10 years later

I just finished watching The Birdcage for the first time. My friend Lisa (my former professor) showed it during the final class during one of my college courses. She was kind enough to excuse me from class to go home and study for my GRE. Since that day, despite many recommendations, I had never felt compelled to watch it until today. It was funny, but I guess if you are not a Robin Williams fan, it's hard to love it. Sorry, Lisa.

So much for going to the gym. Fred took the kids to a local fest and I simply felt like doing nothing. It was probably more beneficial to me, too.

Tonight I'm grateful for: my friendship with my true best friend Lisa, which has spanned 13 years now

TGIF

For a few more minutes it is quiet in the house. The 4th grader will soon come bouncing in with tales of the day, which will in turn wake up the 3-yr-old, who will need to go potty and "need" help. The former will stir the toddler who will then want to ride on my hip through the rest of the evening. What they don't know, though, is that we're leaving. I've been very presumptious in my workout log (to the left) in regard to what I plan to accomplish at the gym this evening. If Fred is there also, then he can listen for a page to the child care to change a diaper or kiss a scraped knee. I think I'll even take my own car, so that I can escape to Archiver's afterward. It's August 31st, so that coupon expires today. Who doesn't get the free cardstock, right?

The kid is home- here we go. . .

Today I'm grateful for: the fact that my 4th grader still talks to me about his day

Trusting Bob

I'm putting my faith in Bob, whom I hardly even know. He's the musclehead at the gym who conducted my MAP test yesterday. After putting a humiliating neon green mask on my head, making me breathe through the tube for what felt like an hour and raising the incline to 14 on the treadmill, he sat me down to "educate" me. Some of his information sank in, some went over my head. I tried to listen carefully, but thoughts like "Gee, he's a big guy" and "look at the size of his hands" and "he kind of reminds me of Fred's friend Brett" kept running through my head. Then he started using phrases like "long, rythmic strokes" and "breathing hard" and "push it hard," and I had a hard time concentrating. Of course, he's not my type, but it was way too hard not to laugh. The end result of the session was a 11-week program, specifically based upon my results, which should help train my body to burn more fat and work out more efficiently. Today I started my training. I used my new heart rate monitor watch/band to keep my HR between 115 and 125 as I walked on our treadmill for 120 minutes. Yep- 2 hours straight!!!

It's my birthday. I'm 33 today. . . and I stayed on that treadmill for 2 hours. (Minus the two times I jogged over to the bathroom and the time I jogged over to help Freddie wipe after he pooped.) I'm going to bookstore and Archivers by myself tonight, and then meeting Reagan for an appetizer and a drink at TGIFridays. I think Fred's feelings may have been hurt that I wanted to escape alone for awhile, but he understands.

I cannot believe that I stayed on that treadmill for 2 whole hours. I have to do the same thing everyday for 9 more days. Then I start phase 2 for 3 weeks; then I go on to phase 3 for 6 weeks. I am very committed to this process. Sure, I could pop some pills and lose some weight, but I know it will just come back. Bob says that by training in this way I can teach my body to burn many times more fat during a workout. I guess I have to trust him.

Today I am grateful for: a strong body and my new pal, Bob

Girls are Different?

Macy is running a fever now, too. Great. I'll get to spend another day home tomorrow with sick kids. Poor things...

She just woke up and cried a bit. As I was stroking her hair and watching her fall back asleep, I just wanted to cry. She's so beautiful, perfect, sweet- and she's a girl. I never want to be away from her. Why is that? I never felt that way with Quin or Freddie at this age, at least not that I can remember. Is it because she's a girl? Is it because she's the last one I plan on having? Is it because since birth I've had to shield her from the many causes of allergic reactions? I'm so attached to her, and so protective of her. I don't care to even leave the house for very long without her. It baffles me. I'd rather sleep next to her in her twin bed than sleep in my own bed- and I usually do!

I tell her I love her 20 times or more a day. Of course, I love the boys, but it's different with Macy.

Tonight I feel grateful for: a daughter and her unselfish, ever-giving father who works hours that I wouldn't even consider so that I don't have to be away from any of the kids

The Purpose

Why would I start this, when it already seems like I don't have any free time? I'm not sure. I managed to fit the gym into my schedule 5 times a week, so maybe I'll make this a priority, too. I enjoy reading Lisa's, so I'm stealing her idea.

I wonder if anyone else remembers when Oprah did a few shows with Sara Ban Breathnach, the author of Simple Abundance and Something More. I hardly ever catch Oprah's show, but the day I saw her talk with Sara, it was like a light bulb went on in my head. Around that time (1998?) was when Oprah began her "gratitude journal." I'm thinking that one purpose of my blog will be to keep my own gratitude journal. So, in addition to journaling, which is something I've always found beneficial for me, I'm going to include the people and things I'm grateful for having in my life.

Freddie's running a fever today, so my arms are full even as I'm typing. It's a good thing preschool doesn't start until next week.

Today I'm grateful for: two strong arms to hold my kids when they're sick