Prep for Him...
- inquire about some good therapy if I need it after baby
- set up a massage place
- have someone clean or volunteer to clean for 1-2 times a week for weeks 2-9 while getting on my feet
- plan trip to previous home
- maintain our FRIENDSHIP in our relationship
- have a training goal (swimming, walk/running, yoga, weight training, pilates)
- 2-3 babysitting dates set up beforehand
Before He comes...
- read childbirth techniques or do class
- clean downstairs carpet
- sort Ian's toys
- get good pajamas & clothes for hospital stay (have clothes I think....need pajamas)
- stock up on lots of frozen veggies
- call Dr. Weber's office for pediatrician
- clean out/sort baby clothes boxes
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Thankful
Thank you Dawn Morris Christman for allowing me to borrow the maternity clothing loot (I am a new woman with some style) and Jill Smith for the loot you mailed to me in the diaper box :) Just received it! Waayyyyy cool!
I am truly excited about what other things we might receive for this second little man. It feels weird to refer to him as little man b/c Ian has been our "little man" or "little guy" for so long. It is truly a new season of life.
I am truly excited about what other things we might receive for this second little man. It feels weird to refer to him as little man b/c Ian has been our "little man" or "little guy" for so long. It is truly a new season of life.
FALL Weather Makes Me...
FALL Weather makes me.....
* want to write
* reminisce of Louisville and Grad School (the studying, enlightenment, frustration, conversations & friendships)
* in Louisville our weekends of long runs (12-20 miles) while marathon training together as a couple, then going out to eat as a reward to awesome restaurants
* watching Ohio State football games (especially when we had cable)
* in Jasper, going to cross country meets as Mark coached
* when I was growing up I specifically remember going to soccer games in the morning in the Fall and then resting or going places in the afternoon of Saturdays
* the running races that are every single weekend and could fill up your calendar if you want them too
* the 2008 year where I prepared for little Ian to come into the world and relaxed to the hilt because I could (I was done with Christmas shopping & all of my crafts by the end of October that year)
* watching the FALL clouds roll over my head as an adolescent (it's wasn't too cold yet but just warm enough to wear a light sweatshirt & jeans to take walks in the woods or walk to my tree down the road)
* revisit old friendships that Life has interrupted
* think about my Birthday celebrations in years past (LOVED my 30th birthday & that year!), my 17th bday surprise party thrown by friends, a party I think before 1st or 3rd grade when I was "popular" in elementary) and just the intentional thinking that comes with one more year of life passing and one more year of life in front of me where I want to accomplish more things
Yes, FALL weather I do think is my favorite weather....50s-80s. Maybe someday we'll be in Colorado where it's experienced quite a bit.
* want to write
* reminisce of Louisville and Grad School (the studying, enlightenment, frustration, conversations & friendships)
* in Louisville our weekends of long runs (12-20 miles) while marathon training together as a couple, then going out to eat as a reward to awesome restaurants
* watching Ohio State football games (especially when we had cable)
* in Jasper, going to cross country meets as Mark coached
* when I was growing up I specifically remember going to soccer games in the morning in the Fall and then resting or going places in the afternoon of Saturdays
* the running races that are every single weekend and could fill up your calendar if you want them too
* the 2008 year where I prepared for little Ian to come into the world and relaxed to the hilt because I could (I was done with Christmas shopping & all of my crafts by the end of October that year)
* watching the FALL clouds roll over my head as an adolescent (it's wasn't too cold yet but just warm enough to wear a light sweatshirt & jeans to take walks in the woods or walk to my tree down the road)
* revisit old friendships that Life has interrupted
* think about my Birthday celebrations in years past (LOVED my 30th birthday & that year!), my 17th bday surprise party thrown by friends, a party I think before 1st or 3rd grade when I was "popular" in elementary) and just the intentional thinking that comes with one more year of life passing and one more year of life in front of me where I want to accomplish more things
Yes, FALL weather I do think is my favorite weather....50s-80s. Maybe someday we'll be in Colorado where it's experienced quite a bit.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Mentally Train Myself to Be Ok with Taking Time to Workout after Baby
Guilty Pleasures
The True Confessions of an Athletic Mother
By Kristen Hench
I
confess.... I am guilty. I love, love, love to workout and compete. I
love to set a goal, push my body past where I have pushed it before; I
like to sweat, to give it my all as I tackle a challenging workout or
athletic pursuit. In this confession, I also feel the need to mention
that I am a Mother. Many of you know that I am a Mother to two boys and
wife to one amazing husband. I love them all dearly and devote my days
and time to their growth and well-being. Of my loves comes my inner
battle. Let me elaborate.....
I am sure that most, if not all, Moms
can identify with feeling "motherhood guilt". I know I sure can. After I
became a mom, the idea snuck into my head that it was selfish to make
the time to exercise. Suddenly there was always so much to do, so many
new demands and responsibilities; getting in a workout while the baby
was sleeping seemed selfish because there were so many other "more
important" things to get done. I am here to tell you that while those
feelings are normal, to fall prey to them is not the best choice.
Remember, "putting the family first" does not mean that you should
ignore your personal well-being. Feeling good physically and mentally
undoubtedly makes us better at parenting; but in order to do that we
need to mentally train ourselves to put aside that voice in our head.
One way to do that is through looking
at our calendar and seeing what is there (and in some cases what is
not). If there are many trips to the grocery store, doing laundry, and
taking kids to camps, but no time to workout, then a change needs to be
made. Once you can say "no" to something that is not a priority, you
will feel much better when you use the free time to attend to something
that is.
Thus, my guilty confession. This past
Monday night I chose to take an hour out of my evening for a run rather
then spend time with my family, I loved every moment of it, and we are
all the better for it. I came home a rejuvenated mother and wife, ready
to take on the tasks the evening had in store for me. I encourage all
mothers to mentally train their inner voice, to take time for
themselves, and make fitness a priority.
About Kristen Hench
Kristen is
currently a full-time triathlon coach, personal trainer, and kid
wrangler. Her love and passion for the sport can be seen in many aspects
of her life- as a competitor, coach, and fitness writer. Kristen races
in sprint to iron distance races, 5K's to marathons and is the founder
of Moms Who TRI (Train Race Inspire). She holds a Masters in
Administration as well as a degree in Sports Medicine and a degree in
Education with a Kinesiology focus. She is a Nationally Certified
Athletic Trainer and Certified USA Triathlon. For more information about
Moms Who TRI, visit www.momswhoTRI.com.
Mind Games - Keeping the Motivation
I'm hoping to tap into this article after baby...we'll see. After doing the Yellow Springs Simply Women 5k last Saturday, I'm motivated to continue running even if baby and the belly is a little overbearing for me right now.
5 Easy Ways to Train Without Getting Bored or Giving Up
By Amy Cotta
- Use the "next one" technique. Focus on something in the distance and tell yourself, "I'm going to keep going at this pace until I hit that next ___." Then once you make it to that object find the next object to focus on. This technique can be used while running, biking and swimming.
- Rock it out. A great play list on your iPod can make a long run or bike ride fly by. Load up your player with music that moves you and makes you want to move. Some of my favorite music has lyrics that inspire me. Other tunes have a great beat to which I can set my running cadence. Yet other songs are just fun and fast and make me smile.
- Remember you "why." If you read my last article Finding Your Why you'll remember that your why is that reason to be out there training or racing in the first place. My why is my USMC son and our military. When I'm training or competing and I feel like giving up I remember that our military doesn't have that option. The thought of them gives me strength and carries me home or to the finish line. Your why, is a very powerful tool and inspiration.
- Do intervals. It might sound simple (and it is) but it's very effective in making time go by faster. For example, if you are running, you might do speed intervals alternating from fast to slow. You can set your iPhone or training watch to count down the intervals for you. I use an iPhone application called Round Timer. It works great; it will signal me even as I'm listening to music. You can also do intervals in the pool by doing speed, stroke, or swim style intervals. On the bike or trainer you can do cadence intervals. When I do cadence intervals on the trainer time fly by!
- Scan your body. This is a great technique to use while doing any sport. Start by being aware of every muscle and joint in your body. Do you feel tightness anywhere? If so, focus on relaxing that area. How does your kick or stride feel? If it's not the way it should; fix it. This will help keep your mind busy while saving energy. As a bonus, this technique will help you save energy and avoid injury, because a tight body uses more energy and is more susceptible to injury.
Follow my 70.3 Ironman in combat boots journey at http://www.GetUncomfortableDare.com and http://www.crowdrise.com/GetUncomfrotable.
Amy
Cotta is a buys mom of 6 (grandmother of 2), the best selling author of
Six Weeks to Skinny Jeans, and a contributor for JaneTV [www.jane.tv].
At age 39 Amy learned to swim to become an Iron Girl at the 2009 Lake
Las Vegas IronGirl. Today you can find her preaching her motto "Get
Uncomfortable" to all those who will listen. Her passion for mixing
athletic events with charity is infectious. Amy has dedicated 2012 to
raising money and awareness for the many needs of our military. You'll
see Amy running 5k, 1/2 marathons, Iron Girl triathlons, and her first
1/2 IronMan all in USMC combat boots. Why in combat boots you ask? Her
eldest son, Tyler is a United States Marine; every step she takes is a
"Thank you" note to the men and women of this country who make
sacrifices for us everyday. Besides, anyone can run in running shoes.
Monies raised goest to support The Boot Campaign [www.bootcampaign.com] and Not Alone [www.notalone.com]. You can follow Amy's adventures via her websites www.GetUncomfortableDare.com and www.AmyCotta.com Later this spring you can watch a documentary on Amy's training for the Beach to Battleship half IronMan on Jane.tv
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Hello - Third Trimester
Hello, third trimester fatigue & ugh...I didn't think you'd show up with such a bang but welcome and please be gentle. P-l-e-a-s-e be gentle...
* You allowed me to run 4 miles this weekend but you made me have to sit for most of the day :(
* Thursday you abruptly made me dizzy and the rest of the day had to sit in the office making calls, reading charts and documenting while my awesome co-worker Nerita worked her butt off seeing several of my patient and their families.
* You've slowed me down considerably when I get home to the point that I can only lay around and feel so bad that Ian keeps asking me to play with him but I can't move. So reading and watching TV are about the most fun activities on the docket.
* You've made me toss from side to side each night several million times and then little guy begins to flip all around promptly at 5am.
* You sometimes allow me to get a burst of energy which is followed by a lull and then WHAM!
* You remind me that eating one big meal is always a mistake especially ending it with a great dessert so thank you for reminding me to eat 5-6 little meals throughout the day.
Thank you though for making yourself known otherwise I might have forgotten that I was really pregnant (except for the whole belly protruding outward from my normal body with baby wiggling all around) and the inability to fit into my clothes.
* You allowed me to run 4 miles this weekend but you made me have to sit for most of the day :(
* Thursday you abruptly made me dizzy and the rest of the day had to sit in the office making calls, reading charts and documenting while my awesome co-worker Nerita worked her butt off seeing several of my patient and their families.
* You've slowed me down considerably when I get home to the point that I can only lay around and feel so bad that Ian keeps asking me to play with him but I can't move. So reading and watching TV are about the most fun activities on the docket.
* You've made me toss from side to side each night several million times and then little guy begins to flip all around promptly at 5am.
* You sometimes allow me to get a burst of energy which is followed by a lull and then WHAM!
* You remind me that eating one big meal is always a mistake especially ending it with a great dessert so thank you for reminding me to eat 5-6 little meals throughout the day.
Thank you though for making yourself known otherwise I might have forgotten that I was really pregnant (except for the whole belly protruding outward from my normal body with baby wiggling all around) and the inability to fit into my clothes.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Ian Today....
just sitting, watching the train go round & round while waiting for mom to get ready to take him to school
on His laptop playing...
The Runner’s Heat Index & Pregnancy
I found this interesting - given the fact that I'm still running & pregnant - see pictures after 6 mile run - "glistening" LOL.
July 9, 2012 By
We’re
all too familiar with the heat index by this time of the year. You
know, the one where they tell you the “real feel” of the day. It’s some
sort of meteorological formula of heat plus humidity that spits out a
number or range of numbers for how the day is going to feel. Around here
lately, that index has been about 105 to 110, a couple of weeks
running.Temperature + humidity + miles run + pace + time of day = how flipping hot it feels.
Maybe they could factor in hydration, too? So you’d get your “real feel” temperature and then drop it by x number of degrees depending on whether or not you took in water or electrolyte replacement, and how much of each.
I know I’m horrible with numbers (that’s why I’m a writer) so I’m not going to take a stab at devising this actual scale, but it anyone out there feels qualified, have at it. In the meantime, drink up and find the shadiest route you can. September will be here before you know it!
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Wishlist: Scrapbook on the Road Workshop
AE WORKSHOP 002 | SCRAPBOOK ON THE ROAD
PROJECT : A Scrapbook On The Road is simply a small album you put together prior to a trip that allows you to document your travels as you are experiencing them.
DESCRIPTION : Get inspired to create your own Scrapbook On The Road as a way to document your next trip. Whether traveling across town or around the globe, the ideas and concepts in this class can be easily adapted to your personal travel situation. Please note that this class is geared towards creating an album for an upcoming trip vs. telling the stories of past trips.
TECHNIQUES INCLUDED : Album preparation, tips for storytelling while you’re traveling, travel photography ideas, hunting + gathering while traveling, painting chipboard, mod podge/gel medium, creating pages from transparencies + fabric patterns + printable elements, working with what you have, going with the flow.
LEVEL : Beginner to advanced. Although this class does include some technique instruction and a steps for building an album, it’s really more about the process. Emphasis is on what to do before you leave, how to approach documentation while on your trip, and how to finish it up when you get home.
SUPPLY LIST : The supply list (click to download) includes both general and specific product suggestions and contains active links to products at both Scrapbook.com and TwoPeasInABucket.com when available. Please note that some of the specific supplies I use may no longer be available.
This self-paced workshop includes:
- PROCESS + APPROACH PRESENTATION | A 45-minute keynote video that walks you through my approach for documenting my travels (before, during, and after).
- PROJECT HOW TO | A full-color, 11-page PDF handout. Creating the foundation album is the part you work on BEFORE your trip – getting the album all set up to document your adventure while you are experiencing it. In addition to the how-to handout you will also have access to two additional PDF’s that include all images of my album before my trip and my completed album.
- TECHNIQUE VIDEOS | Three specific video tutorials that demonstrate techniques included in my album: painting chipboard, creating pages with transparencies and fabric patterns, and creating pages using transparencies and printable elements.
- BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER | A 40-minute video that walks you through my process for completing my album once the trip was over. Emphasis is on working with and adding photos and getting it done.
- Although this project uses specific materials I definitely encourage you to use what you might have on hand.
- You need Adobe Reader to open the step by step PDF file. Download Adobe Reader for free here.
- There are no supplies included with this class and nothing is mailed to you.
Your Welcome To Class PDF will be mailed to the address you use for Paypal.
$14.00.....................maybe in August??
Inspired by........right now....
* seeing Mark so excited to cycle and getting his new pedals on his bike!
* myself running 6 miles last Sunday at 28 weeks pregnancy (7 months)...getting harder to run but I did it
* myself getting back on the bike this week and riding awhile Friday morning
* seeing & knowing friends going through tragedy and heartbreak and coming out better and more blessed in the end (i.e. Rachel & Erin Harvey-present, Melanie Watts Shipps-past)
* my cold can of diet pepsi
* the experience of losing trust in a close friend & then realizing that God is so gracious to allow us to give grace to others
* the new cycling jersey Mark got for me for post-pregnancy & post-baby motivation for triathlon! sweet!
* the kitties that come out when Ian's gone to rub against my arm on the couch and cuddle
* myself running 6 miles last Sunday at 28 weeks pregnancy (7 months)...getting harder to run but I did it
* myself getting back on the bike this week and riding awhile Friday morning
* seeing & knowing friends going through tragedy and heartbreak and coming out better and more blessed in the end (i.e. Rachel & Erin Harvey-present, Melanie Watts Shipps-past)
* my cold can of diet pepsi
* the experience of losing trust in a close friend & then realizing that God is so gracious to allow us to give grace to others
* the new cycling jersey Mark got for me for post-pregnancy & post-baby motivation for triathlon! sweet!
* the kitties that come out when Ian's gone to rub against my arm on the couch and cuddle
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Inspired by....
* the making of a new real friendship/mentorship
* reminding myself that God has made me for His Purpose and that there is significance in that ALONE
* remembering how I want to be a "real" minister's wife and will tell you respectfully what I think
* the fact that at one point in time and sometimes still now, I'd like to have an eyebrow ring :)
* the little person moving in my belly who seems to want to tell me to keep eating his favorite foods (tomatoes, sugary candy, cheesy popcorn, waffles with peanut butter & raisins, Kraft mac & cheese, wraps)
* the 3-year-old making faces at me across the dining table and thinking he's hilarious
* the unknown...knowing somehow in 3 years I'll know why it happened that way...
* these pictures & sayings:
* reminding myself that God has made me for His Purpose and that there is significance in that ALONE
* remembering how I want to be a "real" minister's wife and will tell you respectfully what I think
* the fact that at one point in time and sometimes still now, I'd like to have an eyebrow ring :)
* the little person moving in my belly who seems to want to tell me to keep eating his favorite foods (tomatoes, sugary candy, cheesy popcorn, waffles with peanut butter & raisins, Kraft mac & cheese, wraps)
* the 3-year-old making faces at me across the dining table and thinking he's hilarious
* the unknown...knowing somehow in 3 years I'll know why it happened that way...
* these pictures & sayings:
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Blog Book: Posts
Since creating my blog book from www.blog2print.com...I have remembered several posts that I never included and wish I would have; thus, this space is now territory for those posts. :)
* Ian's first flying a kite
* Garage Sale Find: Dr. Seuss Books
* Running my 10k @ almost 6 months pregnant
* Zoo Visit
* Helmet evening &Dinosaur voice evening
* Ian's first flying a kite
* Garage Sale Find: Dr. Seuss Books
* Running my 10k @ almost 6 months pregnant
* Zoo Visit
* Helmet evening &Dinosaur voice evening
What I Need to Remember a couple years from Now: If I train for my 5th Marathon
Wrapping My Head Around Marathon Training
On Monday, marathon fun fires up once again. I’ve known this day was coming since, oh since that winter day I sat watching my computer lock up when the Marine Corps Marathon registration opened…and closed.
I
am no stranger to this distance. Maybe that’s precisely why I’m
anxious. Because I know what I’m in for. My head has been swirling with
plans. Should I Run Less Run Faster again? Even though I vowed to change
it up this time? Run More Run Slower? Train Like a Mother? Take Walk
Breaks the GalloWAY? What do Pfitz and Hal and Mr. McMillan have to say?
Maybe a hybrid plan. Even though I’ve done it before countless times,
my head is in that ominous place where running more than 13 miles does
not compute.To help me (and you) along with the mental aspects of training I’ve devised some tips:
- Pick a race you REALLY want to do. Check. Marine Corps tops my bucket list.
- Pick a desirable time of year. Check. No guarantees but odds are somewhat good (knock wood) that it won’t be a billion degrees in Wash. DC on 10/28.
- Reflect on past success (even if they’re not running related) and build confidence
I paid a visit to my running shrine,
which resides deep in the catacombs of my…um…basement…to help jog my
memory of running well.
- Learn from past failures and let them go. Hello not one but 2 marathon DNS’s last fall due to injury. Plus profound fatigue from the Vitamin D fiasco.
- Break it down. Break your plan into months, then weeks, days, workouts, miles, intervals, steps to the next telephone pole, whatever it takes.
- Focus on one workout at a time. Break an intimidating long run into digestible parts: two 10-milers, four 5-milers, a 10 and two 5′s, a half marathon then a couple of 5ks or so.
- Review your workout in advance. I look at what’s coming up at the beginning of the week and mentally get my head around doing runs/paces that I may not think I am capable of.
- When you feel like you can’t, try anyway. You may be amazed at what lives inside you. I think I felt this way every. single. time. 8x800m was on tap. I’d tell myself I could quit after 4 intervals if I was dying. But I never did. For the record, this does not apply to injury.
- Join a group. Nothing like a little camaraderie and peer pressure to keep you going.
- Chart your progress. You may not feel like you’re making progress but numbers don’t lie.
- Visualize success. Every day, before, during and after every workout, visualize crossing that finish line. Smiling, upright, triumphant, feeling strong! What are you wearing? Seeing? Hearing? Smelling? See all of it in your mind’s eye. Imagine achieving a huge goal, no matter how far fetched it may seem. The more you do this, the less far fetched it will become in your mind. Where the mind leads, the body goes.
- Reward and celebrate your accomplishments. Remember those Lulu capris with the irresistibly tiny ruffle I was obsessing over? In my closet. Persistence pays off–in running and in shopping! Now I’d better get my behind in gear and go accomplish something.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Pregnancy & Exercise: Someone to Contact
Krista Edwards--I am a USAT level one coach and personal trainer, and i know how hard it is to find information on pregnant athletes, so feel free to email me at lifeguardkw@hotmail.com and I will do my best to answer any questions you may have.
recommendations there. as for the core conditioning, there are just a few guidelines to follow
As for the back injury, i would suspect at this point in the pregnancy that it may be partially related to a previous injury, but it may also just be that time when the weight of the baby combined with the structural instability of the sacroilliac joint starts to rear its ugly head. there are several exercises such as the quadruped, a standing swimmer, and the low back extension machine that will help that. perhaps the one exercise that has helped me personally the most is ab holds where you draw your lower abdominals in, hold for ten seconds (remembering to breath) and release. I try to do twenty of those at least every other day. This keeps my Transverse Abs strong, which is the muscle group responsible for holding the belly up and still. just some food for thought. y address should be correct now if you have any other questions 
recommendations there. as for the core conditioning, there are just a few guidelines to follow
- due to all of the relaxin that is being released in your body, your joints are pretty loose and therefore less stable. Because of this it is wise to limit your range of motion on some exercises, such as squats and leg extensions, as it is to much pressure on an unstable knee and hip joint.
- because of the instability, DO work the smaller core muscles of the hips by doing things such as single leg squats and single leg deadlifts. another easy way to incorporate this is to stand on one foot or in tree pose while doing upper body exercises such as lateral raises, curls, etc.
- Try to keep your weight load to thirty pounds or less. again, this is due to the instability of the joints. won't hurt the baby if you lift more, but there is a big risk to your structural integrity.
- Don't do exercises lying on your back after the first trimester. instead do them at a slight incline or tip your hips slightly to one side or the other, as the uterus compresses blood flow from the aorta
- DON'T do lunges, step ups etc. these exercises place to much opposing force on opposite sides of the pelvic girdle which is very lose. this may cause the symphisis pubis or the cartilage disc between the pubic bone to slip.
- as for planks, there is a lot of conflicting information about the safety of isometric holds, as they have been shown to spike blood pressure. i tend to steer clear of those with my clients, at least until they can prove more conclusively as to their safety.
- avoid overhead movements after the seventh month. same as above, haven't conclusively been found acceptable.
The Do's and Don'ts of Prenatal Nutrition
FitPregnancy from Active.com
Scientific research increasingly shows that a prenatal diet rich in nutrient-dense foods is key in preventing heart disease, diabetes, obesity and many types of cancer. Here’s expert advice on what to eat—and what to avoid—for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy child:
DO choose foods that perform double duty.
“Nutrient-dense foods, such as yogurt, peanut butter, chicken, beef, eggs and dairy products, are higher in protein, calcium and iron, all nutrients your baby needs to grow and develop,” says Rose Ann Hudson, R.D., L.D., co-author of 2003’s Eating for Pregnancy: An Essential Guide to Nutrition With Recipes for the Whole Family.
Some other examples of nutrient-dense foods: Lean pork, like beef, contains protein, along with B vitamins, iron and zinc. Orange juice offers folate (a B vitamin that helps prevent neural tube defects) plus vitamin C, which helps you absorb iron from foods such as fiber-rich black beans and spinach. Whole grains are filled with fiber, B vitamins, magnesium and zinc.
DON’T eat empty calories.
Sweet treats are OK during pregnancy, but in moderation, Hudson says. “One of the ways we enjoy life is to eat foods that aren’t high in nutrition, like desserts. But limit them to one portion a day (read labels); you won’t feel deprived and you also won’t be as tempted to overeat.”
DO remember that you’re not really eating for two.
“Eat until you are not hungry rather than until you are full,” advises OB-GYN Karen Nordahl, M.D., a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. “Excess weight gain is associated with longer labor, pregnancy-induced hypertension and gestational diabetes,” Nordahl adds. Indeed, many women don’t realize they need only 300 extra calories a day—and only in the second and third trimesters.
DON’T forget your vitamins.
A daily prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement acts as a safeguard. “In a perfect world, you’d get all your nutrients from foods,” says Suki Hertz, M.S., R.D., a nutritionist and chef in New York. “But since our lives are often a little less than perfect, you should take a supplemental prenatal vitamin that contains 100 to 200 percent of the recommended dietary intakes for vitamins and minerals.”
DO strive for variety.
Along with taking your prenatal supplement, the best way to make sure that you’ll get all the proper nutrients is to eat the following daily (see page 2 for serving size information):
Drink at least eight glasses of water daily to help prevent dehydration. This can also can help prevent constipation, as can eating high-fiber foods such as whole-wheat and whole-grain breads and pastas, and lots of fruits and vegetables. Fiber also helps you feel full, so you may be less likely to overeat. Aim for at least 25 to 35 grams of fiber every day (3⁄4 cup of bran cereal, for example, contains an average of 5 grams of fiber).
DO avoid risky foods.
Unpasteurized soft cheeses such as Brie, Camembert, feta, blue-veined and Mexican-style cheeses, can harbor listeria, a bacterium that causes listeriosis, a serious infection that can lead to miscarriage, premature delivery or stillbirth. Deli meats also may pose a risk, so buy prepackaged cold cuts rather than those from the deli counter, or heat deli-counter meats thoroughly before eating them. “To minimize the risk of listeriosis, cook all leftovers and deli foods to at least 140˚ F,” Hertz says. For the same reason, never eat raw or undercooked meat, seafood (that includes sushi!) or eggs.
DON’T eat high-mercury fish.
These include shark, king mackerel, tilefish and swordfish. Federal guidelines recommend limiting low-mercury fish to 12 ounces a week. Safe choices include canned light tuna (limit albacore tuna, which is higher in mercury, to 6 ounces a week, maximum), catfish, pollock, salmon and shellfish. For more on seafood consumption during pregnancy, including the best sources of brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids, go to fitpregnancy.com/mercuryrising.
Dairy: 1 cup milk, soy milk or yogurt; 1 1⁄2 ounces natural cheese; or 2 ounces processed cheese
Scientific research increasingly shows that a prenatal diet rich in nutrient-dense foods is key in preventing heart disease, diabetes, obesity and many types of cancer. Here’s expert advice on what to eat—and what to avoid—for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy child:
DO choose foods that perform double duty.
“Nutrient-dense foods, such as yogurt, peanut butter, chicken, beef, eggs and dairy products, are higher in protein, calcium and iron, all nutrients your baby needs to grow and develop,” says Rose Ann Hudson, R.D., L.D., co-author of 2003’s Eating for Pregnancy: An Essential Guide to Nutrition With Recipes for the Whole Family.
Some other examples of nutrient-dense foods: Lean pork, like beef, contains protein, along with B vitamins, iron and zinc. Orange juice offers folate (a B vitamin that helps prevent neural tube defects) plus vitamin C, which helps you absorb iron from foods such as fiber-rich black beans and spinach. Whole grains are filled with fiber, B vitamins, magnesium and zinc.
DON’T eat empty calories.
Sweet treats are OK during pregnancy, but in moderation, Hudson says. “One of the ways we enjoy life is to eat foods that aren’t high in nutrition, like desserts. But limit them to one portion a day (read labels); you won’t feel deprived and you also won’t be as tempted to overeat.”
DO remember that you’re not really eating for two.
“Eat until you are not hungry rather than until you are full,” advises OB-GYN Karen Nordahl, M.D., a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. “Excess weight gain is associated with longer labor, pregnancy-induced hypertension and gestational diabetes,” Nordahl adds. Indeed, many women don’t realize they need only 300 extra calories a day—and only in the second and third trimesters.
DON’T forget your vitamins.
A daily prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement acts as a safeguard. “In a perfect world, you’d get all your nutrients from foods,” says Suki Hertz, M.S., R.D., a nutritionist and chef in New York. “But since our lives are often a little less than perfect, you should take a supplemental prenatal vitamin that contains 100 to 200 percent of the recommended dietary intakes for vitamins and minerals.”
DO strive for variety.
Along with taking your prenatal supplement, the best way to make sure that you’ll get all the proper nutrients is to eat the following daily (see page 2 for serving size information):
- 9 servings from the whole-grains group--bread, cereal, rice and pasta
- 2–3 servings of protein-rich foods from the meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts group
- 4 servings of vegetables
- 3 servings from the fruit group
- 3 servings from the milk, yogurt and cheese group.
Drink at least eight glasses of water daily to help prevent dehydration. This can also can help prevent constipation, as can eating high-fiber foods such as whole-wheat and whole-grain breads and pastas, and lots of fruits and vegetables. Fiber also helps you feel full, so you may be less likely to overeat. Aim for at least 25 to 35 grams of fiber every day (3⁄4 cup of bran cereal, for example, contains an average of 5 grams of fiber).
DO avoid risky foods.
Unpasteurized soft cheeses such as Brie, Camembert, feta, blue-veined and Mexican-style cheeses, can harbor listeria, a bacterium that causes listeriosis, a serious infection that can lead to miscarriage, premature delivery or stillbirth. Deli meats also may pose a risk, so buy prepackaged cold cuts rather than those from the deli counter, or heat deli-counter meats thoroughly before eating them. “To minimize the risk of listeriosis, cook all leftovers and deli foods to at least 140˚ F,” Hertz says. For the same reason, never eat raw or undercooked meat, seafood (that includes sushi!) or eggs.
DON’T eat high-mercury fish.
These include shark, king mackerel, tilefish and swordfish. Federal guidelines recommend limiting low-mercury fish to 12 ounces a week. Safe choices include canned light tuna (limit albacore tuna, which is higher in mercury, to 6 ounces a week, maximum), catfish, pollock, salmon and shellfish. For more on seafood consumption during pregnancy, including the best sources of brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids, go to fitpregnancy.com/mercuryrising.
How Much is a Serving?
Dairy: 1 cup milk, soy milk or yogurt; 1 1⁄2 ounces natural cheese; or 2 ounces processed cheese
Protein: 2-3 ounces cooked lean meat, poultry or fish; 1⁄2 cup tofu; 2 eggs; or 2 tablespoons peanut butter
Fruits: 1 medium-size piece (such as an apple or banana); 1⁄2 cup chopped fruit; 1⁄2 cup cooked fruit (such as applesauce); or 3⁄4 cup fruit juice
Vegetables: 1 cup raw leafy vegetables; 1⁄2 cup raw or cooked vegetables; or 3⁄4 cup vegetable juice
Whole Grains: 1 slice bread; 1⁄2 cup cooked cereal (such as oatmeal); or 1⁄2 cup pasta or brown rice
My Goal: Pregnancy & Sports Participation
Pregnancy and Sports Participation
Recently, there has been much controversy about the role of pregnant women in sports. Experts in the fields of medicine, law, insurance and ethics presented current research, statistics and information relating to this topic at the National Forum on Pregnancy and Sport conducted in Sydney, Australia, in 2001. The following is a brief summary of the key points made by the medical presenters (SMA 2001):- Medical evidence suggests that healthy pregnant women (with normal pregnancies) can participate in sports without affecting the course or outcome of the pregnancy. (The panel did make some provisos in terms of type, intensity, duration and frequency of exercise.)
- Pregnant athletes should avoid maximal-intensity exercise, have a thorough cool-down period of gentle exercise, avoid excessive stretching and jerky ballistic movements, ensure adequate fluid intake, and pay attention to core body temperature.
- The fetus is extremely well protected from blows to the abdomen during the first trimester (first three months) of pregnancy.
- The risk of abdominal injuries during sports (for both men and women) is extremely low. Current research indicates that fewer than two percent of all injuries, including those that occur during contact sports, involve the abdomen or chest area.
- The pregnant woman, herself, is best placed to know (generally from discomfort and lack of coordination) when to stop participating.
- Pregnant women should seek advice from medical professionals and, if appropriate, seek a second opinion.
- No medical evidence has linked adverse outcomes for the fetus (including miscarriage) to sporting injuries. Statistics and research on adverse outcomes following severe or catastrophic trauma to pregnant women relate almost exclusively to road trauma and domestic violence.
A Safe Delivery
It's true that pregnancy can detract from an athlete's ability to attain peak performance levels in elite competition. But that doesn't mean pregnant athletes need to lower their activity to negligible levels. As long as they listen to their bodies, it should be safe for them to exercise at pre-pregnancy training levels throughout their pregnancies.As for returning to training after delivery, this is up to each individual and her physician. The conservative approach is to refrain from vigorous exercise for at least six weeks--longer for those with special needs--but many athletes start training earlier than that, provided they have medical clearance to do so.
Although experts have not established an upper level of safe activity for pregnant athletes, the benefits of continuing to be active during pregnancy appear to outweigh any potential risks. Unfortunately, no exact limits for frequency, duration and intensity are available. It is ultimately up to each woman--with the help and advice of her physician and fitness professionals-- to decide the fitness path to take during pregnancy.
Finally, no matter how fit a client is, she should not be exercising if she has any of the following contraindications:
- Pregnancy-induced hypertension
- Preterm rupture of placenta membranes
- Preterm labor during the current pregnancy or previous pregnancies
- Incompetent cervix
- Persistent bleeding during the second or third trimester
- Intrauterine growth retardation
Warning Signs
If a pregnant client exhibits any of the following signs, she should immediately discontinue exercising and receive medical attention:- Pain
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Faintness
- Vaginal bleeding
- Difficulty walking
- Contractions
- Unusual absence of fetal movements (but note that the baby is often most quiet when the mother is exercising)
Ian's First Swimming Lesson
Thursday, June 14, 2012
A Different Perspective in a Different Area
Here in Troy, my perspective on motherhood and my ambition and God's plan seem changed. Maybe it is because it is mostly just us together as we get to know other people or Ian is at an age where his discovery is so fun I can't but help to want to be around him all the time.
Time is precious, priorities are different - ambitions are very different. A goal was there in Jasper and once it was not attained (licensure)...perspective changed and having to face God's plan versus my own made me do an about-face.
I'm working in a great environment with a great team of coworkers who get it and are there, not just one more person but 10-13 other people. My boss is an advocate for us fully and I feel so blessed. I belong and somehow amongst all these strangers I know I'm home. I'm not sure about God's timing or season for this employment but I do feel blessed and know that for right now I am to be here.
Mark's opportunity as a leader and a servant is something that I've been waiting to see and wondering how God would use him. It is quite cool. It's like going from one roller coaster in Jasper...to a different one in Troy. It's picture is different...numbers aren't up front as much but spiritual-fervor amongst the small # seems here and present. This roller coaster requires more sacrifice of us as servants. It's different, not better but different. I wish I could know what is future, I wish I could know length of this season and I wish I could know whether I will endure postpartum depression again after this next precious little one.
We just don't know....
Time is precious, priorities are different - ambitions are very different. A goal was there in Jasper and once it was not attained (licensure)...perspective changed and having to face God's plan versus my own made me do an about-face.
I'm working in a great environment with a great team of coworkers who get it and are there, not just one more person but 10-13 other people. My boss is an advocate for us fully and I feel so blessed. I belong and somehow amongst all these strangers I know I'm home. I'm not sure about God's timing or season for this employment but I do feel blessed and know that for right now I am to be here.
Mark's opportunity as a leader and a servant is something that I've been waiting to see and wondering how God would use him. It is quite cool. It's like going from one roller coaster in Jasper...to a different one in Troy. It's picture is different...numbers aren't up front as much but spiritual-fervor amongst the small # seems here and present. This roller coaster requires more sacrifice of us as servants. It's different, not better but different. I wish I could know what is future, I wish I could know length of this season and I wish I could know whether I will endure postpartum depression again after this next precious little one.
We just don't know....
Monday, June 4, 2012
little boyhood & motherhood
an excerpt from marta writes:: {explains some of my thoughts right now}
i decide three is a pretty perfect age. everything is exciting; he's big enough to do so many big boy things, tossing his two year old fears to the wayside. and still he is small enough to curl up for a nap, beg for more stories and sing songs. though old enough to have long conversations, run an afternoon of errands with me, get dressed unassisted, play by himself for long periods of time and do small favors for me. he strives to be good and do what is right. he talks about loving Jesus and trying to be like Him. no wonder we're commanded to be like little children; their hearts are of pure gold. in so many ways it's the best of both worlds. there is still some baby in his face and yet big boy feet filling out his shoes.
it's true–i know–i am pulling at our moments and greedily pocketing them. every day there is something worthy of writing down and i try to nip it into memory. but then, swiftly it is taken by another toddler sweet-ism and the second makes me forget the first. these moments are like clean clothes pinned to a line in the breezy backyard. such a breathtaking scene, even in its ordinary-ness. though we are too busy playing beneath the waving material that i can rarely breathe in the pure beauty of it. and before i know it, suddenly a strong wind comes and we create a new game of picking the loose clothing up. a new and happy memory is already in the works.
i am trying so hard to remember every single thing about us right now. i fear having a new baby will rock me so much that my memories (and mind!) will fade. of course i know in my heart that the baby will multiply our happiness and joy and love, but right now i imagine the baby's entrance will take over my mind; not unlike the rowdy pre-teens taking over the twisty slides at the park. i do not know what to expect, therefore i am soaking up our errands, our handholding, our duets.... like a starving sponge. it's a bit silly, i know. but i can't seem to help it. i am secretly (or not-so-secretly) taking it all in. it's ironic how i am simultaneously preparing benji to be the big brother, teaching him new skills i know he'll need when the baby comes, and still babying him in the quiet moments. scooping him up for longer hugs. giving in to a pile of mini marshmallows for dessert. letting him climb into the covers every morning to cuddle. oh how good it is to be a mom. i am realizing the rewards of a long hard day's work are right within my reach. i look down as we all cross the street together and feel his little hand hold tight and familiar to mine and dan's in the other; i have everything i could ever want. and growing inside me is yet another miracle, waiting to be discovered. i have so much to be thankful for.
i decide three is a pretty perfect age. everything is exciting; he's big enough to do so many big boy things, tossing his two year old fears to the wayside. and still he is small enough to curl up for a nap, beg for more stories and sing songs. though old enough to have long conversations, run an afternoon of errands with me, get dressed unassisted, play by himself for long periods of time and do small favors for me. he strives to be good and do what is right. he talks about loving Jesus and trying to be like Him. no wonder we're commanded to be like little children; their hearts are of pure gold. in so many ways it's the best of both worlds. there is still some baby in his face and yet big boy feet filling out his shoes.
it's true–i know–i am pulling at our moments and greedily pocketing them. every day there is something worthy of writing down and i try to nip it into memory. but then, swiftly it is taken by another toddler sweet-ism and the second makes me forget the first. these moments are like clean clothes pinned to a line in the breezy backyard. such a breathtaking scene, even in its ordinary-ness. though we are too busy playing beneath the waving material that i can rarely breathe in the pure beauty of it. and before i know it, suddenly a strong wind comes and we create a new game of picking the loose clothing up. a new and happy memory is already in the works.
i am trying so hard to remember every single thing about us right now. i fear having a new baby will rock me so much that my memories (and mind!) will fade. of course i know in my heart that the baby will multiply our happiness and joy and love, but right now i imagine the baby's entrance will take over my mind; not unlike the rowdy pre-teens taking over the twisty slides at the park. i do not know what to expect, therefore i am soaking up our errands, our handholding, our duets.... like a starving sponge. it's a bit silly, i know. but i can't seem to help it. i am secretly (or not-so-secretly) taking it all in. it's ironic how i am simultaneously preparing benji to be the big brother, teaching him new skills i know he'll need when the baby comes, and still babying him in the quiet moments. scooping him up for longer hugs. giving in to a pile of mini marshmallows for dessert. letting him climb into the covers every morning to cuddle. oh how good it is to be a mom. i am realizing the rewards of a long hard day's work are right within my reach. i look down as we all cross the street together and feel his little hand hold tight and familiar to mine and dan's in the other; i have everything i could ever want. and growing inside me is yet another miracle, waiting to be discovered. i have so much to be thankful for.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Organization
It is a subject I love and yet my natural tendency wages war against it. I categorize but seem to create piles that lead to other piles. The 15 minute break seems to work best for me but it's remembering to do it that gets me.
Here are some ideas from Simplify101.com's blog. Thinking of my own situation of moving and then knowing that we will be (Lordwilling) moving again. Thinking of my mom's situation with retiring and reorganizing her home after leaving her classroom for 17 years.
Declutter. One of the simplest, fastest and least expensive ways to freshen up any space (and boost your feelings about it) is to clear out some clutter. Let go of tools and supplies you no longer love and are unlikely to use. Create some breathing room in your file cabinets by clearing out paperwork from completed projects and tasks. Reevaluate the items on your desk, and eliminate anything that isn’t either a daily essential or inspiring to your eye. Getting rid of even 15 minutes worth of clutter will breathe new energy into your space and make you feel happier when you’re there.
Use creative storage solutions. Freshen up your work space with some creative storage solutions. Stock up on brightly colored flower pots or metal buckets and use them to corral basic office supplies such as pens, pencils and scissors. Use a ceramic egg crate or votive holders for small office essentials such as paper clips, rubber bands and extra staples. Repurpose favorite ceramic bowls for Post-it notes, small notepads and index cards.
How to Create a Command Center Folder
Organize your Creative Space Online Workshop
Just thought I'd share....love it.
Here are some ideas from Simplify101.com's blog. Thinking of my own situation of moving and then knowing that we will be (Lordwilling) moving again. Thinking of my mom's situation with retiring and reorganizing her home after leaving her classroom for 17 years.
Declutter. One of the simplest, fastest and least expensive ways to freshen up any space (and boost your feelings about it) is to clear out some clutter. Let go of tools and supplies you no longer love and are unlikely to use. Create some breathing room in your file cabinets by clearing out paperwork from completed projects and tasks. Reevaluate the items on your desk, and eliminate anything that isn’t either a daily essential or inspiring to your eye. Getting rid of even 15 minutes worth of clutter will breathe new energy into your space and make you feel happier when you’re there.
Use creative storage solutions. Freshen up your work space with some creative storage solutions. Stock up on brightly colored flower pots or metal buckets and use them to corral basic office supplies such as pens, pencils and scissors. Use a ceramic egg crate or votive holders for small office essentials such as paper clips, rubber bands and extra staples. Repurpose favorite ceramic bowls for Post-it notes, small notepads and index cards.
How to Create a Command Center Folder
Organize your Creative Space Online Workshop
Just thought I'd share....love it.
Monday, May 14, 2012
It's a.......
a blue cupcake!
Ian says he will have blonde hair and green eyes...his nose and mouth will be like daddy's and his ears like mommy's and he will be shorter than Ian...he goes silent whenever we ask him about what to name him - hoping he doesn't say Grover :)
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Boy or Girl?
Many people have asked me about whether I'd want a boy more or a girl more this go around and my steadfast response is, "I'm gonna freak out either way!" I answer this way partially out of fun but also out of seriousness. There is great potential out of the prospect of both really and as far as we know we may adopt a 3rd at some point down the road. (God's gotta work that out and work on my heart for that one - it's future).So if a Boy.....YES! I am so geared for boys....movement....energy....excitement and hmmm dirt?! Although Ian is quite clean b/c he knows what we expect in the house. Also, I think I'd have some commonality with family who has boys and new friends...who get the whole...."don't they ever stop?....um NO!"
I'd love to be a mom of two boys, b/c selfishly I get the attention (as the female in the house...lol j/k). Boys and roller coasters, sports, adventure, reading, playing, rough-housing
Bonus: we already have boy clothes roughly in the same season & I know how to cover myself from pee.
So if a Girl......YES! Although I'm not a pink girl nor do I like frilly, (I DESPISE frilly)...I do love stickers, creativity, deep thinking, observing, and spunkiness. Our immediate family has no girls and the grandparents on both sides would be so thrilled to have an opportunity to no doubt spoil a little girl. We'd do turquoise and of course even subconsciously I'd gear her to be a tom-boy though with an understanding of femininity. Yes I'd think more futuristically with her. She would be no more fragile than my little boy and would get roughed up probably but would be ok. We would need most new clothes...I'd love to do flower bands on her head but that is the extent of girliness in my book.
I'd be excited to have a girl to balance out the boys and would help her to grow strong to understand that she is beautiful no matter what and that I am confident in myself. She'd know that if a boy doesn't respect her then he's not worth it and that ultimately she is God's. My own dad stated, "I hope you have a girl so she can put you through what you put us through!....*chuckle*" I say, "ha, ha....no thank you but remember who is so close to you now and respects you so much?!" I'd probably be pretty creative with her and hope that she desires to have that artistic side that my mom instilled in me. Oh what fun!
So either way we will be tested, we will be blessed and we are praying and hopefully for a healthy child. I'd love for people to not give their advice unless asked but human nature seems to push people to blurt out whatever they are thinking about their own journeys. Hopefully I can get over it and enjoy the stories. :) I know I will, it's part of maturing. Everyone has their own story...
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Right Now...
Right now...including since I last wrote, Life has happened.
* we said our goodbyes and prepped the house to be sold (big undertaking)
* found out we're pregnant again, this time with a child :)
* I was so busy cleaning and packing that I pretty much did nothing else
* worked up until March - moved beginning of March
* was quite overwhelmed for about 3-4 weeks (still somewhat)
* God provided an awesome townhouse with plenty of room (although I miss the extra *space*)
* we have an ubber quiet neighbor that we've never met, connected with our kitchen wall
* Ian has adjusted and so have I to staying home with him
* put in for a job at Miami Valley Hospital and in 15 min was called and in one week had the interview, the next week was offered the job - am due to begin May 7th
* decided not to pursue Marriage & Family Therapy and doing counseling yet
* restarted running again and have a better base now and am so grateful to be able to run while pregnant!
* my grandpa died and we were close by which was such a blessing and I have visited grandma now about once a week with Ian
* 18 weeks pregnant! and just ran 7 miles this morning at 10:00 pace while going to garage sales in the rain, thunder and hail :)
* meeting new friends through running, life and kids
* Mark is doing well with balancing family and new ministry responsibilities and challenges
* we find out the baby's gender in 2 weeks & Ian is now more aware of this new idea
* the revelation that when staying at home you have twice the amount of dishes!!! and it seems laundry
* can't fit into most of my clothes (this is early for me)
* Ian flew his first kite!!
* Ian rode his tricycle at least a half mile down the sidewalk in our neighborhood all by himself
* our kitties transitioned well and have their own spot in the townhouse where they can hide if need be :)
* our new church family is pretty amazing and I have been very impressed with meeting a lot of the women with how much I like them and how real they are
* we have a buyer for the house and about ready to close any day now once their loan comes through
* currently looking at the housing market and scoping out neighborhoods and considering schools
* all in all RIGHT NOW is such a blessing of a time and when I begin full-time work life is going to flip but we'll get used to it again
* we said our goodbyes and prepped the house to be sold (big undertaking)
* found out we're pregnant again, this time with a child :)
* I was so busy cleaning and packing that I pretty much did nothing else
* worked up until March - moved beginning of March
* was quite overwhelmed for about 3-4 weeks (still somewhat)
* God provided an awesome townhouse with plenty of room (although I miss the extra *space*)
* we have an ubber quiet neighbor that we've never met, connected with our kitchen wall
* Ian has adjusted and so have I to staying home with him
* put in for a job at Miami Valley Hospital and in 15 min was called and in one week had the interview, the next week was offered the job - am due to begin May 7th
* decided not to pursue Marriage & Family Therapy and doing counseling yet
* restarted running again and have a better base now and am so grateful to be able to run while pregnant!
* my grandpa died and we were close by which was such a blessing and I have visited grandma now about once a week with Ian
* 18 weeks pregnant! and just ran 7 miles this morning at 10:00 pace while going to garage sales in the rain, thunder and hail :)
* meeting new friends through running, life and kids
* Mark is doing well with balancing family and new ministry responsibilities and challenges
* we find out the baby's gender in 2 weeks & Ian is now more aware of this new idea
* the revelation that when staying at home you have twice the amount of dishes!!! and it seems laundry
* can't fit into most of my clothes (this is early for me)
* Ian flew his first kite!!
* Ian rode his tricycle at least a half mile down the sidewalk in our neighborhood all by himself
* our kitties transitioned well and have their own spot in the townhouse where they can hide if need be :)
* our new church family is pretty amazing and I have been very impressed with meeting a lot of the women with how much I like them and how real they are
* we have a buyer for the house and about ready to close any day now once their loan comes through
* currently looking at the housing market and scoping out neighborhoods and considering schools
* all in all RIGHT NOW is such a blessing of a time and when I begin full-time work life is going to flip but we'll get used to it again
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
A Surprise for Mark
It seems that when planning surprises, the biggest difficulty comes when arrangements do not work out as they did when planned in your head. It is the expectation/assumption meets reality. I knew what I wanted to do and the purpose. Take him away from everyday life: the stresses, the plans, the "normal" and have fun and connect. So that included a meal, a movie, a night away & Ian hanging out with someone or people who knows & loves. Some different options arose for timing, dates but as the weeks went by - everything was getting tighter...and people busier.
What happened: I got sick Sunday, Mark got sick Monday, plan was for Tuesday evening to Wednesday during the day.
Meal @ Millhouse...Movie "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" @ Jasper 8 Theatres...a night @ French Lick...hang out read, write, blog, tweet, internet surf, lounge, prep for future). How Lovely and blessed to do such a thing. Ian was so excited as reported by those caring for him that he went though his routine: " he rushed around and told me what cam next". :)
What happened: I got sick Sunday, Mark got sick Monday, plan was for Tuesday evening to Wednesday during the day.
Meal @ Millhouse...Movie "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" @ Jasper 8 Theatres...a night @ French Lick...hang out read, write, blog, tweet, internet surf, lounge, prep for future). How Lovely and blessed to do such a thing. Ian was so excited as reported by those caring for him that he went though his routine: " he rushed around and told me what cam next". :)
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Beautiful Nothingness
2009's Photos from Parents House
It's amazing when you have time to literally do nothing. Here at my parents house it's a relaxing setting of just hanging out, letting the kiddos rest in the afternoon and catching up on your own thoughts. I could be ambitious and read the book I need to read, I could write to those people I've been meaning to send cards to and I could do a project for my mom...but I'd rather sit and rest and think and not do.
It's a beautiful moment to do nothing and with the intention and non-guiltness of nothing. I wish I could say that we have that built-in margin in our lives for rest and relaxation (and we somewhat do with a toddler not into activities yet) but there is still time where we could but we don't. That is something I'd like to make a priority in....creating margin to create rest times and reflection times in our home.
Non-cluttered, non "to-do's" time where you don't stare at the projects that need done but can simply be still. [It also helps being in someone else's home, you don't need to, have to or even want to change things.]
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Ian: New Phrase: Alien
Ian was playing with his Toy Story alien when he proclaimed, "I come in peace!"
Mark laughed so hard his stomach hurt.
Kara just sat there thinking "did he really say that & where did he hear that?!"
Recycled Black Friday Ads
Recycled Black Friday Ads: We repurposed them as wrapping paper. With their clear glossy colors and great texture it was actually quite cool to wrap gifts. Some duck tape was used for "ribbon". It was even more fun to cut out letters for the recipients initials.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Ian: New Phrase: Chocolates
Ian: "Mommy you want some chocolate?" Kara: "Yes. Chocolates are the bomb." Ian: "Yes. Chocolates are the boot."
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Ian: New Phrase: Big Head
Monday, December 12, 2011
Ian: New Phrase: Good Talk Daddy
Mark's Tweet:
Yesterday when I sat down after preaching my 3-year old put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Good talk daddy."
Yesterday when I sat down after preaching my 3-year old put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Good talk daddy."
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Kingdom Life - Priorities
It's true - when Mark gives a sermon, God hits me harder with its message. Today was no exception...and this ones NEEDS to stick. I distinctly remembr a Resolution List I put together back in 1999 and I found it in 2003 and was reminded how much I desired to change when I wrote it. I found that almost all had been accomplished except for the hard ones illuding to growth/wisdom/discipline.
I still struggle with discipline...obedience & following through and it does all come down to priorities...I choose to use my time to do this rather than this and now I reap the benefits or consequences. Here is my current list, a link to the sermon & the main points.
Kingdom Life: 1) Uncommon lifestyle, 2) Distinctively different Prayer life, 3) Purpose-driven Priorities
I would like to:
* not waste so much time on non-important things or hobbies (oouponing & internet surfing for deals)
* spend money only on budgeted items & necessities (stock-piling is ok at a minimal rate/depending on use)
* give sacrificially & routinely to those friends doing God's work
* focus time on Chazown things (a.k.a. use with my purpose)
- helping people (resources) & growing people (listening & running)
- making gifts
- consistently running & singing (not simultaneously)
- having a clean & non-cluttered home
* keeping those things only needed in the house:
- paper: bills, mementos in proper storage, coupons in binder, notes in boxes, announcements & cards on corkboard
- pictures on walls
- excess toys & clothes = out box
- magazines older than 6 months = out box
- notes = my Remains of the Day book
- ideas = in binder
* remind myself - I have not used it in a year and I will probably not use it - there will always be another deal & if I need it God will provide
I still struggle with discipline...obedience & following through and it does all come down to priorities...I choose to use my time to do this rather than this and now I reap the benefits or consequences. Here is my current list, a link to the sermon & the main points.
Kingdom Life: 1) Uncommon lifestyle, 2) Distinctively different Prayer life, 3) Purpose-driven Priorities
I would like to:
* not waste so much time on non-important things or hobbies (oouponing & internet surfing for deals)
* spend money only on budgeted items & necessities (stock-piling is ok at a minimal rate/depending on use)
* give sacrificially & routinely to those friends doing God's work
* focus time on Chazown things (a.k.a. use with my purpose)
- helping people (resources) & growing people (listening & running)
- making gifts
- consistently running & singing (not simultaneously)
- having a clean & non-cluttered home
* keeping those things only needed in the house:
- paper: bills, mementos in proper storage, coupons in binder, notes in boxes, announcements & cards on corkboard
- pictures on walls
- excess toys & clothes = out box
- magazines older than 6 months = out box
- notes = my Remains of the Day book
- ideas = in binder
* remind myself - I have not used it in a year and I will probably not use it - there will always be another deal & if I need it God will provide
Monday, December 5, 2011
I am Inspired by...
I got to thinking, after a friend wrote that I was an inspiration by what I was writing, about what it means to be inspiring...or to be inspired by...
So this is what I'm currently inspired by:
* my blog posts here (11-30-10) and here (12-14-10) about Resolve & fitness from one year ago (wow I was motivated and so driven!)
* people who are ultramarathoners or endurance athletes (they live it daily)
* people who give of themselves in unique ways
* mothers who still pursue their own avenues in life while caring for their children
* those women who have miscarriage after miscarriage and yet still see hope and a future for their family
* Jim Brickman (Holiday) Pandora playlist
* lists...
* my husband and his honesty with me whether I desire to hear it or not
So this is what I'm currently inspired by:
* my blog posts here (11-30-10) and here (12-14-10) about Resolve & fitness from one year ago (wow I was motivated and so driven!)
* people who are ultramarathoners or endurance athletes (they live it daily)
* people who give of themselves in unique ways
* mothers who still pursue their own avenues in life while caring for their children
* those women who have miscarriage after miscarriage and yet still see hope and a future for their family
* Jim Brickman (Holiday) Pandora playlist
* lists...
* my husband and his honesty with me whether I desire to hear it or not
Sunday, December 4, 2011
December Daily - Life & Expectations
This year with everything going I'm opting to make our December daily pictures & traditions more simple and small.
We've been traveling a lot, Ian is growing up so much and although I have not exercised once since November 17th, I am somehow still able to fit into my clothes which is a blessing.
I'm having to become a list-maker again and needing to refocus life and expectations. Disappointment has been a running theme this past year in some areas of our life and yet other areas have been blessed. I'm seeing how as each year goes by that people truly do become wiser and have more opportunity to turn from their wicked, fleshly, selfish ways. New creations and renewed minds...have taken on new meanings to me. I'm no longer the teenager or 20-something who makes my mistakes over & over and then wonders why I struggle so much and there are consequences. However, I'm also not the 30-something yet who understands that quicker repentance leads to quicker restoration...or that more cautious & wise preparation leads to more wise choices.
How did I not get all of this before? I read about it, but it doesn't register until life experience fulfills it. I guess I'm more human than I think and more inclined to sin and mess up and go back to my old ways than I think I am. What foolish thinking on my part.
Allowing myself to understand...to give myself grace...to better use my time and gifts...and to keep moving...AND to reconnect with God in a new, humbling way.
We've been traveling a lot, Ian is growing up so much and although I have not exercised once since November 17th, I am somehow still able to fit into my clothes which is a blessing.
I'm having to become a list-maker again and needing to refocus life and expectations. Disappointment has been a running theme this past year in some areas of our life and yet other areas have been blessed. I'm seeing how as each year goes by that people truly do become wiser and have more opportunity to turn from their wicked, fleshly, selfish ways. New creations and renewed minds...have taken on new meanings to me. I'm no longer the teenager or 20-something who makes my mistakes over & over and then wonders why I struggle so much and there are consequences. However, I'm also not the 30-something yet who understands that quicker repentance leads to quicker restoration...or that more cautious & wise preparation leads to more wise choices.
How did I not get all of this before? I read about it, but it doesn't register until life experience fulfills it. I guess I'm more human than I think and more inclined to sin and mess up and go back to my old ways than I think I am. What foolish thinking on my part.
Allowing myself to understand...to give myself grace...to better use my time and gifts...and to keep moving...AND to reconnect with God in a new, humbling way.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
October 21st to Now....
Many things have occurred in this span of time, some of which I am going to share now and some of which I am not going to until the timing is right.
No one really needs to read this, I hope others never have to experience this but if they do I hope it helps.
This is like waiting for a bomb to go off...
October 21st 5:35am - Pregnancy test read very positive, very quickly. Blood test later that day said that I was "very" pregnant (high levels) and my progesterone was low so I go get a $125 prescription for progesterone (hormone) so as to minimize the chances of miscarriage. Dr. Beckman's office can't get me in until Nov. 17th.
During the next several weeks, no healthy food is eaten, only whatever I crave in anticipation of this growing baby I have in my body and so all I eat seems like carbs, comfort foods and I can barely drink water so flavored drinks & NO RUNNING. This is very different than Ian's pregnancy but that is what other people say especially if this might be a girl. We are very, very excited. I am cautiously optimistic until I see the first ultrasound and hear the heartbeat. It's taken a while to get this pregnancy...
Weeks go by and I am covering a coworker at the hospital so I'm working a lot...and am pretty well exhausted at night and just trying to keep eating b/c I'm so nauseous. People tell me, nausea is good so be thankful for it. I become thankful for it & working is a great distraction. So thankful.
Come Nov. 17th, Thursday 10:45am - I am to be working this day but clock-out for this appointment. Dr. Beckman gets called out so we wait another hour...and more time...get my lovely physical...and finally over lunch (I'm starving by now) get to sit down for this ultrasound (the only thing I am really coming for). The screen pulls up...and all we can see is what looks like a whole...black space...for where a baby should be. SHOCK.
I'm thinking..."no way...and I have to work, I can't react, this is surreal"...the more it was all processed throughout the day the more emotions would come. Anembryionic pregnancy...my body is pregnant, thinks it is pregnant but there is no baby...just fluid and a sac. I'm having nausea for nothing. Devastating, loss of hope, loss of promise, questions, no answers, now have to wait to move on until this is out of my body.
Positive perspectives: the baby might not have been a healthy baby anyway, there was no baby so we will lose no baby - just the potential of one, I won't have to see a form of a baby at any point, that I can now relate just a little more to someone who miscarries...etc...etc BUT it doesn't change the fact that this has happened, that I feel like if I get pregnant again that I might have to face something worse or be even more nauseated, that people may or may not understand, that at this very moment I absolutely HATE my body.
We contact family & friends with the news, people are encouraging and loving. I find that most comforting phrase to be "Oh Kara, I'm so sorry". That is all that needs to be said and I learn how it feels to hear it. No need to explain it to me, no need to tell me this wasn't God's plan (which I know) just simply...I'm so sorry.
It's numbing now, 3 days post discovery, after medication, no miscarry is happening, tomorrow to be scheduled for a surgery that I don't want, never wanted nor do I ever want to have to do again. It's just surreal and I'm ok, it's just the harsh voices I have towards myself and my body right now. The hateful view of my abdomen, the depressive tendencies wanting to surface and the harmful eating habits I want to re-inhabit. I won't, I can't...I will be healthy. I just have to wait.
No one really needs to read this, I hope others never have to experience this but if they do I hope it helps. It helped to speak with Kendra, Stephanie and text many people. The most emotional moments are the ones that kill...the majority of the time I'm fine but those moments, the weak ones...impression themselves on you. The image will forever stick. The lost hope will be felt especially over the holidays...won't be buying items on Black Friday for this invisible baby nor praying for him/her...no looking forward to February to know the gender...nor thinking that June will come fast.
A very different mourning period, I don't want to cry, I'm angry, I'm hurt, I'm numb...I'd rather forget this happened but it did so now it's part of our story...
No one really needs to read this, I hope others never have to experience this but if they do I hope it helps.
This is like waiting for a bomb to go off...
October 21st 5:35am - Pregnancy test read very positive, very quickly. Blood test later that day said that I was "very" pregnant (high levels) and my progesterone was low so I go get a $125 prescription for progesterone (hormone) so as to minimize the chances of miscarriage. Dr. Beckman's office can't get me in until Nov. 17th.
During the next several weeks, no healthy food is eaten, only whatever I crave in anticipation of this growing baby I have in my body and so all I eat seems like carbs, comfort foods and I can barely drink water so flavored drinks & NO RUNNING. This is very different than Ian's pregnancy but that is what other people say especially if this might be a girl. We are very, very excited. I am cautiously optimistic until I see the first ultrasound and hear the heartbeat. It's taken a while to get this pregnancy...
Weeks go by and I am covering a coworker at the hospital so I'm working a lot...and am pretty well exhausted at night and just trying to keep eating b/c I'm so nauseous. People tell me, nausea is good so be thankful for it. I become thankful for it & working is a great distraction. So thankful.
Come Nov. 17th, Thursday 10:45am - I am to be working this day but clock-out for this appointment. Dr. Beckman gets called out so we wait another hour...and more time...get my lovely physical...and finally over lunch (I'm starving by now) get to sit down for this ultrasound (the only thing I am really coming for). The screen pulls up...and all we can see is what looks like a whole...black space...for where a baby should be. SHOCK.
I'm thinking..."no way...and I have to work, I can't react, this is surreal"...the more it was all processed throughout the day the more emotions would come. Anembryionic pregnancy...my body is pregnant, thinks it is pregnant but there is no baby...just fluid and a sac. I'm having nausea for nothing. Devastating, loss of hope, loss of promise, questions, no answers, now have to wait to move on until this is out of my body.
Positive perspectives: the baby might not have been a healthy baby anyway, there was no baby so we will lose no baby - just the potential of one, I won't have to see a form of a baby at any point, that I can now relate just a little more to someone who miscarries...etc...etc BUT it doesn't change the fact that this has happened, that I feel like if I get pregnant again that I might have to face something worse or be even more nauseated, that people may or may not understand, that at this very moment I absolutely HATE my body.
We contact family & friends with the news, people are encouraging and loving. I find that most comforting phrase to be "Oh Kara, I'm so sorry". That is all that needs to be said and I learn how it feels to hear it. No need to explain it to me, no need to tell me this wasn't God's plan (which I know) just simply...I'm so sorry.
It's numbing now, 3 days post discovery, after medication, no miscarry is happening, tomorrow to be scheduled for a surgery that I don't want, never wanted nor do I ever want to have to do again. It's just surreal and I'm ok, it's just the harsh voices I have towards myself and my body right now. The hateful view of my abdomen, the depressive tendencies wanting to surface and the harmful eating habits I want to re-inhabit. I won't, I can't...I will be healthy. I just have to wait.
No one really needs to read this, I hope others never have to experience this but if they do I hope it helps. It helped to speak with Kendra, Stephanie and text many people. The most emotional moments are the ones that kill...the majority of the time I'm fine but those moments, the weak ones...impression themselves on you. The image will forever stick. The lost hope will be felt especially over the holidays...won't be buying items on Black Friday for this invisible baby nor praying for him/her...no looking forward to February to know the gender...nor thinking that June will come fast.
A very different mourning period, I don't want to cry, I'm angry, I'm hurt, I'm numb...I'd rather forget this happened but it did so now it's part of our story...
Friday, October 21, 2011
Free 8×10 Photo Canvas + $14.95 Shipping or 40% off and Free Shipping!
The Canvas People For a limited time you can get a free 8×10 photo wrapped canvas, just pay $14.95 for shipping! These retail for $50.00 so this is an amazing deal! If you would rather get a larger size then you can get 40% off the retail amount and free shipping, but you must shop through this link for this offer.
Canvases make great Christmas presents that are personal and look great without the added expense of a frame. I gave one to my father one year, and the 8×10 size is perfect to go on a shelf in his office.
Canvases make great Christmas presents that are personal and look great without the added expense of a frame. I gave one to my father one year, and the 8×10 size is perfect to go on a shelf in his office.
Ink Garden: 9 Adorable Photo Gifts for the Cost of Shipping
Ink Garden has a great new promotion going on where you can get a $13 credit to use on their stylish and fun photo and customizable products. You can use this credit on just one item and get it for free (plus shipping) or you can buy multiple items and have it applied as a $13 credit. Shipping rates for the items included in this promotion are:
•Notebook: $3.95
•Mousepad: $5.49
•10 Holiday Cards: $3.29
•10 Invitations: $3.29
•Ceramic Mug: $5.49
•Biz Cards: $3.49
•Placemat: $3.29
•Notepad: $3.49
•Note Cards: $3.29
Use code ForFree at check out to get your discount! This is a great way to order Christmas gifts or cards for a great price!
•Notebook: $3.95
•Mousepad: $5.49
•10 Holiday Cards: $3.29
•10 Invitations: $3.29
•Ceramic Mug: $5.49
•Biz Cards: $3.49
•Placemat: $3.29
•Notepad: $3.49
•Note Cards: $3.29
Use code ForFree at check out to get your discount! This is a great way to order Christmas gifts or cards for a great price!
Make Jack O’Lantern from Baby Food Jars!
Go here to see the exact instructions!
Do you have a baby at your house? If you do, then you probably have baby food jars. Wash them out and use them for this super-cute Halloween craft. (If there is no baby at your house, ask to borrow some jars from a friend, sister, etc. These little pumpkin jars are worth the extra effort!)
Directions:
Step 1: Make sure your jar is clean and dry.
Step 2: Mix orange acrylic paint with some mod podge and paint the jar inside and out.
Step 3: Once it’s dry, use black paint to create a face for our “pumpkin”. Remember, you want it to look like a little jack o’lantern
Step 4: Place a candle inside the jar and let it shine.
Optional: You can tie raffia around the neck of the jar if you’d like.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The Coupons
Truth be told I do not like the term "couponing". There are too many visions of greedy women (yes stereotyping) running up and down the aisles getting as much as possible to take home and leaving the rest of us average Joes to fend for ourselvse and pay full-price.
Well I'm trying it out and setting up a system and looking for freebies and trying to figure out the math. Is it really worth it and a good dealt to get this now? or to wait a little longer?
The Price Matching is actually quite fun just time-consuming, haven't figured that one out but I have really enjoyed getting the deals that I have and feeling like I'm saving us money in the long-run.
There are some sites and offers I am coming by that I want to remember when Christmas comes around so I'm going to document them here:
Hallmark's Holiday Recordable Books $19.95 (beg. 11/4 to 12/24) with purchase, specifically: Frosty the Snowman & the Very First Christmas
LOVE THIS: from Family Fun Magazine - don't know if you can get this or not here.
KODAK: 50 free prints & $10 off your first order. Going to enroll AFTER Halloween for those prints!
Disney Family Fun's Christmas Book: $9.99
Little People Nativity Scene @ Family Christian for $23.99 with this 40% off code and this free shipping code until
Well I'm trying it out and setting up a system and looking for freebies and trying to figure out the math. Is it really worth it and a good dealt to get this now? or to wait a little longer?
The Price Matching is actually quite fun just time-consuming, haven't figured that one out but I have really enjoyed getting the deals that I have and feeling like I'm saving us money in the long-run.
There are some sites and offers I am coming by that I want to remember when Christmas comes around so I'm going to document them here:
Hallmark's Holiday Recordable Books $19.95 (beg. 11/4 to 12/24) with purchase, specifically: Frosty the Snowman & the Very First Christmas
LOVE THIS: from Family Fun Magazine - don't know if you can get this or not here.
KODAK: 50 free prints & $10 off your first order. Going to enroll AFTER Halloween for those prints!
Disney Family Fun's Christmas Book: $9.99
Little People Nativity Scene @ Family Christian for $23.99 with this 40% off code and this free shipping code until
Saturday, October 1, 2011
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