Working out when you have 3 kids

Easy? NOPE

Necessary? Hell Yes.

I would loose my freaking mind if  I did not workout. First off, I would never be alone EVER. I am always with children. I get the kiddos ready in the morning. During the school year the kids and my husband drive me to work (we have one car). I teach a room full of 8th graders all day and then they pick me up. We proceed to make dinner, hang out, play outside, take tubs and do the VERY long bed time routine that comes with little ones.

I usually have an hour to talk with the husband, clean up, get ready for the next day and then I need to be in bed in order to function.

Now that it is summer the only difference is that instead of heading to work during the day, I am the one taking the kids to appointments, activities, the beach, playground, etc.

Now that we have our sweet little girl I have to add nursing (basically around the clock at this point), pumping just to be able to tolerate working out and adjusting my plan to her still ever changing sleep schedule.

I NEED a break. 1 hour to myself in a day full of giving smaller human beings constant attention. Without it I get depressed. I slow down. I don't get as much accomplished. My marriage isn't as strong. My kids do not get me at my best. And of course I don't feel as healthy.

I will wake up whenever I need to in order to make this happen, even on very little sleep, even when the kids don't want to let me go. It's worth it.

It almost has started to piss me off when people who have no children bitch about not having time to get to the gym. I shouldn't hate on them because I was guilty of the same thing at some points in my life. However, I really just want to scream..JUST FRIGGEN GO THEN!

So we make it work. One of us gets up early (during the school year I go first, at 4:30am, but now I go second) and works out for an hour or so and then comes home to relieve the other.

At this point in my life I cannot be a fitness super star. I could not train for a marathon even if I wanted to, because I get ONE precious hour in my day. It could have been different when I only had one (jogging stroller and what not) but as a working mom with a four, two and one month old, getting to the gym for an hour is what I am working with and for now it is enough.

I find it hysterical that some people I work with marvel at the fact that I work out and stay in shape. They act like I am ridiculous or super human for getting to the gym at this point in my life. But what they don't seem to understand is that I LIKE working out, I live for it and it is a break in my day.

I made the mistake of getting lazy and giving up something important to me once before, and I will not make that mistake again.

And it is hard. We have to schedule out what we are doing. I cannot take my time at the gym and sometimes a sick kid or a sleepless night makes me miss a day....but we do it because we need it, to be a happy and healthy family.

Sometimes I even smile about all the difficulties that come with staying fit and having three small children

Want an example? This week I was all excited to write up a tabata workout for my husband and I to do after the kiddos went to bed. I had it all written out and somehow it got on to the floor where my two year old (who is currently potty training) somehow thought it would be an excellent idea to pull down her princess panties and take a pee all over my carefully planned workout. My workout literally was pissed on. Guess she isn't into tabata. **Sigh** That's life.

A snap shot of life

The major reason I have not blogged lately is this.....

I have been sick, sick, sick and tired too. As I posted the other day, we all had the stomach flu. Mama and Charlotte got it first. It was miserable and honestly I am still not feeling so hot. My stomach is a mess and I cannot eat anything. But worst of all I pulled several muscles in my neck and back and bruised my rib cage. I am praying that I will feel back to normal next week.

This meant no gym, forcing food down and just generally trying to survive at work (I missed two days).




But on a positive note I have been trying to enjoy my babies. Liam turned 4 years old yesterday. I cannot believe I have a 4 year old. This kid certainly have a crazy streak in him. He is hyper and active and naughty...but boy do I love him. His best quality is how he treats his little sister. This photo says it all. She worships him! Liam is the major light in her life. I love watching them interact. They do fight a good amount, but she always forgives him and returns to copying his every word and move.




It is hard to believe that Ms Charlotte will be a big sister soon. I am worried for her. She is still pretty little and I already feel like it is hard to give her enough attention. I am going to work REALLY hard at making her feel special when Vivienne arrives.



Despite our illness we are doing our best to celebrate the big 4 for Liam today. We are bringing him to Boston to the Science Museum and having a special lunch and then letting him pick his present at a toy store. I hope he has a great day. I think birthdays are extra special and I always want my kiddos to feel extra loved on their big day.



And just to wrap it all up. Look at those eyes. She is my angel baby and I love her so darn much.

P.S. I finally broke down and we got the IPhone 4S. This may seem like nothing to you..but for me it was a big step. I have never had a phone other than one I got free with my plan. I HATE spending money on myself. But the pictures on this are way better than the point and shoot camera I have and I admit it is pretty cool. Maybe someday I can afford a fancy camera too.

Hopefully next week I will be reporting on my last few weeks of pregnancy AND some gym trips. I felt cruddy not being able to work out this week, but I was THAT kind of sick and had no choice.

What the heck?!

The very last thought I had before I hit the sheets last night was......ahhhh, I am going to bed nice and early and I am not going to go to the gym and can sleep until 6:30, oh it will be so great to be well-rested.

Why the heck did I have to jinx myself like that?! I should know better by now.

Since I have been up I have made breakfast, changed a diaper, made a smoothie, cleaned up and now it is:

Yeah, that's the time NOW. It was 4:15 when my lovely daughter decided she would scream poop from her crib until I got her and my son woke up during the commotion and refused to go back to sleep.

**Sigh**

So I am trying not to mourn the loss of my extra 2 hours of sleep and am resigned to the fact that I must start my day. So I am drinking this bad boy

and hoping the kiddos go easy on me.

On the up side, my mama is coming to babysit for us today so we can travel up to a friend's house for her 30th birthday party. I am super excited, but don't know how long I will last with this sleep deprivation and my aversion to sitting in one seat for too long (my sciatica is killing me lately).

I had a doctors appointment this week. I swear, I have spent half of the last 4 year waiting in the OB's office. This time I waited forever and saw the doctor for 5 minutes...annoying, but everything seems fine. They gave me the nasty glucose drink for the next appointment.

I am 23 weeks pregnant and seem to be holding up okay. I feel like I have gained a ton of weight. I am 156 lbs (started at 138), but that seems to be slowing down a bit.

I am not going to be hard on myself. I work out, I eat pretty healthy, I'm on my feet at work all day...so I am pretty sure my body is gaining what it will gain. I am gaining more than last time, but I also weighed 10 lbs less to start. I am hoping I am just gaining at a different rate.

Besides, I will not let the guilt or worry take away from enjoying my last pregnancy. I mean the weightloss process always sucks a bit..but I know myself well enough to know I will do it. This time it will be an especially fun challenge because it will hopefully be the last time I ever need to lose a big chunk of weight.So if I want to eat a cookie one of my students made me, I am eating the damn cookie.

I'm not gonna lie though..whenever I go to the doctors I feel like a prize pig being weighed in.

So I hope everyone out there who is reading this slept in much later than this on their Saturday morning. The great news is, it's a 3 day weekend! Wohooooooo

Vacation, Vacation, Vacaaaaation

Yes, 10 days off from work.
10 days home with my babies, part of which will be spent hanging with the sweetest niece and nephew ever (who are coming to stay with us for 5 days) and my brother and sister in-law.

There is nothing in this world as special as watching your kids experience the magic that is Christmas morning. I am so psyched.

Tomorrow will be spent cleaning and cooking and baking. Our Christmas plans are always the same. We go to church at 4pm, have my in laws over for dinner and dessert after church, have a birthday party and sing happy birthday to baby Jesus, watch a Christmas movie, read "twas the night before Christmas to the kids and get them in bed and then set up the magic for the morning. Christmas morning we wake up, wait for the kids, open presents, my in laws come over for an early breakfast (usually overnight french toast, bacon and fruit salad. We get dressed and head out to my mom's (a two hour drive). The kids open gifts there, we have snacks and then we head down the street to my grandmothers house, where our extended family gathers for a party/ dinner/ lots of love, laughter and fun. Then we all head back home, exhausted, full, usually with a car load of presents.

It is of course a lot for two days, but as you all know, totally worth it. It certainly helps that it is followed by 8 days off from work.

So as so many people are this time of year, I am excited.

Things have been good around here. I finally got over a cold that seemed like it would never leave.
I have gone to the gym three mornings this week. I have had some serious crotch pain issues. I swear this pregnancy is so much harder on my body. Everything is happening so early this time. It just helps to remember that this is the last time. The gym does help to get me going. I am planning to go tomorrow and then beat the crowds at the grocery store when it opens.

My eating has been less than stellar. I feel like there has just been food everywhere lately. I have gained about 13 lbs so far. I am hoping that since today is my half way point (20 weeks) that I will only gain 15 more, putting me at a 30 lb weight gain...which seems to be the norm for me. It is so hard when you are hungry and exhausted all the time. When I cook I am careful to keep it healthy and clean, but there have been a lot of pizzas lately. Having a week off to reset will help, because I usually love to cook but don't love doing it when I am so damn tired. I tell ya, having a full time job and taking care of two toddlers is painfully tiring when you are pregnant.

Anyhow, I will leave you with 20 week belly pictures. I know how big I am for 20 weeks. No, it is not twins...I call it "third child in 4.5 year syndrome" I was not even close to this big with the other two at 20 weeks...but baby bumps are always fun, even if people don't believe you when you day how far along you are.

Merry Christmas everyone!

My babies and when health backfires

I just have to brag about my kids here for a second. i just love them to pieces (as all mama's do) and I think they are just so great. Despite the infrequent melt-downs (like the one my son had at the fair last night) they are so sweet and kind. My son has such great manners and listens to others. He shares with other kids and I love that I can let him be when we are with other families and not worry that he is going to hurt someone or be unkind.

I think of them when I am at the gym or feeling lazy. I want them to live healthy, active lives and I know I need to lead by example. I make a TON of mistakes when it comes to parenting my babies. It is seriously freaking hard work. I get down on myself about it a lot...but all in all I have some pretty fabulous kids so I must be doing something right.

Here they are:

Sorry...I was just in the mood to brag about them.

Now onto my health backfiring.

 Last night we went to the County Fair. I am not going to lie, I LOVE me some fair food. I could seriously eat my face off at those things. I knew I needed to get some dinner and I tried my best to be good. I decided on a steak tip/ veggies and rice platter. Now this was probably hugely high in calories and fat. I know for sure the veggies were cooked in tons of oil. But I also knew I would be getting some nutritional value, as the plate did have a good balance of veggies and protein. I also knew it would fill me up so I didn't cave to all the sweet and fried treats.

Well on my third bite of the steak I coughed and sucked a huge piece of steak into my throat. My husband had to give me the Heimlich in front of a huge crowd  of people and some of our friends. I totally drooled on the table and everything. After a few seconds it came up. Holy scary! I should have just got the damn fried dough like I really wanted.

Happy to be alive today.

.

Babies do grow up...

Yup. It's true. Babies always grow up, and even though I do not love every second of the infant stage...it sure is sad when they grow up.

Ms. Charlie (Charlotte) will be 1 years old this week. I really can't believe it. There are just so many times when I say to myself...I cannot believe I have two kids!, let alone two kids, neither of who are babies.

It has been a crazy year. I had to go back to work 8 weeks after having her. My husband went from working 60 hour work weeks, to being a stay at home dad. We made some major lifestyle changes and had our struggles living on one income with one car. But we made it and I actually think we did a great job.

I feel pretty good about myself and am glad that I managed to make myself a priority without neglecting the needs of my kiddos.

I absolutely adore having a little girl. There is no doubt that the love between my son and I is special, but my Charlotte is my soulmate. She and I have a connection like no other. I love her equally to my son (obviously) but our love is different. She is a mini-me, while my son is my total opposite. I see Charlotte as a gentle soul. She is like a little butterfly and is so feminine and delicate. Of course I already worry about her. I don't want her to make my mistakes, or be the painfully shy child I was. I cannot even imagine watching her hurt, or knowing someday someone just may break her heart. My son is tough..he has been since the day he was born..Charlotte is not tough, but I hope that we will teach her to be strong.

It is hard not to channel your own insecurities onto your child, especially when they are the same gender as you. I will have to work on this. But for now I just know she has a great daddy to teach her how a man should treat her and a mommy who has a goal to be sure her kiddos will feel good about themselves and are allowed to get good at many different things so they have a place to draw confidence from.

I love you Ms. Charlotte. Please don't grow up too fast.