad and then wandered on my way with a promise to be back on Friday and promised that if I had blurred vision, was seeing stars or spots, or having chest pains I would give them a call. I've never had any of those problems, and I doubt I'll have any in the near future.
The last inexplicable thing (#7) is the failure to RSVP. First, I want to say that I completely understand forgetting to RSVP on time (within 2 or 3 days) and that RSVP'ing is not always the 1st thing on your to do list, especially when it is to RSVP to a child's party. But to completely fail to RSVP is absolutely ridiculous and down right rude, in my opinion. Now, I got call from a Mom this morning apologizing and telling me that time got away from her but that they'd still like to come to the party if it wasn't too late. Perfectly acceptable. But not to RSVP at all? It's got to be in my top 5 pet peeves. If you don't RSVP, you cannot expect me to feed you or to provide you with a party favor. While I will be happy you joined us, I will also be annoyed with your lack of manners. I can't help myself. I throw a good party, but I can only throw good parties when I know who is coming so I can plan accordingly. Oh, and it's customary to RSVP even for a "NO" unless "regrets only" are stated.
We still haven't heard from 16 invitees, which is a lot of cake, chicken nuggets, drinks, and party favors to be short. Plus, I was gracious enough to invite you and proper manners would require that you give me the favor of a reply (aka Répondez S'il Vous Plaît, which is RSVP "please reply"). It's as though I ask you a question and you stare and me and then walk away. Pure rudeness. But I will get off my soapbox in the hopes that I am not driving my blood pressure higher.
If you're wondering what my other top 5 pet peeves are, here they are (with no commentary and in no particular order): 1. Lying. 2. Rudeness. 3. Being ugly/mean to others. 4. Leaving no toilet paper for the next user (also tied with leaving no gas in the car for the next driver). 5. Not RSVP'ing! Perhaps these should be listed as inexplicable things #8 as they cause me to rant, which I am not normally inclined to do.
But the good news is that I am alive and kicking for yet another day! Enjoy your day!
So, after getting all children into new pajamas, having them use the potty, stripping their beds and remaking them with clean sheets, and starting the load of pee pee laundry, I returned to bed.
Inexplicable thing #2. My back itself is not necessarily bothering me, but I know something is not quite right with it because I have what I can only describe as nerve pain that shoots across my right quad and sometimes wraps around the bottom of my knee, and when it's bad (like it is today) the bottom of my right heel also hurts when I walk. Unfortunately for me, the chiropractor is on vacation this week. I am trying to ignore it the best I can. This translated to sleeping on my back with my knees bent and a pillow folded in half under them for support. It helped me sleep until the alarm went off at 5:30. It's the oddest manifestation of a back problem I've had to date.
Up again, this time drinking water and trying not to think about food. My stomach was hungry and clearly did not understand why I was not feeding it as I packed my gym bag and dressed in my swim suit. Or as I drove to the gym. I cannot help it if the doctor ordered 12 hour fasting before my "full lipid panel and liver function" (aka cholesterol) blood work. To make myself feel better, I packed a cliff bar, my recovery drink, and a peach for right after my blood work. All it did was make my stomach growl at me more.
Once I hit the pool though, my stomach forgot all about it. My body is inexplicably like that. (Inexplicable thing #3.) If I have to go to the bathroom and one is not available, or if I am hungry, and I start exercising those urges go right away and don't return until I am finished with the workout. Odd, but true. Anyway, I stretched out and then hit the pool. A 2,000 m swim. Straight. No stopping. It was awesome! I think I am somehow programmed to swim a certain way from all of my years of competitive swimming as a child because without intending to, I noticed that each set of 8 lengths of the pool I progressively got faster and then in my last lap I almost sprinted to the end. I just let it happen and it was like observing someone else but from inside their head.
When I was done, I stood up and looked at the clock. 40 minutes and 27 seconds after I started my 2,000 m, I was done. This seemed too quick. I double checked my math - twice. 2000 is 20 x 100m, which is 4 lengths in each 100 m, so 80 lengths, divided by swim number 8, is 10 continuous sets of 8 lengths each. That's right. I mentally recounted. As I swam my sets each and every time I said 1st 1, 2nd 1, 3rd 1, and so on every time I finished a set of 8 lengths. Didn't skip any numbers. Each set had 8 lengths, didn't skip any counting. I was just fast today. It put a huge smile on my face as I got out of the pool. 40 minutes and 27 seconds! It seems impossible... but evidently it's right! (Inexplicable thing #4.)
Then it was on to get my blood work done. As I drove, my stomach seemed to remember that I had a recovery drink, cliff bar, and peach waiting for me. I was forced to turn the radio up and ignore the calls of my stomach. And then I had to sit and wait for my appointment. I had banked on my swim taking 50 minutes not 40 minutes, so I was a bit early as I hit traffic just right as well. My stomach rebelled, but luckily I got Francisco my favorite of the "vampires" at the lab. He has never bruised me or missed my vein when he takes my blood. I was thrilled to see him. We chatted and he said "come back soon." I laughed and said that I must be coming in too regularly as it is (every 3 months since I moved here trying to convince my doctor not to put me on cholesterol medicine, plus one other time for my thyroid blood work), but I know I'll be back for a repeat of my thyroid blood work in August. I just hope to get Francisco again!
As I was leaving, Mr. Darcy called. Evidently the girls were a handful this morning and he had forgotten their towels (the only thing I didn't put with their swimsuits before leaving for the gym this morning - it's water day at school so they get to play in the sprinklers). So I headed home while chatting with Mr. Darcy about our difficult to get ready in the morning children, one in particular, but I'm not naming names today (you can probably guess based on past posts). Then I got the towels and headed to daycare, which is right next to the fire station.
I figured, I'm right here, I'll just have my blood pressure taken. The doctor said to have it done when I felt relaxed and this is as relaxed as I'm probably going to feel today. I wandered next door, chatted a moment with the fire fighter. The next thing I know there are 3 fire fighters in the room with me. They were all attractive, although one was about my Dad's age, which is something that also defies explanation. (Inexplicable thing #5) I have not yet met a fire fighter who is unattractive. Is that a job requirement? Not only do you have to be willing to save the lives of others while putting yourself in harms way, but you also have to be an attractive person. Sure the one that was old enough to be my Dad was the least attractive of the 3, but it was because he was older not because he had not at one time been attractive and young and for a man his age he was attractive. But attractiveness aside, 3 fire fighters for 1 blood pressure check seemed excessive.
Then I realized that they thought I might have wanted my blood pressure taken because I might be having an emergency event. Once I explained I needed the blood pressure taken because it had been somewhat high and my doctor was trying to track it a little, the Dad said "we're OK" and 1 fire fighter left the room. The Dad and the guy taking my blood pressure were left. The first time it was 150/90. WHAT? I couldn't believe it. I can't remember my blood pressure ever being that high. They let me sit there, talking about my triathlon training and how the Dad's wife has done a couple and wants to do more, and then they took it again and it was 142/86. Better but still high. Completely inexplicable (#6).
I chatted some more about training, drinking water, nutrition, cholesterol and blood pressure with the Dad and then wandered on my way with a promise to be back on Friday and promised that if I had blurred vision, was seeing stars or spots, or having chest pains I would give them a call. I've never had any of those problems, and I doubt I'll have any in the near future.
The last inexplicable thing (#7) is the failure to RSVP. First, I want to say that I completely understand forgetting to RSVP on time (within 2 or 3 days) and that RSVP'ing is not always the 1st thing on your to do list, especially when it is to RSVP to a child's party. But to completely fail to RSVP is absolutely ridiculous and down right rude, in my opinion. Now, I got call from a Mom this morning apologizing and telling me that time got away from her but that they'd still like to come to the party if it wasn't too late. Perfectly acceptable. But not to RSVP at all? It's got to be in my top 5 pet peeves. If you don't RSVP, you cannot expect me to feed you or to provide you with a party favor. While I will be happy you joined us, I will also be annoyed with your lack of manners. I can't help myself. I throw a good party, but I can only throw good parties when I know who is coming so I can plan accordingly. Oh, and it's customary to RSVP even for a "NO" unless "regrets only" are stated.
We still haven't heard from 16 invitees, which is a lot of cake, chicken nuggets, drinks, and party favors to be short. Plus, I was gracious enough to invite you and proper manners would require that you give me the favor of a reply (aka Répondez S'il Vous Plaît, which is RSVP "please reply"). It's as though I ask you a question and you stare and me and then walk away. Pure rudeness. But I will get off my soapbox in the hopes that I am not driving my blood pressure higher.
If you're wondering what my other top 5 pet peeves are, here they are (with no commentary and in no particular order): 1. Lying. 2. Rudeness. 3. Being ugly/mean to others. 4. Leaving no toilet paper for the next user (also tied with leaving no gas in the car for the next driver). 5. Not RSVP'ing! Perhaps these should be listed as inexplicable things #8 as they cause me to rant, which I am not normally inclined to do.
But the good news is that I am alive and kicking for yet another day! Enjoy your day!
Monday, June 1, 2009
The Plot Revealed, Aerodite, and the Run that Wasn't
The last I wrote, the plot regarding an adventure was thickening but nothing seemed to be really moving... other than my discovery that the taxes on airfare overseas made them rather cost prohibitive for a family of 4 that includes 2 children around the age of 3. It would be one thing if they were 12 or some such age where they would actually get something out of a European country, but at the age of 3 it does not matter.
Thanks to a world points misunderstanding on my part, we were able to get all 4 tickets (although not direct flights like I was looking at) for less than our total worldpoints between the two of us. So, we are going to Seattle this October! YAY! The plan is to go to Seattle, see what we can see, hopefully see some family as well since 2 of my uncles and aunts live out there and 1 of my cousins (none of whom have yet to personally meet A&M), and to cross over the border into Canada to see Vancouver. I am rather excited and now have to get the girls their passports and work on the other details of the trip (like which hotel, car rental and such).
we decided that the fam would head to Mr. Darcy's parents in Orange Park so that we could spend time with his parents and attend our niece's 5th birthday party Sunday evening. We got there around 5ish and had dinner, and somewhere I fell asleep afterwards. I felt so terrible that I did but I couldn't help myself. I only woke when Mr. Darcy said he was going to put the girls down for the night. I helped and then went to sleep myself.
I did some research on flights, hotels, car rentals and the like. Finally after hearing that my sister in law and brother in law had taken an overnight trip without their children for their 10th anniversary, I lost my ability to control my frustration in our long string of conversations that never resulted in a decision. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are not big travelers, so I guess for whatever reason their hour long trip away from their house for a romantic 2 days was enough for me to lose all sense of reason. But, I didn't yell or nag. I just said that I wanted us to get things settled. I am doing my best to ask directly for what I want these days. So the decision was Trip or no trip, primarily because we needed to get things booked before June 1 if we wanted to be able to get the best out of our world points.
Thanks to a world points misunderstanding on my part, we were able to get all 4 tickets (although not direct flights like I was looking at) for less than our total worldpoints between the two of us. So, we are going to Seattle this October! YAY! The plan is to go to Seattle, see what we can see, hopefully see some family as well since 2 of my uncles and aunts live out there and 1 of my cousins (none of whom have yet to personally meet A&M), and to cross over the border into Canada to see Vancouver. I am rather excited and now have to get the girls their passports and work on the other details of the trip (like which hotel, car rental and such).And no, in case you're wondering, I did not misspell Aerodite. That is the name of my new bike. She is definitely the goddess of beauty and love BUT she is quite aerodynamic and a dream to ride, thus my tweaking of the spelling of her name so that it perfectly fits. And to think I contemplated calling her Rosa. Much too mundane for my lovely lady! I am completely in love with her. I rode 40 miles on Saturday, which I've never done before, and was pretty darn fast (by my standards) even though I was only using the small gears while I got used to steering in aero, etc. It was wonderful and I could walk afterwards with no problems. My legs weren't nearly as tired and I felt so efficient and fast. I am much more confident that I will be able to do the 56 mile bike (with all its hills) by the September 70.3 now. And I feel so lucky! I would not have been able to buy such a bike for a very long time had I not won it!
After returning from my ride with the rest of the red bike brigade (as named by Missy... and photographed by the same),
we decided that the fam would head to Mr. Darcy's parents in Orange Park so that we could spend time with his parents and attend our niece's 5th birthday party Sunday evening. We got there around 5ish and had dinner, and somewhere I fell asleep afterwards. I felt so terrible that I did but I couldn't help myself. I only woke when Mr. Darcy said he was going to put the girls down for the night. I helped and then went to sleep myself.The next day we spent with Mr. Darcy's parents and the girls around the house and at their neighborhood pool. Then it was naps for all and on to the birthday party. Angelfish and Ladybug were so well behaved and had a wonderful time, as did we.
As for the run that wasn't, well. This morning's workout as set by my coach was a 60 minute run keeping your heart rate under 135 walking as necessary to accomplish this. So essentially I had to briskly walk 50 of the 60 minutes because anytime I tried to run or jog or barely jog my heart rate went up to 140 or higher (152 being the highest I let it go before walking). Finally, the last 10 minutes of the session I was able to jog at the slowest pace I was capable of producing and my heart rate actually stayed under 135 (although it was 132-134 the entire time and did touch 135 once or twice). FRUSTRATING. I emailed my coach afterwards and she said she did it to show that we need to teach our bodies to be more efficient to keep our heart rate down and she was waiting for the emails to come in from everyone. So, I guess I will be in good company when we meet for our swim workout this evening, but man did I want to run, run, run and all I did was walk, walk, walk (briskly). I guess all I can do is focus on each day at a time and hope to improve along the way.
Speaking of which, the girls were champs in the potty training arena. Ladybug only had 3 accidents the entire weekend, 2 of which were nap time related. Whoo hoo! May the dry pants continue!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Success, Impatience, European Plots, and Other Matters
Success: Ladybug went an entire day without an accident yesterday and was a potty using champ! She rocks! When I got to daycare yesterday, Ladybug ran up to me gave me her hug and said, "Mommy I kept my underpants clean and dry all day! I want popcorn!" Not wanting to be fooled, I asked "You have the same underpants on that you had on this morning?" And she said "yes!" while flashing me. Sure enough. Same underpants! Will wonders never cease?
I told her how proud I was of her and gave her lots of kisses and hugs, and promised popcorn when we got home. At this point, Angelfish made sure to let me know that she kept her underpants dry and clean too. So she too got popcorn. And the best part? Ladybug went accident free all the way up to bed time when we put her in a pull up (she's not able to keep it dry at night yet) and put on her pajamas. She even got up to use the potty before going to bed, after our story! Let's hope this is the start of a nice long winning streak in the potty department!
Impatience: #1 The tri-bike I won, has been ordered. Now I wait, wait, wait for it to arrive at the bike shop. I was told that it could be here sometime this week, but it is already Wednesday. In the meantime, people have been inquiring as to whether I'm going to sell my road bike. If they'll give me the price I'm looking for yes, but otherwise I'm holding on to it. It's only 3 months old and is a wonderful bike. The bike shop owner and my coach recommend keeping it so that I can do road races or group rides that don't allow for triathlons and for those times I want to just train on a road bike instead of a tri-bike. So, if it happens to sell, great. If it doesn't, that's OK too. But, I REALLY want my Orbea tri-bike to arrive. (In my dreamy moments, I tell myself that it's being crafted and sent all the way from the Spanish Pyrenees, so I should be patient.)
#2 Blood work. I called the doctor's office yesterday about my blood work. I had it done last Tuesday, so you'd think they would have the results. Evidently, one of the tests that was ordered takes 7-10 business days for them to get the results so they don't have the blood work back yet. In this day and age, what in the world could they be doing with that blood that can take so incredibly long? They did tell me that my thyroid ultrasound showed that my thyroid is officially "slightly enlarged," but that there is no need for a biopsy or surgery. Anyway, I want to know the blood work results.
European Plots: Living in Atlanta spoiled us for overseas travel. Direct flights abounded. Living in Orlando means no direct flights to Europe. London would be at shortest 11 hours and 30 minutes, including flight times and layovers. Dublin, 15 hours. So now my darling hubby is attempting to distract my plots with tickets to the U2 concert that would be right in the time frame that I was talking about traveling. (U2 is my favorite band from my youth. I still love their music to this day - in fact, Angelfish and Ladybug were in utero at about 10 weeks at their last concert.) I have countered with the suggestion of attending the concert and going on a trip to Seattle, seeing my family who lives out there and crossing the border into Canada to go to Vancouver for a day or two. It's not Europe, but I've never been and always wanted to go. Plus, it brings us to just under 8 hours for layovers and flight times. If worst comes to worst, I will concoct an adventure to take on my own, but I would much prefer traveling with the fam. We shall see as the plotting continues.
Other matters: My morning swim was quite good. A 200 warm up, and 2 x 750 m negative splits. I felt like I was a little boat cutting through the water with little effort. But, I noticed that when I started to get a little tired I change my body position so that my head is not looking high enough and my chest is not held far enough forward. So I worked on it. When I stay in the right position, I am super fast! I made sure to maintain posture for the entire 2nd 750 m and I made the negative split easily with out much additional effort. The weird part too was that on that 2nd 750, I got so into a zone with it that I forgot where I was for a bit. I still somehow knew what lap I was on, but I had to remember whether it was my first or 2nd 8 (I count lengths in 8s, it's my swim number so I don't get lost on how many I've counted) because I was just going through the water like no body's business and evidently without a care in the world. It was almost like I fell asleep while swimming. You know, kind of like you do when you're really tired and driving a car... you are driving, your eyes are open, but you don't remember the past 5 miles. The only difference was that I didn't feel tired, I felt great!
And I had this nagging desire to tell the guy in the lane next to me that he crosses his arms over when he swims and that he needs to work on entering the water with his hands in line with his shoulders. This guy swims in the pool at the same time I do, is there almost every day I am there, and he works hard at his swimming. He uses the paddles and the zoomers, and does sprints and distances as well as just doing the paces. But he's never going to be able to get going really good until he stops crossing over. He does it with both arms, which is perhaps the only thing that keeps him moving in a semblance of a straight line, but his stroke is catty wampus. His right hand is entering the water in line with his left ear, and his left hand is in line with his right eye. Thus the slapping sound he makes when his right arm enters the water (that and his elbow isn't high enough). I don't know the guy. He has never even said hello in response to my greeting him on occasion when we both arrive at the pool at the same moment. Yet I want to fix his stroke. Maybe it's that slapping noise with the right arm... it's even worse when he breathes on the right side. Maybe it's my obsessive tendencies with swimming and/or perfectionism. Whatever it is, he's making me want to stop him (even in the middle of my swim) and tell him. Of course, he might find that rather impertinent. Ah well. I'll just have to be content to fix my own stroke and body position issues, and continue to out pace him in the pool.
So here's to a day of wishing for dry underpants, the arrival of my tri-bike and blood work, an adventure abroad, and good swim form! Tomorrow's workout will have me up rather early... I have a 1 1/2 hour bike workout that is supposed to be done on the trainer as it involves some 1 legged cycling, followed by a 30 minute run. So, think of me at 4:30 am!
I told her how proud I was of her and gave her lots of kisses and hugs, and promised popcorn when we got home. At this point, Angelfish made sure to let me know that she kept her underpants dry and clean too. So she too got popcorn. And the best part? Ladybug went accident free all the way up to bed time when we put her in a pull up (she's not able to keep it dry at night yet) and put on her pajamas. She even got up to use the potty before going to bed, after our story! Let's hope this is the start of a nice long winning streak in the potty department!
Impatience: #1 The tri-bike I won, has been ordered. Now I wait, wait, wait for it to arrive at the bike shop. I was told that it could be here sometime this week, but it is already Wednesday. In the meantime, people have been inquiring as to whether I'm going to sell my road bike. If they'll give me the price I'm looking for yes, but otherwise I'm holding on to it. It's only 3 months old and is a wonderful bike. The bike shop owner and my coach recommend keeping it so that I can do road races or group rides that don't allow for triathlons and for those times I want to just train on a road bike instead of a tri-bike. So, if it happens to sell, great. If it doesn't, that's OK too. But, I REALLY want my Orbea tri-bike to arrive. (In my dreamy moments, I tell myself that it's being crafted and sent all the way from the Spanish Pyrenees, so I should be patient.)
#2 Blood work. I called the doctor's office yesterday about my blood work. I had it done last Tuesday, so you'd think they would have the results. Evidently, one of the tests that was ordered takes 7-10 business days for them to get the results so they don't have the blood work back yet. In this day and age, what in the world could they be doing with that blood that can take so incredibly long? They did tell me that my thyroid ultrasound showed that my thyroid is officially "slightly enlarged," but that there is no need for a biopsy or surgery. Anyway, I want to know the blood work results.
European Plots: Living in Atlanta spoiled us for overseas travel. Direct flights abounded. Living in Orlando means no direct flights to Europe. London would be at shortest 11 hours and 30 minutes, including flight times and layovers. Dublin, 15 hours. So now my darling hubby is attempting to distract my plots with tickets to the U2 concert that would be right in the time frame that I was talking about traveling. (U2 is my favorite band from my youth. I still love their music to this day - in fact, Angelfish and Ladybug were in utero at about 10 weeks at their last concert.) I have countered with the suggestion of attending the concert and going on a trip to Seattle, seeing my family who lives out there and crossing the border into Canada to go to Vancouver for a day or two. It's not Europe, but I've never been and always wanted to go. Plus, it brings us to just under 8 hours for layovers and flight times. If worst comes to worst, I will concoct an adventure to take on my own, but I would much prefer traveling with the fam. We shall see as the plotting continues.
Other matters: My morning swim was quite good. A 200 warm up, and 2 x 750 m negative splits. I felt like I was a little boat cutting through the water with little effort. But, I noticed that when I started to get a little tired I change my body position so that my head is not looking high enough and my chest is not held far enough forward. So I worked on it. When I stay in the right position, I am super fast! I made sure to maintain posture for the entire 2nd 750 m and I made the negative split easily with out much additional effort. The weird part too was that on that 2nd 750, I got so into a zone with it that I forgot where I was for a bit. I still somehow knew what lap I was on, but I had to remember whether it was my first or 2nd 8 (I count lengths in 8s, it's my swim number so I don't get lost on how many I've counted) because I was just going through the water like no body's business and evidently without a care in the world. It was almost like I fell asleep while swimming. You know, kind of like you do when you're really tired and driving a car... you are driving, your eyes are open, but you don't remember the past 5 miles. The only difference was that I didn't feel tired, I felt great!
And I had this nagging desire to tell the guy in the lane next to me that he crosses his arms over when he swims and that he needs to work on entering the water with his hands in line with his shoulders. This guy swims in the pool at the same time I do, is there almost every day I am there, and he works hard at his swimming. He uses the paddles and the zoomers, and does sprints and distances as well as just doing the paces. But he's never going to be able to get going really good until he stops crossing over. He does it with both arms, which is perhaps the only thing that keeps him moving in a semblance of a straight line, but his stroke is catty wampus. His right hand is entering the water in line with his left ear, and his left hand is in line with his right eye. Thus the slapping sound he makes when his right arm enters the water (that and his elbow isn't high enough). I don't know the guy. He has never even said hello in response to my greeting him on occasion when we both arrive at the pool at the same moment. Yet I want to fix his stroke. Maybe it's that slapping noise with the right arm... it's even worse when he breathes on the right side. Maybe it's my obsessive tendencies with swimming and/or perfectionism. Whatever it is, he's making me want to stop him (even in the middle of my swim) and tell him. Of course, he might find that rather impertinent. Ah well. I'll just have to be content to fix my own stroke and body position issues, and continue to out pace him in the pool.
So here's to a day of wishing for dry underpants, the arrival of my tri-bike and blood work, an adventure abroad, and good swim form! Tomorrow's workout will have me up rather early... I have a 1 1/2 hour bike workout that is supposed to be done on the trainer as it involves some 1 legged cycling, followed by a 30 minute run. So, think of me at 4:30 am!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
A Lovely Weekend - Full of Pee and Fun for All
It really was a lovely weekend. Unfortunately, Ladybug is still a member of the potty resistance but luckily (and knock on wood) she has been unable to recruit Angelfish to join. She did much better at school on Friday (not sure that I told you all about her purposefully peeing and pooping in her pants at school a total of 5 times. How, you ask, do I know it was on purpose? She announced it to the playyard before doing the deed and when in doors would laugh at her teachers as she did it. As the head of school said, "this is the trouble with having a highly intelligent child. The other children just aren't smart enough to think this up." ), but then returned to the less then attentive potty habits by Monday. So it was a weekend full of pee, even if overall the weekend was fun.
Friday, we painted our foyer. It was a color called spun gold. When it dried, it looked like a school bus. So we headed off for paint samples and settled on a nice terra cotta orange color called La Fonda Sombrero. Purchased the paint and hit the furniture stores, with only the intention of purchasing either a foyer table or a sofa table. We ended up buying a chest for the foot of our bed, a foyer table, and a sofa table. All very lovely, all on sale due to Memorial Day, and all just what we've been looking for (the chest for 2 years mind you). Played with the girls a bit after we picked them up from daycare, and then painted.
Saturday morning I woke up to head to the gym for a 30 mile bike and a 30 minute run. The gym that I though opened at 6 am. Took one look at the kitchen and decided that sage green would be a lovely color and that whomever lived in this house with the bright orange kitchen was not related although it was a nice color. Got to the gym by 6:22 am. By 6:30 am, it was evident that I was the only car in the parking lot and the gym must not open until 7 am. So I ran the parking lot to make good use of my time. 30 minutes later, super sweaty, the gym opened and 32.4 miles on the trainer later I had a nice shower and headed to the emergency care to meet the fam so Angelfish could have her staples removed. Took all of 30 seconds to remove, Angelfish's only complaint was that the nurse (who was not the one she's used to seeing at the emergency care center) gave her only 1 sticker this time and that Ladybug got one too. We did some errands and played with the wee ones.
Sunday our friends Mike, Elaine & Josie came for a day visit. It was fun for the little ones to play and the grown ups to chat. I also went for a 6 mile run in the morning before the company arrived. Bill started to run with me, but the girls were fighting over territory in their blue car within 2 minutes, so he ran after I finished. All I have to say is, it was rather hot. To the point that I ran without my shirt on. Full coverage black sports bra in place, no need to call the police. I am not one to run without a shirt, so lets just say that when I passed the church I thought that I may have been indecent but it was better than passing out.
Monday I did about 6 loads of laundry (all of which are waiting to be folded and put away this evening), we did a few more errands and then wandered around Sea World for the afternoon until it started to rain. And I was rather naughty and skipped the 4 mile run and 1 mile swim I was supposed to do. It was a holiday and I wanted to be holidayish with the fam. Of course, Ladybug added to my laundry with her potty resistance, but I can hope for a day free from pee pee pants.
This morning it was back to work. A 4 mile run to start things off, which really is getting to be just an easy sort of run now. I have to say I'm most impressed at this fact. Then work, and now off to get the kiddies from daycare and attend Mr. Darcy's volleyball game downtown - if it's not rained out by the time we get there. The weather is looking a bit ominous, yet again. 7 straight days of rain turned into a gorgeous Monday until it's time for work to end. A cruel trick, but much needed rain.
Tomorrow is a swim... yay!
Friday, we painted our foyer. It was a color called spun gold. When it dried, it looked like a school bus. So we headed off for paint samples and settled on a nice terra cotta orange color called La Fonda Sombrero. Purchased the paint and hit the furniture stores, with only the intention of purchasing either a foyer table or a sofa table. We ended up buying a chest for the foot of our bed, a foyer table, and a sofa table. All very lovely, all on sale due to Memorial Day, and all just what we've been looking for (the chest for 2 years mind you). Played with the girls a bit after we picked them up from daycare, and then painted.
Saturday morning I woke up to head to the gym for a 30 mile bike and a 30 minute run. The gym that I though opened at 6 am. Took one look at the kitchen and decided that sage green would be a lovely color and that whomever lived in this house with the bright orange kitchen was not related although it was a nice color. Got to the gym by 6:22 am. By 6:30 am, it was evident that I was the only car in the parking lot and the gym must not open until 7 am. So I ran the parking lot to make good use of my time. 30 minutes later, super sweaty, the gym opened and 32.4 miles on the trainer later I had a nice shower and headed to the emergency care to meet the fam so Angelfish could have her staples removed. Took all of 30 seconds to remove, Angelfish's only complaint was that the nurse (who was not the one she's used to seeing at the emergency care center) gave her only 1 sticker this time and that Ladybug got one too. We did some errands and played with the wee ones.
Sunday our friends Mike, Elaine & Josie came for a day visit. It was fun for the little ones to play and the grown ups to chat. I also went for a 6 mile run in the morning before the company arrived. Bill started to run with me, but the girls were fighting over territory in their blue car within 2 minutes, so he ran after I finished. All I have to say is, it was rather hot. To the point that I ran without my shirt on. Full coverage black sports bra in place, no need to call the police. I am not one to run without a shirt, so lets just say that when I passed the church I thought that I may have been indecent but it was better than passing out.
Monday I did about 6 loads of laundry (all of which are waiting to be folded and put away this evening), we did a few more errands and then wandered around Sea World for the afternoon until it started to rain. And I was rather naughty and skipped the 4 mile run and 1 mile swim I was supposed to do. It was a holiday and I wanted to be holidayish with the fam. Of course, Ladybug added to my laundry with her potty resistance, but I can hope for a day free from pee pee pants.
This morning it was back to work. A 4 mile run to start things off, which really is getting to be just an easy sort of run now. I have to say I'm most impressed at this fact. Then work, and now off to get the kiddies from daycare and attend Mr. Darcy's volleyball game downtown - if it's not rained out by the time we get there. The weather is looking a bit ominous, yet again. 7 straight days of rain turned into a gorgeous Monday until it's time for work to end. A cruel trick, but much needed rain.
Tomorrow is a swim... yay!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Running and Mother's Day
I went for a 30 minute easy run this morning and employed the Galloway method of run x, walk y. I ran 5, walked 1. I have to say that while this used to be a favored way of mine of doing an "easy run, " I didn't enjoy it this morning. I felt tied to my watch and as though I was running slower instead of faster by using it. Next time, I'll just run it out, I think. As Coach Bill from TNT said, he likes to just run for as long as and as fast as he can.... of course, he's also a professional duathlon and runner who does ultramarathons, but I think I'm with him on that method even if I'm no where near as fast as he is, unless I'm driving my car of course. But while I was running, I pretty much enjoyed it although I had a little bit of wheeziness from all the pollen. I'm back on the allergy meds (thank goodness), but if the wheeziness is still there the next time I run, I may need to get an inhaler for my asthma (which I have attacks of only every once in a blue moon) to help things out. I'm hoping it will just be gone so I don't have to do that, though.
When I got back from my run, I had some recoverite. I know that seems kind of excessive for a 30 minute easy run but I was sweating a ton (it's hot in sunny Florida today) and feeling a bit sluggish despite a nice bowl of cereal before the run. It seems to have helped. I also went online to see what was in the news and came across an article entitled "The Worst Mother's Day Gifts to Avoid." I always like reading these sorts of articles to see what it was that made the list and to make sure I didn't fall into them (even though I usually do not) in my gift buying for my Mother and my Mother-in-law. And lo and behold, what was the last item on the list but the following:
"Nothing. Dads this message is for you. Just because, you know, she's not your Mom (she's only helping you raise your beautiful kids), doesn't mean you should forget her on this special day. Have a heart and show your lady how much you adore her and how much you appreciate the amazing job she's doing as a Mom."
Ah, yes. The conversation where Mr. Darcy said to me that he didn't have to buy me a Mother's Day present because I am not his mother right back at the forefront. Evidently this article shows that he's not the only husband out there with this thought process, but I can't say it makes me feel any better. The temptation to email him a link to the article was almost overwhelming, but I restrained myself. I figured the email I forwarded him last week that was from a place I've purchased gifts before, contained a coupon for 20% off, and told him 2 items that would be nice for mother's day, if the girls were interested was probably enough of a hit over the head that a present from my children at the very least was expected. While I thought I was over the his comment, I find myself realizing more and more that I am not over it at all.
It's really the lack of appreciation inherent in his thought process that bothers me and the fact that every Mother's Day that I've had since the girls have been born has been this way. Last year, I cooked my own breakfast after asking if we could go out and Mr. Darcy offered me left over eggs that he had cooked for the girls and then I had to tell him point blank that we were going out to dinner because I wasn't going to cook dinner for everyone on Mother's Day. We ended up going to his favorite restaurant at the time, Mimi's Cafe. The girls got me a card and a copy of a DVD that we already owned along with a box of Junior Mints. Nothing (other than dinner and getting to sleep in a little bit, which is at least something) from Mr. Darcy. The 1st year the girls were born, I think I got a card from the girls but that was it in the way of Mother's Day celebration. I find myself truly expecting that there will be nothing for Mother's Day this year as well despite the conversations and the not so subtle hints of the email. Fuel added to this fire is the fact that Bill was supposed to go on a charity golf trip today but it turns out that they were somehow scheduled for tomorrow instead. It's for work, so I can't say no you can't go. The man has to network and all that, but he couldn't figure out why no one wanted to go Friday and even more so for Saturday. Then he got home and made the comment that no one seems to want to go on Saturday because it's Mother's Day weekend. A part of me wanted to shout "no? really? why wouldn't they want to go? Their wives aren't their mothers." And that was when I realized that I was 100% not ok with things and that my annual mantra of "maybe he'll figure it out when he sees that year after year not only do the girls get him Father's Day present, but so do I" really wasn't cutting it.
This is not to say that my husband does not redeem himself in other ways. He is, in fact, a very loving and doting father, and he tries to help around the house by paying bills, taking out the trash, sometimes doing laundry, and helping with the girls. Yet I still can't get over this bit about Mother's Day. I will just have to let it go. And there is time still for him to show me otherwise as Mother's Day is not until Sunday, but I dread the prospect of that not being the case. Time may not really cure all wounds as they like to say, but at least it will make me more forgetful about it. Anyway, my father sent me a very sweet Mother's Day card in the mail the day before yesterday which I rather enjoyed and have up in the kitchen.
On the Quest for the Big Girl Bed front, Angelfish has a 99% shot of getting her Big Girl Bed this weekend, but Ladybug most likely will not be getting hers. I hate to do it this way, but Ladybug had 3 accidents yesterday and the school put her in a pullup because of it... which was wet when she got home. I told her this morning that if she kept her underpants dry and clean all day today she could get her Big Girl Bed this weekend still. Angelfish asked about her Big Girl Bed and I told her that as long as she kept her underpants dry and clean today that she would definitely get her bed. She's very excited. If Ladybug can't get with the program, maybe the fact that she doesn't get her bed will get her motivated.
This weekend appears to be "off" from training as I won't get next week's training schedule until Sunday. So I plan to sleep in the best I can on Saturday, but of course I am fully at the mercy of when the little bits decide to wake up. Then there's grocery shopping, getting an oil change and regular maintenance on the car, a costco run, laundry, and setting up at least one Big Girl Bed. Mr. Darcy will most likely be leaving around 6 am for the golf tourney and not returning until 3 pm at the earliest, so getting all the errands and chores done will be up to me with the ladybugs. Let's hope they are in a flexible mood tomorrow!
And for all of you Mom's out there, Happy Mother's Day!!!
When I got back from my run, I had some recoverite. I know that seems kind of excessive for a 30 minute easy run but I was sweating a ton (it's hot in sunny Florida today) and feeling a bit sluggish despite a nice bowl of cereal before the run. It seems to have helped. I also went online to see what was in the news and came across an article entitled "The Worst Mother's Day Gifts to Avoid." I always like reading these sorts of articles to see what it was that made the list and to make sure I didn't fall into them (even though I usually do not) in my gift buying for my Mother and my Mother-in-law. And lo and behold, what was the last item on the list but the following:
"Nothing. Dads this message is for you. Just because, you know, she's not your Mom (she's only helping you raise your beautiful kids), doesn't mean you should forget her on this special day. Have a heart and show your lady how much you adore her and how much you appreciate the amazing job she's doing as a Mom."
Ah, yes. The conversation where Mr. Darcy said to me that he didn't have to buy me a Mother's Day present because I am not his mother right back at the forefront. Evidently this article shows that he's not the only husband out there with this thought process, but I can't say it makes me feel any better. The temptation to email him a link to the article was almost overwhelming, but I restrained myself. I figured the email I forwarded him last week that was from a place I've purchased gifts before, contained a coupon for 20% off, and told him 2 items that would be nice for mother's day, if the girls were interested was probably enough of a hit over the head that a present from my children at the very least was expected. While I thought I was over the his comment, I find myself realizing more and more that I am not over it at all.
It's really the lack of appreciation inherent in his thought process that bothers me and the fact that every Mother's Day that I've had since the girls have been born has been this way. Last year, I cooked my own breakfast after asking if we could go out and Mr. Darcy offered me left over eggs that he had cooked for the girls and then I had to tell him point blank that we were going out to dinner because I wasn't going to cook dinner for everyone on Mother's Day. We ended up going to his favorite restaurant at the time, Mimi's Cafe. The girls got me a card and a copy of a DVD that we already owned along with a box of Junior Mints. Nothing (other than dinner and getting to sleep in a little bit, which is at least something) from Mr. Darcy. The 1st year the girls were born, I think I got a card from the girls but that was it in the way of Mother's Day celebration. I find myself truly expecting that there will be nothing for Mother's Day this year as well despite the conversations and the not so subtle hints of the email. Fuel added to this fire is the fact that Bill was supposed to go on a charity golf trip today but it turns out that they were somehow scheduled for tomorrow instead. It's for work, so I can't say no you can't go. The man has to network and all that, but he couldn't figure out why no one wanted to go Friday and even more so for Saturday. Then he got home and made the comment that no one seems to want to go on Saturday because it's Mother's Day weekend. A part of me wanted to shout "no? really? why wouldn't they want to go? Their wives aren't their mothers." And that was when I realized that I was 100% not ok with things and that my annual mantra of "maybe he'll figure it out when he sees that year after year not only do the girls get him Father's Day present, but so do I" really wasn't cutting it.
This is not to say that my husband does not redeem himself in other ways. He is, in fact, a very loving and doting father, and he tries to help around the house by paying bills, taking out the trash, sometimes doing laundry, and helping with the girls. Yet I still can't get over this bit about Mother's Day. I will just have to let it go. And there is time still for him to show me otherwise as Mother's Day is not until Sunday, but I dread the prospect of that not being the case. Time may not really cure all wounds as they like to say, but at least it will make me more forgetful about it. Anyway, my father sent me a very sweet Mother's Day card in the mail the day before yesterday which I rather enjoyed and have up in the kitchen.
On the Quest for the Big Girl Bed front, Angelfish has a 99% shot of getting her Big Girl Bed this weekend, but Ladybug most likely will not be getting hers. I hate to do it this way, but Ladybug had 3 accidents yesterday and the school put her in a pullup because of it... which was wet when she got home. I told her this morning that if she kept her underpants dry and clean all day today she could get her Big Girl Bed this weekend still. Angelfish asked about her Big Girl Bed and I told her that as long as she kept her underpants dry and clean today that she would definitely get her bed. She's very excited. If Ladybug can't get with the program, maybe the fact that she doesn't get her bed will get her motivated.
This weekend appears to be "off" from training as I won't get next week's training schedule until Sunday. So I plan to sleep in the best I can on Saturday, but of course I am fully at the mercy of when the little bits decide to wake up. Then there's grocery shopping, getting an oil change and regular maintenance on the car, a costco run, laundry, and setting up at least one Big Girl Bed. Mr. Darcy will most likely be leaving around 6 am for the golf tourney and not returning until 3 pm at the earliest, so getting all the errands and chores done will be up to me with the ladybugs. Let's hope they are in a flexible mood tomorrow!
And for all of you Mom's out there, Happy Mother's Day!!!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
35 minutes on the bike trainer...
I wasn't able to get my allergy medication until this afternoon and I felt miserable - not sure if it was a virus or allergies - all yesterday and slept from 9 pm to almost 7 am this morning. So I did my ride on the bike trainer today while watching What Not To Wear, and wishing I was: 1) a participant on the show and 2) out on the open road with the crew down by the airport. It was only worse when I found out that Coach road a bike more expensive than my husband's car and popped a zip wheel... I would have liked to been there for that and to, of course, ogle the bike. And then Ryan did a sprint and got up to 30 mph! Go Ryan. The only time that's happened to me is when I am going down a very steep hill and is not of my own volition. Some day...
I miss the structured group workouts and am looking forward to next week when the morning schedule is a little freer and I can make it to those workouts again. I'm hoping for Lucky's Lake Wednesday for an open water swim and cycling near the airport on Thursday. Monday night pool workouts will resume the week of May 18th.
70.3 is on the minds of this household. This morning Mr. Darcy asked if I really thought I could do it or was it a waste of money to even try it. I told him that it was not a waste because while I can't say that I am capable today of doing the 70.3, I wasn't capable of doing the Olympic when I signed up for it either. But I want to train for it - I want to train 6 days a week for it, and 7 when I have to. I still promise the flexibility so that I won't necessarily be at every group training so that he can do things too, but I want to be able to do the 70.3 on September 27th. It dawned on me when we were talking about it that it will be almost exactly 1 year and 1 week from the date I started training for my first sprint triathlon. How amazing will it be to go from barely able to run to being able to do the 70.3 in essentially 1 year? I want that. I want to be able to say that I did that. So now, it seems, we are all on the same page in the household.
And now I can't wait to see what workouts are in store. Coach said she'd email them on Sunday. I get the whole recovery thing because you can't build on something already broken down, but I miss the intensity level with the training. Biking on the trainer for 35 minutes (I would have done 45 but got a late start) in a gear that I was pedaling at a 90 cadence with little effort is no longer a hard workout. I was sweating, but then I was inside and the air temp was 76 with no wind, and I was not out of breath. Tomorrow will be harder because it's a run... that's always harder for me - 30 minutes is easily doable though.
Got a haircut today. Went in and asked for something that makes my face look thinner. I love a hairdresser who tells you that you have a nice, thin face to begin with and you can tell that she means it. She did something slightly different with the style I already have because I told her I didn't want to go short short, and I think it's cute but it doesn't look much different. Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Nothing would be worse than 2 weeks shy of your 12th wedding anniversary than your husband telling you he hates your new 'do.
The topic of the house on the munchkin front is Big Girl Beds. Ladybug wants her Big Girl Bed in the worst way. I guess the fact that she sees the mattresses out in the garage just waiting for her to get the green light on them is tough when you're 3. So the deal is that if she keeps her underpants dry at school during the day and she stays in her bed at night (in an attempt to cure her of climbing in our bed at 3 am) for the rest of this week, she can get her Big Girl Bed on Saturday. 2 Days until plastic sheets become part of my life. The same deal goes for Angelfish too, but I'm hoping she'll keep her underpants dry at night too. Can't throw that in the deal though because that's not part of Ladybug's deal - only because she can't keep a pullup dry at night yet while Angelfish can go the entire night in underpants. It's amazing how focused one can get on potty training. It may have something to do with the fact that another human's waste, no matter how cute the little human, is rather disgusting. I long for the day when they are potty trained both day and night and I dont' have to bring a diaper bag with extra clothes and extra underpants and pullups in case everywhere. Of course, that also means they'll no longer be my little babies but big girls instead. The double edge sword of growing up.
I miss the structured group workouts and am looking forward to next week when the morning schedule is a little freer and I can make it to those workouts again. I'm hoping for Lucky's Lake Wednesday for an open water swim and cycling near the airport on Thursday. Monday night pool workouts will resume the week of May 18th.
70.3 is on the minds of this household. This morning Mr. Darcy asked if I really thought I could do it or was it a waste of money to even try it. I told him that it was not a waste because while I can't say that I am capable today of doing the 70.3, I wasn't capable of doing the Olympic when I signed up for it either. But I want to train for it - I want to train 6 days a week for it, and 7 when I have to. I still promise the flexibility so that I won't necessarily be at every group training so that he can do things too, but I want to be able to do the 70.3 on September 27th. It dawned on me when we were talking about it that it will be almost exactly 1 year and 1 week from the date I started training for my first sprint triathlon. How amazing will it be to go from barely able to run to being able to do the 70.3 in essentially 1 year? I want that. I want to be able to say that I did that. So now, it seems, we are all on the same page in the household.
And now I can't wait to see what workouts are in store. Coach said she'd email them on Sunday. I get the whole recovery thing because you can't build on something already broken down, but I miss the intensity level with the training. Biking on the trainer for 35 minutes (I would have done 45 but got a late start) in a gear that I was pedaling at a 90 cadence with little effort is no longer a hard workout. I was sweating, but then I was inside and the air temp was 76 with no wind, and I was not out of breath. Tomorrow will be harder because it's a run... that's always harder for me - 30 minutes is easily doable though.
Got a haircut today. Went in and asked for something that makes my face look thinner. I love a hairdresser who tells you that you have a nice, thin face to begin with and you can tell that she means it. She did something slightly different with the style I already have because I told her I didn't want to go short short, and I think it's cute but it doesn't look much different. Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Nothing would be worse than 2 weeks shy of your 12th wedding anniversary than your husband telling you he hates your new 'do.
The topic of the house on the munchkin front is Big Girl Beds. Ladybug wants her Big Girl Bed in the worst way. I guess the fact that she sees the mattresses out in the garage just waiting for her to get the green light on them is tough when you're 3. So the deal is that if she keeps her underpants dry at school during the day and she stays in her bed at night (in an attempt to cure her of climbing in our bed at 3 am) for the rest of this week, she can get her Big Girl Bed on Saturday. 2 Days until plastic sheets become part of my life. The same deal goes for Angelfish too, but I'm hoping she'll keep her underpants dry at night too. Can't throw that in the deal though because that's not part of Ladybug's deal - only because she can't keep a pullup dry at night yet while Angelfish can go the entire night in underpants. It's amazing how focused one can get on potty training. It may have something to do with the fact that another human's waste, no matter how cute the little human, is rather disgusting. I long for the day when they are potty trained both day and night and I dont' have to bring a diaper bag with extra clothes and extra underpants and pullups in case everywhere. Of course, that also means they'll no longer be my little babies but big girls instead. The double edge sword of growing up.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Sleep? Who Needs Sleep?
Last night was a sleepless mess. I fell asleep on the sofa, exhausted, after the girls went to bed and at some point during "American Idol" - my guilty pleasure. There was no swim yesterday because, well, the day was insane and never quite let up (see yesterday's posts for some of the details). Somehow my brain at least remembered I needed to get a going away party for Ladybug's teacher as today is her last day and we will miss her terribly. I remembered on the way home from getting the girls from daycare, right as Mr. Darcy called and asked if I wanted to meet him up by Waterford Lakes for dinner... which happened to be right as we pulled in the driveway to the house.
So off we went. A drive filled with Ladybug insisting I turn the car around because she wanted to go home and didn't want to meet Daddy. While Angelfish told her, "No. Daddy will be lonely and sad. We go see him." But somehow seeing Daddy made Ladybug stop crying. I think Ladybug was just tired from not sleeping that well the night before due to her little accidents. Dinner had a couple trips to the bathroom for the little ladies... dry pants all around! Whoo Hoo! Then to the store where the girls asked if we could buy all sorts of silly things for Ladybug's teacher - a ball with wierd stuff on it that lit up when you bounce it, a jar with a fake worm in it, plastic worms, glow sticks, etc. In the end, Angelfish settled on little note cards that have a picture of a crown and say"You Rule" and Ladybug chose a little pot that will grow a pink zinnia flower, and we got a gift card from us. Then back home, time for bed for the girls, a temper tantrum for Ladybug, reading books, and finally into bed for the girls. By this time it was almost 9 pm. I couldn't keep my eyes open so I knew the swim was out. I fell asleep on the sofa before they announced the second person to be eliminated, shortly after KC and the Sunshine Band.
But then I woke up at 1 am thinking. Somehow I was able to fall back asleep until 2:12 am. And then it was impossible to go back to sleep. No matter what I tried, a million thoughts and feelings just kept running around in my brain. When I went to what time it was (around 3:30 am), Mr. Darcy elbowed me in the eye and that was it. I pretty much lost it - not yelling or crying, but my brain was definitely frazzled... I was at the point of complete and utter exhaustion. So, poor Mr. Darcy was now up and we had a conversation that we probably should have had anyway, but that has been avoided or just not made time for. One of those conversations about family workloads, things left unresolved, lack of communication and hurt feelings over things said and done. Conversations either previously started and aborted or avoided because you didn't want to argue, but unintentionally ended up festering in your subconcious.
No sleep for either of us until after the alarm went off at 5:30 am when I was supposed to have gotten up to go for a bike ride down at the airport. Around 6 am I called my coach and told her that my insomnia probably had not put me in a place to ride a bike on the open roads. Only then could I sleep. Essentially one hour until Ms. Ladybug greeted us - with dry underpants - and climbed in to bed with me until she realized she needed to pee and then wandered to the bathroom. Then she went to wake her sister. Angelfish also was dry and wandered to the bathroom to go potty. 2 girls with dry beds and dry underpants! YAY!
After we got the girls ready for school, I felt the fatigue set in. But I had Mr. Darcy help me set up the trainer - me doing the hard stuff and him watching to make sure I was doing it right, so I could learn. Then we got the girls in the car, calmed the crying Ladybug with kisses and hugs and promises to pick her up from school this afternoon (she wanted to stay home with Mommy today), and I hit the trainer for an hour. My bike computer is not working, so I can only guess at what I did - I did an hour thinking that would be about 15 miles since lately I've been averaging around 17-18 mph on the flats. Slower on the up hills and often much faster on the down hills.
I will do a 2 mile run either at lunch or this evening. I'm thinking lunch is my best bet... so I really need to make sure I take a lunch today. Perhaps my 2 mile run, a quick shower, and a quick nap? Oh, perchance to dream...
So off we went. A drive filled with Ladybug insisting I turn the car around because she wanted to go home and didn't want to meet Daddy. While Angelfish told her, "No. Daddy will be lonely and sad. We go see him." But somehow seeing Daddy made Ladybug stop crying. I think Ladybug was just tired from not sleeping that well the night before due to her little accidents. Dinner had a couple trips to the bathroom for the little ladies... dry pants all around! Whoo Hoo! Then to the store where the girls asked if we could buy all sorts of silly things for Ladybug's teacher - a ball with wierd stuff on it that lit up when you bounce it, a jar with a fake worm in it, plastic worms, glow sticks, etc. In the end, Angelfish settled on little note cards that have a picture of a crown and say"You Rule" and Ladybug chose a little pot that will grow a pink zinnia flower, and we got a gift card from us. Then back home, time for bed for the girls, a temper tantrum for Ladybug, reading books, and finally into bed for the girls. By this time it was almost 9 pm. I couldn't keep my eyes open so I knew the swim was out. I fell asleep on the sofa before they announced the second person to be eliminated, shortly after KC and the Sunshine Band.
But then I woke up at 1 am thinking. Somehow I was able to fall back asleep until 2:12 am. And then it was impossible to go back to sleep. No matter what I tried, a million thoughts and feelings just kept running around in my brain. When I went to what time it was (around 3:30 am), Mr. Darcy elbowed me in the eye and that was it. I pretty much lost it - not yelling or crying, but my brain was definitely frazzled... I was at the point of complete and utter exhaustion. So, poor Mr. Darcy was now up and we had a conversation that we probably should have had anyway, but that has been avoided or just not made time for. One of those conversations about family workloads, things left unresolved, lack of communication and hurt feelings over things said and done. Conversations either previously started and aborted or avoided because you didn't want to argue, but unintentionally ended up festering in your subconcious.
No sleep for either of us until after the alarm went off at 5:30 am when I was supposed to have gotten up to go for a bike ride down at the airport. Around 6 am I called my coach and told her that my insomnia probably had not put me in a place to ride a bike on the open roads. Only then could I sleep. Essentially one hour until Ms. Ladybug greeted us - with dry underpants - and climbed in to bed with me until she realized she needed to pee and then wandered to the bathroom. Then she went to wake her sister. Angelfish also was dry and wandered to the bathroom to go potty. 2 girls with dry beds and dry underpants! YAY!
After we got the girls ready for school, I felt the fatigue set in. But I had Mr. Darcy help me set up the trainer - me doing the hard stuff and him watching to make sure I was doing it right, so I could learn. Then we got the girls in the car, calmed the crying Ladybug with kisses and hugs and promises to pick her up from school this afternoon (she wanted to stay home with Mommy today), and I hit the trainer for an hour. My bike computer is not working, so I can only guess at what I did - I did an hour thinking that would be about 15 miles since lately I've been averaging around 17-18 mph on the flats. Slower on the up hills and often much faster on the down hills.
I will do a 2 mile run either at lunch or this evening. I'm thinking lunch is my best bet... so I really need to make sure I take a lunch today. Perhaps my 2 mile run, a quick shower, and a quick nap? Oh, perchance to dream...
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
I May Have Gone Crazy..
but my readers, you are guaranteed to have continuing installments of my blog. I have, with the support of my darling husband, decided that after the Olympic Distance triathlon on May 3rd (only 12 days from today), I will train for and complete the IronMan 70.3 Triathlon in Augusta, Georgia on September 27th.
This means that I will willingly (and at the moment am saying this with euphoric glee) swim 1.2 miles in the Savannah River, followed by a 56 mile bike ride through Augusta across state lines into the state of South Carolina and then back across state lines into Augusta, Georgia, and then finish up with a 13.1 mile run. As you might have figured out by now, the 70.3 in the name of this race is the total number of miles I will be doing in one day. I am almost giddy in my insanity. But then am I insane if I realize that this is quite an extreme adventure? Just keep me in your prayers as I train, and all will be well. God loves idiots and fools, as a good friend of mine likes to say.
At the moment the only thing that troubles me about the race is the elevation map of the bike course. Let's just say it's a little bit hilly. But I have time to get ready. 158 days per their website.
In other news, we had 2 girls who slept in underpants last night. They made it through the night and then peed in their beds after waking up but before running naked through the house - because who wants to be in wet clothes? The night before last Angelfish made it through the night in underpants and we woke her up so she made it to the potty in time. Day time (knock on wood) has been dry for Angelfish and mostly dry for Ladybug. Ladybug is dry if she goes to school, but she has some difficulties on Saturdays but catches on again on Sundays for some reason. So we're making progress with the other training that is going on around here too.
As for training for my upcoming race, it's going well. Saturday we did a 40 minute swim followed by a 15 mile bike and a 2 mile run. I had a lot of fun doing it and worked on my hill riding - not losing momentum by continuing to bike on the down hills - my computer isn't working (it's getting looked at this evening) so I don't know how fast I was going but it felt super fast and I rather enjoyed it! Sunday was an off day, which is good because I went to my friend's bachelorette party Saturday late afternoon until Sunday morning (we stayed overnight in a hotel) and I had a bit more to drink than I have in ages, but luckily I kept myself drinking water too so I wasn't hung over - just tired.
By Monday I recovered and swim practice was really good actually. We swam a mile and then ran a mile and then did some visualization for our upcoming race. For some reason this morning, I was rearing to go for my 5 mile run. I kept thinking of it as I slept - about having to get up and do it, about the route I was going to run, etc. So after helping get the munchkins in the car I took off on my run. 5 miles later I was completely sweaty, smelly and happy.
Tonight is our bon voyage party where we find out details about the upcoming Miami race and tally up the amounts our team has raised for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. And then swimming tomorrow morning! I'm getting super excited about the race and am looking forward to bringing the family down to Miami for the race and festivities!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Pool Therapy
No worries. The pity party is over - cured by swim practice last night and by little Ladybug deciding that she wanted to get up at 5:45 am today. I have to say that I probably do carry what I said yesterday with me everyday, but most days it is just underlying the surface and is not nearly as intense as it was yesterday. I'm a constant work in progress trying to change the way I think about those things and every once in awhile they just reach out and grab me.
But, triathlon training really does tend to be therapy - as does the Team in Training mission. We had swim practice last night and it reminded me, looking at my fellow teammates, why we do this. We have 4 people that I know of who are cancer survivors, 1 whose child is a Leukemia survivor, and 3 of us who have lost loved ones to cancer. Being a part of Team in Training makes me feel like I am making a difference in the lives of others by raising cancer awareness and raising money for cancer research and patient services.
The swim itself last night also helped clear the cobwebs and drama from my brain. We did 1800 total (which is around 1.175 miles) and Coach B put us in the pool and told us to do our sets at our own pace. The sound and the movement of the swim are therapeutic. I forgave myself for my freak out in the lake, realized that I am making a difference with Team in Training, and re-confirmed that I have a right to be happy and that while making some sacrifices are part of being a wife and mother I do not have to give up everything. I deserve happiness as much as every member of my family and so the triathlons and the training will continue. I will do my best to be there for my children and my husband as much as possible, but I do need things for myself too.
It's amazing that these things come out of my swims, but they do. I'm not even sure how they do. I concentrate on my stroke and my continuous breathing and counting laps and thoughts just run through my head - sometimes I only catch the snippets of my thoughts... it's like my unconcious mind is working behind all the breathing, arm strokes, leg kicks, touching the wall, counting, and set building until it reveals to me the secrets it has unlocked while I move through the water. I was done with the 1800 before I realized it, and well before everyone else on the team. I even hung out in the water for about 5 minutes after I was done, secretly hoping Coach B would give me more to do but he insisted we were done for the day. I was dressed before anyone else even got out of the pool. Now, if I could only be that fast on the bike! : ) My new goal is to conquer the bike and get fast on it.
As a Mom, there is a natural tendency to put your children before yourself, especially when they are young. You want everything to be the best for them, you want them to be healthy and happy, and you want to spend all the time you can with them. When you work on top of being a Mom you don't get to be with them as much as you want, and even sometimes envy stay at home Moms who get to be with their children all the time. As one stay at home mom said to me , she felt sorry for me because I was going to miss out on so much with my children. But, what she didn't understand is that my going to work is another sacrifice I make for my children. I don't do it because I don't want to be with them or am keeping something for myself. Instead of putting our family in financial hardship, I work to ensure that we can save for college, afford to live in a neighborhood with good schools, allow them to participate in activities, and afford to have experiences for them that would be impossible if I did not work. If I could stay home with my children and have all those things, I would. But my life is not set up that way and I can only do the best I can. Those that can do those things and stay at home too are truly blessed.
Perhaps that is really what this journey of life is all about. Finding your way to make the best of what you have in life and continuously searching (and hopefully finding) how to not only make your life a happy one but also how to help improve the lives of others. All of this from 1800 meters in the pool on a warm March evening and Ladybug waking everyone up at 5:45 am because she wasn't tired and wanted to spend some time with her Mommy and Daddy. Pool therapy and child induced sleep shortages - a combo for self-realization!
Oh, and whoever bet that both girls would return home in their original clothes is the winner of yesterday's potty training bet. : ) No accidents! Yay! Let's see if we can go for a second day... double or nothing? Ladybug insisted on wearing a dress and Angelfish is wearing a cute little stretch pants and long top number that her Grammy gave her. The motivation I used yesterday and today is that if they keep their underpants dry their cute little outfit and their pretty underpants stay dry, which means they get to wear them all day instead of wearing their extra clothes. We'll see if it works!
But, triathlon training really does tend to be therapy - as does the Team in Training mission. We had swim practice last night and it reminded me, looking at my fellow teammates, why we do this. We have 4 people that I know of who are cancer survivors, 1 whose child is a Leukemia survivor, and 3 of us who have lost loved ones to cancer. Being a part of Team in Training makes me feel like I am making a difference in the lives of others by raising cancer awareness and raising money for cancer research and patient services.
The swim itself last night also helped clear the cobwebs and drama from my brain. We did 1800 total (which is around 1.175 miles) and Coach B put us in the pool and told us to do our sets at our own pace. The sound and the movement of the swim are therapeutic. I forgave myself for my freak out in the lake, realized that I am making a difference with Team in Training, and re-confirmed that I have a right to be happy and that while making some sacrifices are part of being a wife and mother I do not have to give up everything. I deserve happiness as much as every member of my family and so the triathlons and the training will continue. I will do my best to be there for my children and my husband as much as possible, but I do need things for myself too.It's amazing that these things come out of my swims, but they do. I'm not even sure how they do. I concentrate on my stroke and my continuous breathing and counting laps and thoughts just run through my head - sometimes I only catch the snippets of my thoughts... it's like my unconcious mind is working behind all the breathing, arm strokes, leg kicks, touching the wall, counting, and set building until it reveals to me the secrets it has unlocked while I move through the water. I was done with the 1800 before I realized it, and well before everyone else on the team. I even hung out in the water for about 5 minutes after I was done, secretly hoping Coach B would give me more to do but he insisted we were done for the day. I was dressed before anyone else even got out of the pool. Now, if I could only be that fast on the bike! : ) My new goal is to conquer the bike and get fast on it.
As a Mom, there is a natural tendency to put your children before yourself, especially when they are young. You want everything to be the best for them, you want them to be healthy and happy, and you want to spend all the time you can with them. When you work on top of being a Mom you don't get to be with them as much as you want, and even sometimes envy stay at home Moms who get to be with their children all the time. As one stay at home mom said to me , she felt sorry for me because I was going to miss out on so much with my children. But, what she didn't understand is that my going to work is another sacrifice I make for my children. I don't do it because I don't want to be with them or am keeping something for myself. Instead of putting our family in financial hardship, I work to ensure that we can save for college, afford to live in a neighborhood with good schools, allow them to participate in activities, and afford to have experiences for them that would be impossible if I did not work. If I could stay home with my children and have all those things, I would. But my life is not set up that way and I can only do the best I can. Those that can do those things and stay at home too are truly blessed.Perhaps that is really what this journey of life is all about. Finding your way to make the best of what you have in life and continuously searching (and hopefully finding) how to not only make your life a happy one but also how to help improve the lives of others. All of this from 1800 meters in the pool on a warm March evening and Ladybug waking everyone up at 5:45 am because she wasn't tired and wanted to spend some time with her Mommy and Daddy. Pool therapy and child induced sleep shortages - a combo for self-realization!
Oh, and whoever bet that both girls would return home in their original clothes is the winner of yesterday's potty training bet. : ) No accidents! Yay! Let's see if we can go for a second day... double or nothing? Ladybug insisted on wearing a dress and Angelfish is wearing a cute little stretch pants and long top number that her Grammy gave her. The motivation I used yesterday and today is that if they keep their underpants dry their cute little outfit and their pretty underpants stay dry, which means they get to wear them all day instead of wearing their extra clothes. We'll see if it works!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
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!
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!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Running and Too Much Quiet
Today I ran an "easy" 40 minutes. Believe it or not, it did seem easy today. I alternated 6 minutes running with 2 minutes walking, and even with doing that I went farther in 32 minutes than I used to be able to do in 45. I was pretty happy. However, my shins were not as happy but luckily these days they only hurt for the 1st 3-5 minutes and then only a few minutes after I finish. So, I think they are on the mend. Let's keep our fingers crossed on that one... these chronic shin splints are a bit annoying. I've changed shoes, tried orthotics, but to be truthful I think it's just getting in better shape and changing my running posture that may be what I needed.
Other than running, the girls are doing (knock on wood) amazingly well with potty training. This week Ladybug has not had any accidents, and Angelfish has only had 3. Two at school and one at home. We still have to be vigilant because sometimes they don't want to tell you they have to go because they're having too much fun doing something else and don't want to stop, especially Angelfish. But, I'm rather proud of them even if both of them now tell me "Don't say Yay to me Mommy." I guess they're too big for cheering when they go in the potty now. Let's hope it keeps up... pull ups are not cheap.
I have had to admit to myself that life has been a little hard on me lately. The Team in Training workouts are good for me because I actually get to talk to people, and I love my triathlon training, but I need more social interaction. Take a very social, happy woman away from her group of friends, her clubs and social functions, her charity work, and her office place. Put her in a new town with one girlfriend (thank goodness for her), working from home, the only volunteer opportunities she can find only let you volunteer during the work day, and she pretty much only leaves the house to train or to pick her girls up from daycare. What is the result of this little social experiment? Someone who is on the verge of saying she's somewhat unhappy (which is pretty tough for a formerly perennially happy person). I think the issue is that everything I do is on a schedule, I rarely do anything impromptu any more, and I lack time with friends. I used to be "plan? what plan?" Now my day is full of tasks that I must fulfill without a chance to do much playing. My workouts are awesome, but then there's the tasks that need to get completed for the day from the girls needs, wants, and whinings, to working, to cooking dinner so we don't have starving children (the truth is, if I don't cook we either don't eat or eat junk), to housework and laundry, and somewhere in there trying to get a few minutes to spend talking to my hubby, let alone trying to find any time to wind down from the day.
Part of this is being the mother of toddlers of course. I can't just flit off and do something different and exciting on a whim (there are diaper bags, snacks, drinks, attempting to reason with toddlers, and car seats involved). Well, maybe I could but I think DFACS would be involved, and plus I wouldn't want to do that to my precious love muffins. But I think the majority of this conundrum is that I miss people. Sure, people can be annoying sometimes but overall people are simply wonderful... their different opinions, their ideas, how they look at the world, what they choose to look at in the world, and their different backgrounds. What better entertainment and life experience can you have than meeting other people? So, I'm on a mission to make friends. How and where I will find these friends, I haven't the slightest idea... hopefully it will work itself out.
But for now, I'm off for a snack...
Other than running, the girls are doing (knock on wood) amazingly well with potty training. This week Ladybug has not had any accidents, and Angelfish has only had 3. Two at school and one at home. We still have to be vigilant because sometimes they don't want to tell you they have to go because they're having too much fun doing something else and don't want to stop, especially Angelfish. But, I'm rather proud of them even if both of them now tell me "Don't say Yay to me Mommy." I guess they're too big for cheering when they go in the potty now. Let's hope it keeps up... pull ups are not cheap.
I have had to admit to myself that life has been a little hard on me lately. The Team in Training workouts are good for me because I actually get to talk to people, and I love my triathlon training, but I need more social interaction. Take a very social, happy woman away from her group of friends, her clubs and social functions, her charity work, and her office place. Put her in a new town with one girlfriend (thank goodness for her), working from home, the only volunteer opportunities she can find only let you volunteer during the work day, and she pretty much only leaves the house to train or to pick her girls up from daycare. What is the result of this little social experiment? Someone who is on the verge of saying she's somewhat unhappy (which is pretty tough for a formerly perennially happy person). I think the issue is that everything I do is on a schedule, I rarely do anything impromptu any more, and I lack time with friends. I used to be "plan? what plan?" Now my day is full of tasks that I must fulfill without a chance to do much playing. My workouts are awesome, but then there's the tasks that need to get completed for the day from the girls needs, wants, and whinings, to working, to cooking dinner so we don't have starving children (the truth is, if I don't cook we either don't eat or eat junk), to housework and laundry, and somewhere in there trying to get a few minutes to spend talking to my hubby, let alone trying to find any time to wind down from the day.
Part of this is being the mother of toddlers of course. I can't just flit off and do something different and exciting on a whim (there are diaper bags, snacks, drinks, attempting to reason with toddlers, and car seats involved). Well, maybe I could but I think DFACS would be involved, and plus I wouldn't want to do that to my precious love muffins. But I think the majority of this conundrum is that I miss people. Sure, people can be annoying sometimes but overall people are simply wonderful... their different opinions, their ideas, how they look at the world, what they choose to look at in the world, and their different backgrounds. What better entertainment and life experience can you have than meeting other people? So, I'm on a mission to make friends. How and where I will find these friends, I haven't the slightest idea... hopefully it will work itself out.
But for now, I'm off for a snack...
Monday, March 2, 2009
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!!!
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!!
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...
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Way Things Are
There are things I love about biking and there are things that I dislike, but the things that I love much outweigh those that I do not, which is saying a bit after my 4 mile run last night and a 15 mile bike this morning. My legs are tired now, to say the least.
The things that I love:
1. The exhilaration of going fast powered by your own pumping legs.
2. The sound of the wind on a calm day... with the knowledge that you're creating the wind.
3. Enjoying the beauty of nature as you ride by (especially if it's a little blurry - that means speed).
4. The feeling of accomplishment when you finish a long ride.
5. Becoming one with your bike - you move one way, the bike does to.
6. Getting better each week and realizing it.
7. The will power you find on a day when your body's a little tired and it's a feat just to finish.
8. The feeling of being in touch with all of your senses to keep yourself not only biking but also alive and accident free. (But the actual need to defend your life from cars is a dislike.)
9. Down hills when your legs are getting tired. Up hills when your legs are fresh.
10. The gear.
The things that I dislike:
1. People driving cars who have no clue about cyclists and the rules of the road. Case in point, two incidents today: #1. I'm stopped at my stop sign with one leg unclipped waiting for oncoming traffic to pass. Woman in on coming traffic sees me & stops (with 5 cars behind her also having to stop) and tries to flag me on even though traffic is on coming in the other lane. I wave her on and shake my head no. She blasts her horn at me, which causes the other lane of traffic to also stop. I am forced to go because now there is a traffic jam and I am embarrassed - all because I am properly stopped at a stop sign. #2. I yield to on coming traffic and am about to go with plenty of time when a car sees me and instead of continuing to go so that I may continue after he passes, he stops in the middle of the road and then yells at me when I stop too.
2. School zones. Parents do not pay attention to you on a bike at all. Evidently being taller than an elementary school child renders you invisible.
3. Training on a hybrid. Oh I long for a road bike (or maybe a tri bike). A more aero position and better efficiency would be heavenly.
4. Down shifting only to discover that I've down shifted too much and the power of my pedaling causes my feet to unclip and fly off the pedals. (I may need to 1) learn not to downshift like this, and 2) tighten the bindings on my clip ins.)
5. Being courteous to pedestrians by shouting "I'm on your left" only for them to walk or jump right in front of you causing you to veer to the right again (to save both them and you from an accident) and still having to thank them.
6. Having to stop at stop signs. I understand the need for safety, which is why I adhere to the stop at stop signs rule... but I have a need for speed!
Oh, and last night's run was good... and my coach also helped me with my form. Turns out I don't know how to run properly! I was positioning my arms the wrong way and too far out, I was not leaning forward correctly, and I was breathing wrong. Running the last mile with her and working on it made the last mile easier on my body. So now I just have to keep working on it and who knows, maybe just maybe a list like the above might arise... we'll just have to see!
And if any one has tips on how to get your kids to wear underpants on a regular basis. Please let me know. Megan was a champ yesterday and had no accidents, then this morning refused to wear underpants. Amanda on the other hand decided she wanted to wear underpants and did a little dance with one leg crossed over her knee while hopping so she didn't pee until she was sitting on the potty. But, most likely she'll return home in underpants because despite going in the potty, she tends to ask for pullups at school! I think in 3 weeks we're going cold turkey to underpants... which will mean even more laundry, but it may be worth it!
Things overheard in the car yesterday....
Amanda: we going to get Daddy from he work, but we not go in his building. We sit in parking lot and go beep beep, honk honk, Daddy!
Megan: We no have horn! The light is green. That light red. I like red and green, and purple. I like purple. Purple is good.
Amanda: I like purple too. Purple and Green. You like purple Mommy? (Mommy responded that she likes blue and green.)
Megan: Green means go, Yellow mean slow, Red mean stop. Purple mean pretty. Mommy like blue and green. I like blue and green. You like it, Amanda?
Amanda: I like blue and green too. I love Mommy too.
The things that I love:
1. The exhilaration of going fast powered by your own pumping legs.
2. The sound of the wind on a calm day... with the knowledge that you're creating the wind.
3. Enjoying the beauty of nature as you ride by (especially if it's a little blurry - that means speed).
4. The feeling of accomplishment when you finish a long ride.
5. Becoming one with your bike - you move one way, the bike does to.
6. Getting better each week and realizing it.
7. The will power you find on a day when your body's a little tired and it's a feat just to finish.
8. The feeling of being in touch with all of your senses to keep yourself not only biking but also alive and accident free. (But the actual need to defend your life from cars is a dislike.)
9. Down hills when your legs are getting tired. Up hills when your legs are fresh.
10. The gear.
The things that I dislike:1. People driving cars who have no clue about cyclists and the rules of the road. Case in point, two incidents today: #1. I'm stopped at my stop sign with one leg unclipped waiting for oncoming traffic to pass. Woman in on coming traffic sees me & stops (with 5 cars behind her also having to stop) and tries to flag me on even though traffic is on coming in the other lane. I wave her on and shake my head no. She blasts her horn at me, which causes the other lane of traffic to also stop. I am forced to go because now there is a traffic jam and I am embarrassed - all because I am properly stopped at a stop sign. #2. I yield to on coming traffic and am about to go with plenty of time when a car sees me and instead of continuing to go so that I may continue after he passes, he stops in the middle of the road and then yells at me when I stop too.
2. School zones. Parents do not pay attention to you on a bike at all. Evidently being taller than an elementary school child renders you invisible.
3. Training on a hybrid. Oh I long for a road bike (or maybe a tri bike). A more aero position and better efficiency would be heavenly.
4. Down shifting only to discover that I've down shifted too much and the power of my pedaling causes my feet to unclip and fly off the pedals. (I may need to 1) learn not to downshift like this, and 2) tighten the bindings on my clip ins.)
5. Being courteous to pedestrians by shouting "I'm on your left" only for them to walk or jump right in front of you causing you to veer to the right again (to save both them and you from an accident) and still having to thank them.
6. Having to stop at stop signs. I understand the need for safety, which is why I adhere to the stop at stop signs rule... but I have a need for speed!
Oh, and last night's run was good... and my coach also helped me with my form. Turns out I don't know how to run properly! I was positioning my arms the wrong way and too far out, I was not leaning forward correctly, and I was breathing wrong. Running the last mile with her and working on it made the last mile easier on my body. So now I just have to keep working on it and who knows, maybe just maybe a list like the above might arise... we'll just have to see!And if any one has tips on how to get your kids to wear underpants on a regular basis. Please let me know. Megan was a champ yesterday and had no accidents, then this morning refused to wear underpants. Amanda on the other hand decided she wanted to wear underpants and did a little dance with one leg crossed over her knee while hopping so she didn't pee until she was sitting on the potty. But, most likely she'll return home in underpants because despite going in the potty, she tends to ask for pullups at school! I think in 3 weeks we're going cold turkey to underpants... which will mean even more laundry, but it may be worth it!
Things overheard in the car yesterday....Amanda: we going to get Daddy from he work, but we not go in his building. We sit in parking lot and go beep beep, honk honk, Daddy!
Megan: We no have horn! The light is green. That light red. I like red and green, and purple. I like purple. Purple is good.
Amanda: I like purple too. Purple and Green. You like purple Mommy? (Mommy responded that she likes blue and green.)
Megan: Green means go, Yellow mean slow, Red mean stop. Purple mean pretty. Mommy like blue and green. I like blue and green. You like it, Amanda?
Amanda: I like blue and green too. I love Mommy too.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Who Knew Eating Could be Soooo Confusing?
Eating, yes, eating has me in a quandry. I have been eating healthily, but it turns out I am not eating enough. Some days I evidently haven't even been hitting the 1200 calorie mark, which is the base line for just what you need to keep your body in motion. Of course the days we've eaten out or had pizza, I well exceed the mark. Based on some calculations that our coach gave us and due to the amount of exercise we're doing per week, it looks like I should be eating (even with subtracting out 500 calories for a weight loss of 1 pound per week) 2,000 calories a day. That is a whole lot of eating when you primarily eat fruit and veggies like I do. To give you an idea of what a quandry I'm in, yesterday I ate 1 cup of kashi, 1/4 cup of skim milk, a v-8, an orange, green tea with honey, 2 smart dogs, 1 fat free activia with 1/4 cup of mixed berries mixed in, an apple with 1 tbsp of peanut butter, turkey sloppy joes, and added a package of power bar energy gels, and I still only hit 1,206 calories (maybe 1300 because I ate a little extra bread with my sloppy joes). To me, that's a good bit of food. But evidently not enough. Of course, I was rather hungry this morning for breakfast...
Luckily I purchased Joe Friel's newest edition of The Triathlete's Training Bible because it has a section on nutrition and it gave me some helpful information, like eat 20% of your calories as fat calories and eat low to medium glycemic index foods during most of your day (which I do already) but increase your glycemic index foods around and during exercise (but still avoiding the sugary stuff). BUT, those fat calories need to be "good fats," ie. monounsaturated and omega-3s to the best of your ability... so getting them from unprocessed foods like nuts, seeds and lean meats. How I wish someone would just hand me a menu already put together with a grocery list so I could purchase and cook! So, today, I'm using a handy spreadsheet to see if I can get this ball rolling in the right direction. I still can't figure how I'm going to lose weight if I start eating more than I'm already eating, but we shall see.
Last night was our swim workout. It went well, but trying to learn the new version of the stroke is a little difficult. I will perservere of course, but until I can train myself to stick my arms into the water straight in front of my ears I may be swimming a bit crooked. And crooked is not good because that means I'm adding distance to the length of my swim and we don't want to swim farther in a triathlon than we need to. I'm going to give it a go for a week or two, but there's only 11 more weeks until the Miami Tri, so if by week 9 I'm not swimming straight, I may do as my coach suggested and just stick with what I already do well. But, I'd like to be as efficient (and hopefully as fast) as possible since swimming is the sport that I am the best at. Too bad it's only about 1 mile out of the total 32 miles we'll be doing. Of course, most people on the Team in Training team with me are happy about it. I, on the other hand, would rather swim than run! Most kids ran in sports as little kids, me, I swam!
Tonight is a 3 mile run at Lake Eola followed by a running clinic at Track Shack. Our coach said something about a 1 mile warm up, a timed 1 mile, and then a 1 mile cool down. I'm not looking forward to officially hearing how "fast" I do a mile after already running one. But, as always, I will do my best! Running has grown on me, especially now that I make myself pick my head up and look around (instead of straight ahead of me), but I still would rather be in the pool or on the bike. I'm hoping to like it even more as time progresses. Before that we'll be playing on the playground with the girls in the hopes of making the car and parent transition a little more fun for the ladybugs, plus I get to spend more time with them (and feel a little less guilty about not being home with them in the evening).
It's funny because last night in reading some of my new book, he asks the question why do you want to do triathlons? And to be prefectly honest, I'm not 100% sure why but I know that I am driven to do it. At first it was because I was bored with my workout and wanted something to get in better cardio shape and to have a goal, but then the more I trained it became something more. It was a sort of mental therapy because I have endured a good bit in what I consider to be a relatively short life thus far (yes, I do know I'm in my 30's but even with cardiovascular disease running rampant my Dad's side of the family tends to live until around 90, so imagine the possibilities!) and it was somehow proof to myself that I'm still here, I'm still alive and I'm still kicking and I refuse to just exist. And then it is a way to raise money for cancer research in memory of Angela, whose death has really changed the way I look at life (mine and everyone else's too). And not only is that the case now, but it is all of these things and yet something more that I can't quite figure out. It is fun for me, it is something I do for myself in a time when I work for others, take care of others, and try to run a household, but yet there is more to it. I am not delusional... I am aware that I was never a fast runner as a child and most likely will never be what others consider "fast" so I can never be a truly "great" triathlete. But, I somehow don't care as to whether I'm "great" at this in someone else's eyes, I just want to be happy with my progress and what I'm doing. When I finished my 1st sprint triathlon, my Mom said to me,"well, now you know what to do to be better next time." And for me, yes, there were lessons that I can use to improve, but it wasn't about being better. It was living in that moment that I did something that I considered amazing. Every time I get a little faster, I amaze myself that I did that. Perhaps this triathlon stuff just gives me a different perspective on myself from where I was before, and it drives me to do and be even more than I already am. Not to mention it is good therapy for working out whatever is going on in my brain or in my life as well. So BRING IT ON!
News in from the potty training front. After a war of refusing to wear underpants Sunday and Monday (despite using the potty all day at school yesterday), Ladybug has returned to the allied front, is proud of wearing her underpants again and has vowed to keep her pretty pants clean and dry today. Angelfish's teacher at daycare yesterday also informed me that Angelfish has been doing very well using the potty. In fact over the past week or so, she has been keeping her pullup dry. This morning she too is in underpants (although extras were sent with her to school). Is the end of pullup land in sight? Stay tuned...
Luckily I purchased Joe Friel's newest edition of The Triathlete's Training Bible because it has a section on nutrition and it gave me some helpful information, like eat 20% of your calories as fat calories and eat low to medium glycemic index foods during most of your day (which I do already) but increase your glycemic index foods around and during exercise (but still avoiding the sugary stuff). BUT, those fat calories need to be "good fats," ie. monounsaturated and omega-3s to the best of your ability... so getting them from unprocessed foods like nuts, seeds and lean meats. How I wish someone would just hand me a menu already put together with a grocery list so I could purchase and cook! So, today, I'm using a handy spreadsheet to see if I can get this ball rolling in the right direction. I still can't figure how I'm going to lose weight if I start eating more than I'm already eating, but we shall see.
Last night was our swim workout. It went well, but trying to learn the new version of the stroke is a little difficult. I will perservere of course, but until I can train myself to stick my arms into the water straight in front of my ears I may be swimming a bit crooked. And crooked is not good because that means I'm adding distance to the length of my swim and we don't want to swim farther in a triathlon than we need to. I'm going to give it a go for a week or two, but there's only 11 more weeks until the Miami Tri, so if by week 9 I'm not swimming straight, I may do as my coach suggested and just stick with what I already do well. But, I'd like to be as efficient (and hopefully as fast) as possible since swimming is the sport that I am the best at. Too bad it's only about 1 mile out of the total 32 miles we'll be doing. Of course, most people on the Team in Training team with me are happy about it. I, on the other hand, would rather swim than run! Most kids ran in sports as little kids, me, I swam!
Tonight is a 3 mile run at Lake Eola followed by a running clinic at Track Shack. Our coach said something about a 1 mile warm up, a timed 1 mile, and then a 1 mile cool down. I'm not looking forward to officially hearing how "fast" I do a mile after already running one. But, as always, I will do my best! Running has grown on me, especially now that I make myself pick my head up and look around (instead of straight ahead of me), but I still would rather be in the pool or on the bike. I'm hoping to like it even more as time progresses. Before that we'll be playing on the playground with the girls in the hopes of making the car and parent transition a little more fun for the ladybugs, plus I get to spend more time with them (and feel a little less guilty about not being home with them in the evening).
It's funny because last night in reading some of my new book, he asks the question why do you want to do triathlons? And to be prefectly honest, I'm not 100% sure why but I know that I am driven to do it. At first it was because I was bored with my workout and wanted something to get in better cardio shape and to have a goal, but then the more I trained it became something more. It was a sort of mental therapy because I have endured a good bit in what I consider to be a relatively short life thus far (yes, I do know I'm in my 30's but even with cardiovascular disease running rampant my Dad's side of the family tends to live until around 90, so imagine the possibilities!) and it was somehow proof to myself that I'm still here, I'm still alive and I'm still kicking and I refuse to just exist. And then it is a way to raise money for cancer research in memory of Angela, whose death has really changed the way I look at life (mine and everyone else's too). And not only is that the case now, but it is all of these things and yet something more that I can't quite figure out. It is fun for me, it is something I do for myself in a time when I work for others, take care of others, and try to run a household, but yet there is more to it. I am not delusional... I am aware that I was never a fast runner as a child and most likely will never be what others consider "fast" so I can never be a truly "great" triathlete. But, I somehow don't care as to whether I'm "great" at this in someone else's eyes, I just want to be happy with my progress and what I'm doing. When I finished my 1st sprint triathlon, my Mom said to me,"well, now you know what to do to be better next time." And for me, yes, there were lessons that I can use to improve, but it wasn't about being better. It was living in that moment that I did something that I considered amazing. Every time I get a little faster, I amaze myself that I did that. Perhaps this triathlon stuff just gives me a different perspective on myself from where I was before, and it drives me to do and be even more than I already am. Not to mention it is good therapy for working out whatever is going on in my brain or in my life as well. So BRING IT ON!
News in from the potty training front. After a war of refusing to wear underpants Sunday and Monday (despite using the potty all day at school yesterday), Ladybug has returned to the allied front, is proud of wearing her underpants again and has vowed to keep her pretty pants clean and dry today. Angelfish's teacher at daycare yesterday also informed me that Angelfish has been doing very well using the potty. In fact over the past week or so, she has been keeping her pullup dry. This morning she too is in underpants (although extras were sent with her to school). Is the end of pullup land in sight? Stay tuned...
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Our 1st Team in Training workout...
Monday was my 1st official Team in Training workout... and it was a swim. It was a rainy blustery evening, but as we were told the only way any of our practices will be called is if (and this is a direct quote) "they make us get out of the pool because of lightening and then we'll wait 15 minutes and get back in the pool" or "cows are flying by your house."
Luckily, the pool was heated although it definitely was not the 82 degrees they claimed it would be... but still better than the air temperature! It was a pretty easy swim practice... I may have done about 1/2 a mile at most, but it was probably good for me since I did my triathlon the day before and my legs are a little sore today from the tri (they felt really good while swimming though). I think they were just trying to see where we were with our swimming abilities and that they'll ratchet things up from there. The people on the Team with me seem nice and we're all a bit quiet at this point because we don't know each other, but I have a feeling that may change with time. I know I tend to be quieter at first (yes, those of you who know me probably can't remember those days) and then I come out of my shell once I get to know you just a little.
Tonight we have a group run - a 3 mile run. Which, I have to say I probably can do because well, I was able to run 2.3 miles and feel like I could go farther after I had swum 1/4 of a mile and bike 12 miles before that, but it still frightens me a little. I need to work on my mental issues about running... why is it that I don't think I can run? I ran cross-country as a high schooler and track, but I was never very good. But amazingly, I think I can run farther now than I could back then. Not sure why... but I will conquer this too. We also have a shoe clinic afterwards at a shop that supposedly will tape you some while you run to analyze your running style and then suggest a shoe for you... I'm interested in hearing what they have to say because my shoes have about 1 month left in them before I have to replace them and if I'm in the wrong type then I need to make sure that I get good ones - I want the shin splints to end! (Which, amazingly I haven't noticed them even after the triathlon Sunday. YAY!)
On the potty training front, mysterious things are at work. Ladybug has been doing pretty well, even sometimes letting us know that she has to go and then going in the potty. But Angelfish has been the surprise. Lately she has been telling us she needs to go potty and actually goes in the potty. In fact she woke me up in the middle of the night - along with her sister - because she needed to go potty, went a little in the pullup first because Ladybug beat her to the potty but then went the rest of the way in the potty, kept the pullup dry the rest of the night and went in the potty this morning. This weekend she even started to go pee in her underpants (just a tiny bit to the point that she only needed an underpants change), stopped herself, announced that she had to go potty right now, and went to the bathroom and used the potty! Miracles never cease! So, perhaps the pottying will become quiet in fashion for them both.... they are particular about which pair of underpants they wear each day, so maybe that will be the incentive!
I'll let you know how the run goes tonight. I won't even go into how intense the training schedule is because well, some of those later workouts are scary to look at right now but I'm hoping that I will be able to do them when we get to them!
Luckily, the pool was heated although it definitely was not the 82 degrees they claimed it would be... but still better than the air temperature! It was a pretty easy swim practice... I may have done about 1/2 a mile at most, but it was probably good for me since I did my triathlon the day before and my legs are a little sore today from the tri (they felt really good while swimming though). I think they were just trying to see where we were with our swimming abilities and that they'll ratchet things up from there. The people on the Team with me seem nice and we're all a bit quiet at this point because we don't know each other, but I have a feeling that may change with time. I know I tend to be quieter at first (yes, those of you who know me probably can't remember those days) and then I come out of my shell once I get to know you just a little.
Tonight we have a group run - a 3 mile run. Which, I have to say I probably can do because well, I was able to run 2.3 miles and feel like I could go farther after I had swum 1/4 of a mile and bike 12 miles before that, but it still frightens me a little. I need to work on my mental issues about running... why is it that I don't think I can run? I ran cross-country as a high schooler and track, but I was never very good. But amazingly, I think I can run farther now than I could back then. Not sure why... but I will conquer this too. We also have a shoe clinic afterwards at a shop that supposedly will tape you some while you run to analyze your running style and then suggest a shoe for you... I'm interested in hearing what they have to say because my shoes have about 1 month left in them before I have to replace them and if I'm in the wrong type then I need to make sure that I get good ones - I want the shin splints to end! (Which, amazingly I haven't noticed them even after the triathlon Sunday. YAY!)
On the potty training front, mysterious things are at work. Ladybug has been doing pretty well, even sometimes letting us know that she has to go and then going in the potty. But Angelfish has been the surprise. Lately she has been telling us she needs to go potty and actually goes in the potty. In fact she woke me up in the middle of the night - along with her sister - because she needed to go potty, went a little in the pullup first because Ladybug beat her to the potty but then went the rest of the way in the potty, kept the pullup dry the rest of the night and went in the potty this morning. This weekend she even started to go pee in her underpants (just a tiny bit to the point that she only needed an underpants change), stopped herself, announced that she had to go potty right now, and went to the bathroom and used the potty! Miracles never cease! So, perhaps the pottying will become quiet in fashion for them both.... they are particular about which pair of underpants they wear each day, so maybe that will be the incentive!
I'll let you know how the run goes tonight. I won't even go into how intense the training schedule is because well, some of those later workouts are scary to look at right now but I'm hoping that I will be able to do them when we get to them!
Monday, January 26, 2009
My love for a piece of metal...
Yes, it's definitely official. I've know that this was true, it has been said a few times in this blog, but perhaps not fully declared in its entirety.... I AM IN LOVE WITH MY BIKE. It is not the top of the line in the world of bikes... it's not even a road bike, just a lowly hybrid Trek 3100 (road and mountain bike), but then, I'm no super model or elite athlete either. So, perhaps it is just that we are perfect for one another. It has been weeks since I last rode my bike because the mornings were too cold or I had a swim bike combo that just made no sense to swim at the gym and come home and ride (especially since I start work at 8:30 am each morning). It was almost like meeting an old friend after a long sojourn... a little bit of anxious excitement, a wonder of what if we have nothing to talk about after all this time? But, just like meeting a true friend after awhile, it was like picking up right where we left off. I felt taller on the bike - probably because I wasn't in the position where my right in front of my face was all the gagetry of the stationary bike and because the bike actually fits me. I'm in between settings at the gym and have to go to the lower one for height. The first minute felt odd and then pure bliss took over. 7 miles of lovely riding and a desire to keep biking and only looking at my watch twice in 30 minutes just to gage whether I had time to keep going or did I need to take an alternate route... never once out of boredom. And at the end of the ride as I unclipped from the pedals, a sense that I could have ridden 3 times as long and been perfectly happy. Blissful love for a lovely piece of metal.
If only the potty training front could be as blissful... we'll start with Angelfish as Ladybug's story will take a bit longer. Angelfish is using the potty when she feels like it (which is much of how Angelfish addresses big milestones in development... I think I've mentioned before in my blog that she refused to crawl and hated being on her belly but then one day decided to walk and within a week she was walking without holding on to anything for rather long distances), which amazingly was Saturday when we went to Disney. She would tell me that she needed to pee, we'd go to the bathroom (even waiting in line once or twice) and her pullup would be dry and she'd pee in the potty! Then Sunday she refused to go to the potty, only wanted to wear pullups and announced after the fact that she'd gone. This morning though she went pee on the potty and wanted to wear underpants to school. One of these days she's just going to make her mind up and be fully potty trained. I just hope it's before college.
Ladybug. Yes, our dear Ladybug gets her own paragraph. Saturday she was like rock star for the large part of the day... she wore the same pair of underpants without accident if you told her to go, she'd go. If she had to go, she told you and went. And then. She was not listening and running like a mad thing in the crowd at Disney. We told her if she did it once more we were going home. She did, and we were leaving. Ladybug completely had a melt down from Cinderella's castle all the way back to the entrance to the park. (We apologize to all those who had to endure her crying on the Monorail ride back to the entrance.) Screaming "I don't want to go home!" and wailing... she may have actually gnashed her teeth once or twice too. We get out and Mr. Darcy takes Ladybug and I take Angelfish to the bathrooms. Angelfish does awesome and empties her entire bladder into the potty. Ladybug too empties her bladder, but not into the potty. She started to pee a little on Mr. Darcy. He got her to stop and took her to the potty where she refused to go and refused to listen. Mr. Darcy scolded her for not listening and she got even more upset and peed all over his pants, all over her pants and socks, and all over the bathroom floor. Being a good Dad, he merely cleaned her up, cleaned up the bathroom floor, and did his best to clean himself up. He put her in new clothes and then refused to talk about the experience for several hours other than to say "she peed on me and I don't want to talk about it." But this morning, she was a champ. Marched in, peed on the potty and excitedly put on her Snow White underpants. (Oh, we met Snow White at Disney Saturday... so they were even more exciting now that they know one another!)
After our adventures at Disney, Mr. Darcy and I went on a date while the girls played with the babysitter. We had a good quantity of beer. It was necessary. And then we tried to bowl... I say tried to because when we found out that we would have to wait 1 hour and pay $45 plus shoe rentals for 1 hour of bowling, we went to see if there was anything playing at the movies. There was, but not until around 10 pm and we were tired enough that we'd simply fall asleep if we waited that long. So, we ate ice cream and went home. Wild and exciting times! But, it was nice to have some peace and quiet for a few hours and be able to chat!
Oh, and Saturday morning, the workout went well... 500 swim, 11 mile bike, and 10 minute run/walk. At the end I felt I could definitely do more, so things are looking up for this weekend's sprint triathlon... my first! YAY! My new triathlon bag arrived Friday afternoon and it was heavenly to use at the gym. Not sure that it can hold all it boasts it can, but we'll find out on Sunday! The"big day" is on Sunday, this week's workouts will be lighter than normal, but I hope to be able to officially call myself a "triathlete" on my personal "Superbowl Sunday!"
If only the potty training front could be as blissful... we'll start with Angelfish as Ladybug's story will take a bit longer. Angelfish is using the potty when she feels like it (which is much of how Angelfish addresses big milestones in development... I think I've mentioned before in my blog that she refused to crawl and hated being on her belly but then one day decided to walk and within a week she was walking without holding on to anything for rather long distances), which amazingly was Saturday when we went to Disney. She would tell me that she needed to pee, we'd go to the bathroom (even waiting in line once or twice) and her pullup would be dry and she'd pee in the potty! Then Sunday she refused to go to the potty, only wanted to wear pullups and announced after the fact that she'd gone. This morning though she went pee on the potty and wanted to wear underpants to school. One of these days she's just going to make her mind up and be fully potty trained. I just hope it's before college.
Ladybug. Yes, our dear Ladybug gets her own paragraph. Saturday she was like rock star for the large part of the day... she wore the same pair of underpants without accident if you told her to go, she'd go. If she had to go, she told you and went. And then. She was not listening and running like a mad thing in the crowd at Disney. We told her if she did it once more we were going home. She did, and we were leaving. Ladybug completely had a melt down from Cinderella's castle all the way back to the entrance to the park. (We apologize to all those who had to endure her crying on the Monorail ride back to the entrance.) Screaming "I don't want to go home!" and wailing... she may have actually gnashed her teeth once or twice too. We get out and Mr. Darcy takes Ladybug and I take Angelfish to the bathrooms. Angelfish does awesome and empties her entire bladder into the potty. Ladybug too empties her bladder, but not into the potty. She started to pee a little on Mr. Darcy. He got her to stop and took her to the potty where she refused to go and refused to listen. Mr. Darcy scolded her for not listening and she got even more upset and peed all over his pants, all over her pants and socks, and all over the bathroom floor. Being a good Dad, he merely cleaned her up, cleaned up the bathroom floor, and did his best to clean himself up. He put her in new clothes and then refused to talk about the experience for several hours other than to say "she peed on me and I don't want to talk about it." But this morning, she was a champ. Marched in, peed on the potty and excitedly put on her Snow White underpants. (Oh, we met Snow White at Disney Saturday... so they were even more exciting now that they know one another!)
After our adventures at Disney, Mr. Darcy and I went on a date while the girls played with the babysitter. We had a good quantity of beer. It was necessary. And then we tried to bowl... I say tried to because when we found out that we would have to wait 1 hour and pay $45 plus shoe rentals for 1 hour of bowling, we went to see if there was anything playing at the movies. There was, but not until around 10 pm and we were tired enough that we'd simply fall asleep if we waited that long. So, we ate ice cream and went home. Wild and exciting times! But, it was nice to have some peace and quiet for a few hours and be able to chat!
Oh, and Saturday morning, the workout went well... 500 swim, 11 mile bike, and 10 minute run/walk. At the end I felt I could definitely do more, so things are looking up for this weekend's sprint triathlon... my first! YAY! My new triathlon bag arrived Friday afternoon and it was heavenly to use at the gym. Not sure that it can hold all it boasts it can, but we'll find out on Sunday! The"big day" is on Sunday, this week's workouts will be lighter than normal, but I hope to be able to officially call myself a "triathlete" on my personal "Superbowl Sunday!"
Friday, January 23, 2009
Feeling Peppy
So yesterday I got up the nerve to ask my dentist for a donation for Team in Training/The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and was told to email him the request etc. I haven't heard anything back yet, but I am emboldened. If he says no, he says no. There are worse things than being told no. With this new boldness, I am going to ask the place I get my hair done for a donation today as well. I plan to bring in a letter with me when I go. In fact, I may get down right embarrassing for Mr. Darcy because I'm going to print a bunch of letters so that every store we shop in for the next month or so I can ask for a donation. In case there are readers out there that I haven't hit up for a donation for THe Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, here's the deal. One of my best friends died in December of sarcoma and now I am doing an international length triathlon in her memory to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for cancer research. If you'd like to donate, you may donate securely online at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/cfl/miatri09/kmartinmou You will receive an email confirmation of your donation (which is tax deductible), and I will be notified of your donation as well (thereby triggering me to write you a handwritten thank you note as I do not believe in email thank you notes).
Now back to the usual... potty training first this morning. It has been a frustrating week with the potty training. Ladybug did awesome this weekend. Saturday, no accidents. Sunday, one accident. Then a refusal all week to wear underpants or go to the bathroom in the potty at home... until this morning. She insisted on wearing blue underpants, in exchange she agreed to go pee pee in the potty... and pee she did! YAY! Let's hope that she continues to pee in the potty today. Angelfish also went pee in the potty this morning, but then refused to wear underpants. She asked me last night if I wear pullups too, and I told her no, Mommy wears underpants. Then Angelfish asked Daddy, and he said "no, I wear big boy underpants." To which she responded in a falsely low voice, "You BIG daddy!" It cracked us up. I am praying for potty training completion by the time they are 3, but I know that they will do it on their own time frame not mine (but I like mine better...)
This morning was a nice morning... the girls both woke up in good moods, which was delightful after Ladybug was a super terror yesterday morning telling both Daddy and Mommy she didn't want them and to go away while SCREAMING at the top of her lungs that she wanted to wear a dress and she didn't care if it was cold. This morning, she woke up and pretended to cook, salt and pepper her Little People Farmer. She cracked us up saying "I going to cut this little man and put salt and pepper on him." I got her to go potty by telling her that he'd be tastier if she let him marinate. : ) Then it was off to the gym (another place that I need to hit up for a donation), and a 20 minute bike followed by a 25 minute swim. 20 minute bike was just under 5 miles but I had to put the resistance level at 6 to get into zone 3 heart rate, so I probably could have gone a little bit farther. And the pool was good, I primarily worked on form while zone 3 swimming and swam 1000m, so more than 1/2 mile, but less than 3/4 of a mile. I really enjoyed the swim... it was invigorating and peaceful. I think it's something about how I breathe when I swim and the tempo of it all, not to mention the nice lapping of the water as I go... today it was a bit entrancing so that getting to the wall seemed like an interference. Whatever it was, I almost felt like the stress of the past few weeks melted away a bit... let's hope it stays that way!
Tomorrow is a tri-brick. 100 m warm up and 400 m swim, followed by a 50 minute bike, and a 10 minute run (well, walk run... I'm still babying these never ending shin splints). While these workouts like this are hard, I must say that I love them. There's something about finishing them that makes me happy... tired, but happy. And the plan is that after I get back from working out, we're going to head to Disney for the day (provided the girls keep being good listeners today and this evening), and then Mr. Darcy and I are going on a date after dinner with the girls. We're wild and crazy and plan to go bowling. Look out, Orlando! HA!
Now back to the usual... potty training first this morning. It has been a frustrating week with the potty training. Ladybug did awesome this weekend. Saturday, no accidents. Sunday, one accident. Then a refusal all week to wear underpants or go to the bathroom in the potty at home... until this morning. She insisted on wearing blue underpants, in exchange she agreed to go pee pee in the potty... and pee she did! YAY! Let's hope that she continues to pee in the potty today. Angelfish also went pee in the potty this morning, but then refused to wear underpants. She asked me last night if I wear pullups too, and I told her no, Mommy wears underpants. Then Angelfish asked Daddy, and he said "no, I wear big boy underpants." To which she responded in a falsely low voice, "You BIG daddy!" It cracked us up. I am praying for potty training completion by the time they are 3, but I know that they will do it on their own time frame not mine (but I like mine better...)
This morning was a nice morning... the girls both woke up in good moods, which was delightful after Ladybug was a super terror yesterday morning telling both Daddy and Mommy she didn't want them and to go away while SCREAMING at the top of her lungs that she wanted to wear a dress and she didn't care if it was cold. This morning, she woke up and pretended to cook, salt and pepper her Little People Farmer. She cracked us up saying "I going to cut this little man and put salt and pepper on him." I got her to go potty by telling her that he'd be tastier if she let him marinate. : ) Then it was off to the gym (another place that I need to hit up for a donation), and a 20 minute bike followed by a 25 minute swim. 20 minute bike was just under 5 miles but I had to put the resistance level at 6 to get into zone 3 heart rate, so I probably could have gone a little bit farther. And the pool was good, I primarily worked on form while zone 3 swimming and swam 1000m, so more than 1/2 mile, but less than 3/4 of a mile. I really enjoyed the swim... it was invigorating and peaceful. I think it's something about how I breathe when I swim and the tempo of it all, not to mention the nice lapping of the water as I go... today it was a bit entrancing so that getting to the wall seemed like an interference. Whatever it was, I almost felt like the stress of the past few weeks melted away a bit... let's hope it stays that way!
Tomorrow is a tri-brick. 100 m warm up and 400 m swim, followed by a 50 minute bike, and a 10 minute run (well, walk run... I'm still babying these never ending shin splints). While these workouts like this are hard, I must say that I love them. There's something about finishing them that makes me happy... tired, but happy. And the plan is that after I get back from working out, we're going to head to Disney for the day (provided the girls keep being good listeners today and this evening), and then Mr. Darcy and I are going on a date after dinner with the girls. We're wild and crazy and plan to go bowling. Look out, Orlando! HA!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Run Baby Run and Swimming Blind
Alright, so I missed writing yesterday. It was a bit busy and I ran a bit late so I couldn't post before work started, worked through lunch, but left almost on time (15 minutes late) which was better than Monday and Tuesday. Monday I worked until 6:25 and Tuesday until 5:45, which is not good when you get off at 4:30 pm. But anyway.
Yesterday was a 30 minutes run that you were supposed to do your best with so you could see how far you could go in 30 minutes. But, my left leg is still giving me troubles so I did 30 minutes but I walked the 1st 5, alternated 3 min running and 1 walking, and then walked the last 5 minutes. Even doing that, I was able to do 2.68 miles in the 30 minutes. So that was encouraging!
Today was an interesting workout. It did a half hour on the stationary bike doing a hill program for 1/2 an hour and was able to bike 11.5 miles in that 1/2 hour. Whoo hoo! Right after that I went to do my swim, and here's the interesting part - I had to do it without my goggles and swim cap because I accidentally left them at home. I tried at first to swim with my eyes open under water but it hurt and my contacts didn't feel so great. So then I swam with my eyes closed and opened them at certain intervals when I breathed and discovered how hard it is to stay in a straight line while swimming with my eyes closed. I have no problems doing it when I wear my goggles, but I was bumping into lane ropes and everything! Swimmers who are blind are amazing to be able to do that. So, due to time constraints and goggle issues (not to mention the fact that my hair was making me crazy getting on my face, etc.) I only swam 1/2 a mile today. But I have big plans for tomorrow - I plan to swim at least 1 mile, possibly straight, and may even shoot for 1.5 miles in the pool and then a 15-20 minute bike ride.
It all depends on how long it takes Ladybug to get dressed in the morning. Today she was at least pleasant (for the most part), but she was a bit of a doozy. She insisted on eating her yogurt before going to the bathroom and getting dressed, and despite the fact that yesterday she did awesome with potty training (same pair of pants and underpants the entire day, including us going out to dinner at Fridays, and then playing at home before bed) at first insisted that she wanted to wear a pullup - until I guess I called her bluff and went to get one and then she decided that she would wear underpants and agreed to go potty. After she went potty, she was dancing around and I had to cajole her into getting dressed (although she was pretty cute singing and dancing around, I must say). Then when Mr. Darcy put on her jacket she insisted that he "no zip me up!" (It was 41 this morning and people are freaking out about how cold it is. The high will be 63 today, 57 tomorrow, and 61 on Saturday and tonight it will get down to around 32-34 and people are acting like it's the newest onset of the ice age around here. I'm tempted to go to Publix just to see if there's been a run on bread and milk...)
Angelfish on the other hand was Miss Happy. She wanted kisses from Mommy and then from Daddy and then came back to Mommy. She decided she didn't want to have much to do with the potty this morning and asked to wear a pullup, so that's what we did with her. Got her dressed, she picked out her yogurt, ate it, played with the toy laptop, and other than refusing to give me a kiss goodbye (but she said goodbye... she didn't want me to leave for the gym was the reason for the denial of a kiss) was in high spirits. Even when I was talking to her about using the potty, the child was watching herself make faces in the mirror as she talked to me. She was a hoot too... using this low "grumpy" voice and then this high sweet voice and then her regular nice voice with the different faces. If that child doesn't become an actress, I'll be surprised. She loves make believe, singing, dancing and wants to know why people/animals in stories do things the way they do.
Of course last night at dinner, they were talking about when they get bigger they were going to do x & y. So I asked Angelfish if she was going to be an artist when she grew up. Answer was no. "Palentologist?" "No" "Doctor?" and she said "Yes! Mommy, does your head hurt? do your shoulders hurt? Do your knees hurt? Then what's the matter!" (For those of you who do not watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, that was from the episode "Doctor Daisy" where Daisy pretends to be a doctor and asks every "patient" those questions.) Then Ladybug piped up and said she wanted to be a doctor too and then started talking about animals. So, I asked her "Do you want to be an animal doctor?" and she replied "No, Mommy. I want to be a girl doctor!" I love how kids can be so literal sometimes!!
Anywho... let's hope for shin splint relief and a quick morning routine tomorrow!
Yesterday was a 30 minutes run that you were supposed to do your best with so you could see how far you could go in 30 minutes. But, my left leg is still giving me troubles so I did 30 minutes but I walked the 1st 5, alternated 3 min running and 1 walking, and then walked the last 5 minutes. Even doing that, I was able to do 2.68 miles in the 30 minutes. So that was encouraging!
Today was an interesting workout. It did a half hour on the stationary bike doing a hill program for 1/2 an hour and was able to bike 11.5 miles in that 1/2 hour. Whoo hoo! Right after that I went to do my swim, and here's the interesting part - I had to do it without my goggles and swim cap because I accidentally left them at home. I tried at first to swim with my eyes open under water but it hurt and my contacts didn't feel so great. So then I swam with my eyes closed and opened them at certain intervals when I breathed and discovered how hard it is to stay in a straight line while swimming with my eyes closed. I have no problems doing it when I wear my goggles, but I was bumping into lane ropes and everything! Swimmers who are blind are amazing to be able to do that. So, due to time constraints and goggle issues (not to mention the fact that my hair was making me crazy getting on my face, etc.) I only swam 1/2 a mile today. But I have big plans for tomorrow - I plan to swim at least 1 mile, possibly straight, and may even shoot for 1.5 miles in the pool and then a 15-20 minute bike ride.
It all depends on how long it takes Ladybug to get dressed in the morning. Today she was at least pleasant (for the most part), but she was a bit of a doozy. She insisted on eating her yogurt before going to the bathroom and getting dressed, and despite the fact that yesterday she did awesome with potty training (same pair of pants and underpants the entire day, including us going out to dinner at Fridays, and then playing at home before bed) at first insisted that she wanted to wear a pullup - until I guess I called her bluff and went to get one and then she decided that she would wear underpants and agreed to go potty. After she went potty, she was dancing around and I had to cajole her into getting dressed (although she was pretty cute singing and dancing around, I must say). Then when Mr. Darcy put on her jacket she insisted that he "no zip me up!" (It was 41 this morning and people are freaking out about how cold it is. The high will be 63 today, 57 tomorrow, and 61 on Saturday and tonight it will get down to around 32-34 and people are acting like it's the newest onset of the ice age around here. I'm tempted to go to Publix just to see if there's been a run on bread and milk...)
Angelfish on the other hand was Miss Happy. She wanted kisses from Mommy and then from Daddy and then came back to Mommy. She decided she didn't want to have much to do with the potty this morning and asked to wear a pullup, so that's what we did with her. Got her dressed, she picked out her yogurt, ate it, played with the toy laptop, and other than refusing to give me a kiss goodbye (but she said goodbye... she didn't want me to leave for the gym was the reason for the denial of a kiss) was in high spirits. Even when I was talking to her about using the potty, the child was watching herself make faces in the mirror as she talked to me. She was a hoot too... using this low "grumpy" voice and then this high sweet voice and then her regular nice voice with the different faces. If that child doesn't become an actress, I'll be surprised. She loves make believe, singing, dancing and wants to know why people/animals in stories do things the way they do.
Of course last night at dinner, they were talking about when they get bigger they were going to do x & y. So I asked Angelfish if she was going to be an artist when she grew up. Answer was no. "Palentologist?" "No" "Doctor?" and she said "Yes! Mommy, does your head hurt? do your shoulders hurt? Do your knees hurt? Then what's the matter!" (For those of you who do not watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, that was from the episode "Doctor Daisy" where Daisy pretends to be a doctor and asks every "patient" those questions.) Then Ladybug piped up and said she wanted to be a doctor too and then started talking about animals. So, I asked her "Do you want to be an animal doctor?" and she replied "No, Mommy. I want to be a girl doctor!" I love how kids can be so literal sometimes!!
Anywho... let's hope for shin splint relief and a quick morning routine tomorrow!
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