A Week of Colds

I wrote this Monday, but didn't get around to posting it till today (Friday) Sorry!

So, this past week began with high hopes for different goals and projects to be accomplished, but was quickly detoured by a bout of sickness. Michael was the first to show signs of sickness then a couple days later Shiona was hit hard. Katrina barely showed anything beyond restless nights and congestion. So basically this past week was a blur of sleepless nights and what we like to call "sicky bears". I know any mother has experienced this scenario countless times over, so details are unnecessary. All I will say is that I felt sleep-deprived for the better part of the past week. Thankfully my wonderful husband was able to help out and I got several badly needed naps! Also, the children didn't catch anything beyond a typical cold. I'm so thankful to the Lord for sparing us from a bad virus or even the flu! Actually Michael and Shiona only seemed miserable one day each and like I said earlier Katrina barely appeared sick save a few symptoms. But symptoms linger for a long time, so we're still seeing runny noses and congestion.

So now that the kids are getting better Seth is getting worse! Poor man! He probably wore himself out helping me so much with the children. Unfortunately he just so happens to be starting a new job this week. Wouldn't you know it? He's been taking it easy and not taking a lot of jobs lately, but as soon as he gets one going he might have to put it off for a week. Oh well, God's timing isn't ours, but it IS perfect!

So, with the lack of sleep and the tending to sick children I really didn't have all that much time to exercise. I tried to fit in a small exercise routine in every day, but it wound up being less than half an hour usually and sometimes no more than 15 minutes. I mostly used my kettlebell and only did Burn it Up once this past week. However, I was still checking the scale every now and then and it showed I lost another pound. BUT, when I officially weighed myself Monday I was back to 107. I think maybe the other readings were due to dehydration because I wasn't drinking a lot of water. Anyhow, I'm rebooting back to week 4 since I don't consider last week part of the Slim in Six.

And I'm signing off...

What's up, Doc?

Well, things have been pretty fun here lately. We've done the whole pumpkin patch, corn maze, hikes in the woods with the fallen leaves crunching under our shoes and many other fall-related activities. It's been such beautiful weather and we're trying to enjoy it as much as possible.

Seth recently injured his right ankle. We think he tore a ligament, so he's been down for a few days. He doesn't complain much, but I know it hurt him a lot. However, he is a very fast healer and is already up and around more than I would have thought at this stage of recovery.

I'm on my second week of Slim in 6. Yes, I've lost one more pound, so now I am at 107. Still was hoping for 2 pounds. I worked out 5 days and even worked out twice on Saturday. However, I know for a fact I ate a lot more than I should have two days in a row. I felt very hungry and didn't make very nutritious decisions, either. I know I was kind-of shooting myself in the foot by doing that. This week I am supposed to begin the "Burn It Up" section of the exercise program. It is very intense and an hour long. It is hard enough to find 45 minutes, let alone a whole hour that is uninterrupted. I've been doing a lot of my workouts in the evenings when the children are asleep, but I don't like that as much because it takes away from my time with Seth, which I always look forward to and relish. He's been so sweet to sacrifice that time with me too and he has sometimes even joined me in the exercises! I also picked up a 15lb kettlebell that I can use when I need to just get a quickie in.

The children are doing just beautifully. So far no one has caught any of the sickness going around. The Lord has been very gracious to us! However, I have a sneaking suspicion that Michael may be coming down with something this evening. Poor guys. His nose was dripping a little bit and he seemed out of sorts. I pray it is nothing serious.

Schooling with Katrina has been difficult this past week or two. I don't know how it happened, but it seemed like I got really behind in all the household chores and couldn't find time to get much schooling in. Hopefully this week will go better. It is so much fun to see her try to sound out every word she sees now. She is really trying to read! I'm so excited for her!

Michael is still not rolling over! It is soooo cute to see him try. I think it is harder for him because he is heavier than my girls were at his age. He is still such a good, content baby. He smiles at his daddy all the time and gets a kick out of the girl's silliness. He seems to be getting pretty strong and I can tell sitting is just around the corner! He had his first hair cut tonight. I just trimmed the long part on the top of his head that was looking like a mohawk (sp?)! He also has discovered food and really protests when we are eating and he can't enjoy some little tidbits. :)

Shiona has discovered the joys of solitude. She has recently begun finding a quite spot and playing by herself for hours. I think she enjoys the fact that she can play and not be bossed around by her older sister. She loves pretending she has a little family and they are almost always Uncle Jonathan, Aunt Denise and Elyana. Whenever I offer to join in she tells me I can be Uncle Jonathan! I think it is good for her to play by herself, but I also don't want her to seclude herself for too long and not cooperate with her sister or interact with the family. She is responding better to my corrections and I've noticed her "memory" of things I tell her to do or not to do has improved lately.

Well, it is late and I haven't exercised this evening. I don't know if I'll make it through the Burn It Up tonight, but I'm off to try.

Wish me a good nights sleep - or better yet, wish Michael one! :)

Slim in 5 :)

Ok, so here is the update how my exercise program is going:

I after this past week of beginning Slim in 6 I have lost a grand total of (drum roll, please)..........1 pound. Ha! I was hoping for two, but I'll take what I can get. The first week is pretty easy and not very intense, plus I am trying to not cut my calories too low so my milk supply won't drop. I exercised 5 out of 7 days. I'll let you know how it goes this week.

Karen

Slim in 6

I love this program I got after Katrina was born. It is by Beach Body and it is called Slim in 6. It is a six week work out program that has done wonders in helping me get back in to shape after Katrina and Shiona (except, with Shiona the birth control I used made me gain a lot back!) :( Well, I've been trying to do it after Michael. Let me say that with having a third child and beginning to school Katrina it has made it very difficult to find time to exercise. (Most of the routines last 45 minutes to an hour!) So, I am redoubling my efforts and trying again. I began Monday and have been watching my diet very carefully (like I did after my girls were born). Already I have seen a 1lb difference, but I'm not too thrilled because I've seen my scale trick me before (Yes, it is ALL the scale's fault! *sniffs indignantly*). Anyway, I will give periodic updates and let you guys know how it goes this time around. I'm currently at 19% body fat (estimated) and weigh 109lbs. My goal is to be 14-15% body fat and weigh between 100 - 103lbs. This may seem very low to a lot of you guys, but I know my body and I know when I look good - plus I am barely 5'. 100 is not too low for me, especially when I make sure I've got muscle and not bones protruding. Wish me luck - I'm on the way to getting slim in 6!

Pictures!!!

We've got some red-eye, but she is still so precious!




Here is the promised picture of Michael in the Johnny-Jump-Up...
(Sorry it took so long, Catherine :)




Katrina and Shiona are best friends - and Shiona is actually posing in this one - shocker!

Autumn in the Air

I realize it has been a little while sine my last post. I've wanted to post weekly, but I knew that it wouldn't always work out so! Anyway, let me recap a few things that have been going on with us...

1. When we returned from the OBX we were greeted with the seasonally contrary weather of a Virginia Fall. Going from short sleeves in our drawers to rummaging through our boxed-up, long-sleeved shirts and warmer clothing. One can always tell the seasons changing by observing my feet. Socks say it all!

2. I'm getting back to schooling Katrina, which has been fun. I'm thinking of adding music and/or language to her studies, but I don't want to become overwhelmed. If anyone knows of a good program to use or any helpful tools for either of these field's of study, please share!

3. Michael turned 4 months old the other day! He is such a wonderful baby. We love him to death and he couldn't be better tempered! He is trying to roll from back to tummy and almost getting it. (You know how babies can't seem to figure out what to do with that arm that winds up stuck under their bellies? He's trying to work on that!) He can sit in the highchair and even uses the johnny-jump-up. Well, he just sits - he doesn't bounce yet. He grabs objects all the time and brings them to his mouth and he is beginning to like books. Katrina had a voracious appetite for books since she was two weeks old. However, Shiona and Michael seem to be much more particular. The books have to grab their attention and it helps to sing. Plus, they only liked/like one or two at a time. Shiona loves books now and could spend hours reading. His skin has improved so much that I'd say it is 95% resolved. Praise the Lord and thank you all for your advice and prayers in this matter.

4. Seth is off work a lot and around the house. He made quite a bit earlier this year and doesn't want to be earning too much more this year for tax reasons. I love having him here and he is always the most helpful, involved husband and father I know of. I'll be sad when he begins working steady again. :(

5. Shiona is my bunny. She changes in different ways and yet they are so subtle if I'm not paying attention I miss it. It is like colors changing in their own hues, like from mauve to pink instead of red to yellow. No stark changes, yet always changing. She is a special one who makes you earn her love and affection, but it is so worth it!

6. Katrina is our fun-loving, ever playful, super smart little sunshine. She constantly amazes me with her ability to comprehend things way beyond a girl of her age. She is so creative and has such a strong personality. Yet, with all that she is so sensitive to other people's feelings. She never wants to someone and she can sense when something is wrong with someone. She is such a unique child and I'm so happy she was our first!

7. Me? Well, still fighting to drop pounds off and always trying to improve my eating habits. I wonder, do other people struggle with the concept of 5 meals a day? I think it is right and it works, but I can't seem to fit 5 small meals in. I just had coffee for breakfast and it is almost noon! *sighs*. I'm loving this treadmill that Denise and Jonathan brought up when they came to visit. I burn so many more calories even with a 20 minute workout! Yeah!

Well, I want to post so much more, especially about the whole family being up for fall break and all the fun times we had, but it must wait. Duty calls!

Love in Action

I just created a new blog that I will try to update daily with tips on how to show our love as wives and mothers. Please don't feel like I am trying to teach or preach anything here. This are ideas that I am trying to put into effect in my own life and just want to share with other Christian wives and mothers as an encouraging word. Since it will be for wives, some post may be considered inappropriate for other viewers, but never too detailed or personal. Please feel free to give advice or feedback. Thanks!

www.deedsoflove.blogspot.com

Love to all!
Karen