Cookie Ministry

I am officially going to start utilizing my love of baking for a good purpose and since I am pregnant and can't eat raw cookie dough my figure shouldn't suffer too much.  I signed up for the "Cookie Ministry" at church.  We make cookies and they get delivered in a variety of ways to the community throughout the month.  Some are put in meals they hand out to the homeless.  Some are delivered to local patient care centers such as those for pregnant teens.  This should be fun but it is a lot of cookies.  They ask for six dozen once a month.  I need to buy some cooling racks.  I've always just sat my cookies to cool on foil on my counter top.  The hubby thinks it is time to upgrade a bit.

I think these will be my first batch which I stumbled across on this blog:  http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/chocolate-chip-cookiesa-must-make/

Exercise update.  Last week looked like this:

Bike:  70.95 Mi - 4h 15m Pace: 17.08 Mi/hr

Run:  11.00 Mi - 1h 54m

I also spent about 20 minutes lifting some weights and a little bit of time on the elliptical.  I didn't run as much as I would have liked but I did put in 4 days of running.  It is difficult to have any mile accumulation when I'm really only doing 3 miles per session.

Today I ran outside with Travis & Sam right after church.  It was about 65 degrees and we had a break in rain showers so we decided to take advantage of it.  We ran 3.62 miles and Sam fell asleep about 20 minutes into it so while I was done running after the 3.62 we did walk for a total of around 5.5 miles.  It was nice.  Now if I could just stop peeing myself when I run I would be a happy camper.  TMI I know but hey it is one of the crappy things about being pregnant and it is what I am dealing with every time I run so I figured I may as well share - sorry!

Hotel Gyms

I travel about once a month for work. I try to just be gone overnight but sometimes I have to make a longer trip. This week is one of those longer trips and I hate it! I miss Travis, Sam and Dakota like crazy. I can't relax an sleep at night. An I hate workin out in the hotel gym! It is always full of work out wanna-bees. I feel bad typing that because at least they are making some effort, but when they impact my workout it drives me crazy!

I hav spent around an hour in the gym every day and since becoming pregnant I rarely just do one activity per workout. I like to run a couple of miles then jump on the bike or elliptical then hit the treadmill again and repeat the cycle. Well every night someone has grabbed the bike about a minute before I was ready to make the switch. Thank goodness they don't work out for long....the longest I have waited is 10 minutes but it still drives me crazy! Maybe I'm just being mean or maybe it is the hormones!

Today I cut back just a little and did 20 minutes on the treadmill and 20 on the bike. My heel hurts! I know I need some new running shoes but I think this might be more than that. I don't want to say plantar fasciitis but I'm a little concerned here.

I am loving the bike though and I've been doing a lot of that.

Today I ate a few of my favorites...Jimmy John's #1 with no cheese or mayo (and for those wondering I did heat the ham to steaming first), salt and vinegar chips for lunch and a chicken burrito bowl from Chipolte for dinner. I'm getting hungry again and would love some M&M's but I think I will force myself to eat some yogurt and All Bran.

Sam update, she ran into a fence at daycare today and cut her lip with her teeth. Travis sent me a pic and her little lip is so swollen. Poor baby. They said she cried a little bit but cried more because she dropped her popsicle. Now that sounds like my little girl!

Spin class while pregnant - good idea????

So I am now 13 weeks pregnant with #2.  I went for the NT test today and got to see the little bean on ultrasound.  He/she was being a little stubborn but so cute.  The tech was trying to get a good profile to look at the fluid behind the neck but little one was jumping from facing us and waving to a total 180 with it's little butt side pointing at us.  After a half hour we got one second of the perfect position and the ultrasound lady captured it perfectly.  Everything looked good.  They took some blood from me and we will have the results in 7-10 days.

Exercise-wise I've been hitting spin class at the gym with the hubby almost twice a week.  I'm sure some people who have been to spin are probably freaking out right now.  Spin is HARD they will say and I agree it isn't easy but I'm not quite following the instructors direction (I tend to back off a few gears and RPM's).  I sweat a bit but my heart rate never gets up there very high.  Not even close to what it does when I run.  I think I average about 125 BPM so I think I am ok.  I'm just wondering how many dirty looks I will get walking in visibly pregnant.  Or maybe by then I won't dare to enter.  We shall see. 

Since today is the last day of the month it is now time to post my time and mileage for Feb:


Bike: 9h 52m - 166.29 Mi

Run: 9h 03m 30s - 51.44 Mi

Strength: 1h 05m

Elliptical Training: 2h 35m

Walking: 3h 02m

I'm feeling good.  The only problem I've had has to do with needing to pee every 5 seconds while running and the simple truth that sometimes I don't make it to the bathroom before some leaks out.  Disgusting I know but I want to hear from a pregnant woman who has never wet her pants! 
 
Mom update:  She started radiation today!  I know it makes her nervous.  I pray every night for God to bless her and the doctors and nurses and let him know that she is in his hands.  That's all we can really do but I really hope that radiation isn't too hard on her and she can relax soon and not feel so anxious.
 
Sam update:  Weekends are tough.  I think it is because she is sooooo stimulated at day care with other kids and all that she gets bored with just Travis and I.  Nap time is ridiculous.  It has come to me having to rock her and then hold her while she sleeps.  She won't fall asleep for Travis any more.  Yesterday he was trying to get her to sleep and she wouldn't go so we decided to put her in her crib and see if she would calm herself down and take a nap.  About 2 minutes later we heard a thud and then she came running into the living room.  No cries, no whimpers, nothing but somehow she climbed out of the crib and must have landed on her feet and took off.  Needless to say after we made sure she was ok I had to rock and hold her while she slept.  I vow baby #2 will be different.  Baby #2 will nap in the crib.  Yeah - we'll see how that works out.
 

Oh, one other thing.  I made a monkey cake for my niece's birthday.  This is my first attempt at decorating a cake.  It turned out ok.  Still not sure how it tastes.  The littlest niece got sick so we had to postpone the party to next weekend.  Hopefully it keeps in the freezer.

Bun #2 is in the Oven - due 9/7/2011

So I thought I would announce it today.  Samantha is going to have a little baby brother or sister.  Estimated date of arrival is 9/7/2011.  We are sooooooo excited and yet a little tiny bit terrified at the same time.  I think that is normal or at least I hope it is normal.  Sam will be 2 years and approximately 3 months old by the time the baby arrives.  Terrible 2's and a newborn.....I must be loony!

So far things have been going good.  I'm not sure but I think I am up a couple of lbs but it feels like much more.  We haven't taken any pictures but I'm pretty sure I look much more pregnant at this point in time then I did at the same time with Sam.  I've had terrible constipation and switched to Flintstones, a DHA supplement and a bowl of Total cereal every other day.  It seems to have helped a little bit.  I've been doing good keeping up the workouts.  Here is what last week looked like:

Weekly totals & Avgs
Biking (indoor trainer and spin classes) 53.14 Mi - 3h 12m           Pace: 16.62 Mi/hr
Running   12.00 Mi - 2h 04m          Pace: 10m 20s /Mi
Other (walking and elliptical)  1.67 hours
Strength  15 minutes

So far I've been managing an average of 12 miles running per week and approx 30 miles of biking.  I'm looking to keep that average pretty much where it is.

I am also secretly glad I won't be able to compete in any triathlons this summer because that means I don't have to swim!  I really don't like swimming!  I love triathlon but I HATE swimming! 

I also need to get this diet thing figured out.  I try to be soooooo good and then I end up craving sweets.  I think I need a nutritionist to review what I'm doing.  Actually, I think I need to do some BMR testing after this pregnancy is over with to figure out where I need to be so I can plan my day accordingly.  I'm probably not eating enough on most days and then my body knows it needs the nutrients so I have cravings to fill that need.  Someday I'll get this figured out.  Today I had some frosting off of some chocolate cake and I just had to down a bowl of Total because I just felt hungry.

Side note and update on the family.  Mom of course finished chemo mid January and now it is on to radiation which she starts this week.  36 sessions and then hopefully she is cancer free forever.  Love You Mom!  I know it has been hard.  Today she had a little scare.  She hasn't been feeling the best - has had some odd upper right quadrant pain since about 1/2 way through chemo and she has been forgetful.  Really forgetful.  This afternoon she was doing some stuff around the house and got faint.  Did I mention her blood sugar has been a bit off lately too.  I think the change of not being on all of the chemo drugs is playing a little number on her diabetes treatment plan.  Anyway, she called 911 because she thought she was going to pass out and was scared.  She spent the normal 4-5 hours at the hospital in the ER and they did all sorts of tests.  All of the scans show nothing (PET Scan, CT Scan, Ultrasound of her abdomen, liver, pancreas and gallbladder, etc., etc) thankfully but it is a bummer when you can't figure out why you feel the way you do.  She also has a history of acid reflux and has had a few bouts of nausea and has thrown up a few times.  Odd, she made it through chemo without too much nausea and I don't think she even threw up once but now that she is done she is having problems.  All I can say is keep fighting through it mom and take it easy.  I think you need to rest!  We love you!

Last day of chemotherapy for mom

Today I am sitting with mom & Julee while mom gets her last chemotherapy treatment. It is a big day! After this she has reconstruction and then radiation. Then she is done with treatment and we pray that she is cancer free forever!  We had a big cookie made for all of the nurses, admins, doctors, etc., etc. that mom has gotten to know very well over the last 5 months.  They have done an amazing job over the past several months!

In running news, we just got home yesterday from Disney World. Travis, my brother-in-law and I completed the Goofy Challenge and it was hard. I don't advise anyone to do their first marathon the day after running a half marathon. I hit the wall or something like that at mile 22 although I don't know if it was a typical wall hitting experience. I couldn't catch my breath and started to cry. I walked for a bit and thought I was ok....I wasn't. My hubby made me walk for three miles. We ran the last one. I'm glad I did it but I really don't think I will run another. I will stick to halfs and triathlons!

Marathon Taper Has Begun!!!

We are two weeks from race day and are in full taper mode.  Partially by design, and partially because we are sick.  Both of us.  I think the 20 mile long runs have caught up to us.  I'm seriously thinking that another marathon is not in my future.  I bet everyone feels that way two weeks before the race and maybe my thoughts will change but right now I don't see how.

On a very good note I passed the 1,000 mile mark for running in 2010.  This is a pretty big accomplishment for me.  I can't say as I ever thought I would run that far!

I hope everyone had a good Christmas.  Ours was good - rather eventful but still good.  We spent Christmas day with my mom, sisters and their families for the first time since I don't know when.  Mom has always worked on holidays - it is good for the extra pay but since she isn't working right now we took advantage of it.  We all went to church on Friday night and then came back to our house for soup and the plan was to decorate cookies for Santa and then maybe play a few games.  Then we would track Santa for a bit and hit the hay.  Well, it didn't turn out that way.  After we got home from church my 4 year old nephew and his sister were pretty wound up.  My nephew ended up slipping and hitting his forehead on the coffee table which opened up a decent sized gash in his head.  My sister and I took him to the ER to get glued back up.  Santa was at the hospital when we were there and visited him.  He got four presents!!!!  He did so good - and was so brave.

After we got home my sister and I decorated the cookies and had a glass of wine.  It was fun.

On Christmas day we headed to my other sister's house for lunch and present opening.  The food was great and we got to take a few good pictures.  When we got home Travis started feeling a little crappy.  He was running a fever and just feeling rotten in general.  He didn't eat or really drink anything the rest of the day.  At about 11:45pm I decided to head to bed and woke him up (he had been snoozing on the couch).  He got up and followed me to the bedroom and went into the bathroom.  I jumped into bed.  A few seconds later he opened the door and then I heard a horrific thud.  He passed out and was laying on the floor with his eyes open but he wasn't responding to me.  It seemed like an eternity but I'm sure it was no longer than 30 seconds.  When I first got over there it looked like he had blood coming out of his ear.  That made me nervous.  Then I noticed the blood was actually coming from his chin.  He must have hit the foot board of the bed on his way down.  The gash was decent sized and I knew we needed to go to the ER.  He just wanted me to put a butterfly Band-Aid on it (he is such a manly man you know).  I called the Ask A Nurse line and they said that yes he did need to go to the ER. 

I got Travis up and out into the car and then went to get Sam.  She looked a little dazed and confused but she did great the whole time we were there.  She sat on my lap and played with her doll and then ate some cheese crackers.  We were there until around 2:30am and Travis got 7 stitches.  But that isn't the end of the story. 

On Sunday night he thought it was swelling a bit and by Monday after work he decided he needed to go to the doctor.  His wound had started seeping pus and blood.  Ick!  He is now on antibiotics and had to stay home from work today.  The doctor told him he should call the hospital and complain about the fact that he developed an infection.  Now that we think about it, I don't know that they even washed the cut out before they sewed him up.  I know they wiped the blood away but I don't think they cleaned it out.  That is disturbing.  To add to things I have a sinus infection and until about 4 hours ago I was feeling pretty crappy as well.  Thank goodness for antibiotics! 

Sam Update:  Our baby girl is now 18 months old.  I can't believe it!  She is so much fun now.  She is learning so much every day and is so excited to share her knowledge with us.  She is also very generous with hugs and kisses and is so sweet most of the time.  

Mom Update:  She is doing well.  She has 3 more taxol treatments and then will get her spacers taken out and her implants put in.  Then she has 12 weeks of radiation.  Hopefully the radiation won't damage the implants too much.  I also want to put her in a bubble to protect her from all of the illness that is around her right now.  My sister's entire family went through or is going through some sort of a stomach bug complete with a low grade fever.  Mom has a sinus infection and got some antibiotics for it on Sunday.  Hopefully those help her out.  Keep her in your prayers.

I'm sure I won't post again before Saturday so HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Toddler Menu

Bread, corn & peaches.  That is pretty much it for the little one.  I think she is on a hunger strike right now.  Oh wait, I can get her to eat organic graham cracker bunnies on occasion as well.  I wonder how long this is going to last?