Every day is a blessing, make it count

Friday, June 18, 2010

"we did it"

After 4 months of training, race day is officially here.

I am so proud of myself. As a mom, wife, full time worker, I have managed to train (okay cram), 5 runs a week, and I feel fabulous. My goal for the ½ marathon (21 km or 13.1 miles) is 2 hours; however I truly believe I’m a “winner” for just keeping up with the training schedule, and running in the race.

I have shed close to 10 inches, and kept off 12 pounds, and I have no doubt I have gained muscle. I am 29 years old, and feel the best I have felt in years.

My family and friends have been very supportive, and I am very thankful :) I hope they will continue to be supportive as I plan to keep up with the running.

A “Cheers” goes out to my BFF Jill, who has trained using the same program, and is running in the race as well.

Another “Cheers” goes out to my WPG BFF Cheryl, who has worked her ass off, juggling twins, a 5 year old son, a job, and a wonderful hubby, who is also running in the ½ marathon (And who will likely kick my ass in the race).

“We did it”.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

The simple things in life....

The simple things in life……

I had the best weekend that I have had in a really long time. Friday afternoon I took
off and spent with my husband. We went for a motorcycle ride, a walk, then picked up our one and only. After we got Chloe we drove out to Rivers, and picked up a play structure (which she loved). Since we were running late we decided to go for Chinese....it was mouth watering delicious. Chloe ate more than I did, ha ha! She has her daddy’s appetite. She sat like a “big girl”, was neat and tidy while eating, said her manners, and I got goose bumps while everyone smiled and commented how cute she was; I was so proud.

Saturday was a full day. Got up, had breakfast, and then I was off for my 13 km run, while Chloe and Paul had some one on one time. When I got home, Paul went and helped my brother, and Chloe and I had a tea party (which are the best). I took Baba out while Chloe napped, then came home and we were outside playing until 7:30 pm (Chloe was beat). Chloe went to bed, and Paul and I worked our butts off together in the yard. It was nice, no television, no music, no phones, no texts, just some nice one on one time….much needed. We then fell into bed exhausted.

Sunday, Pauly worked days, so it was mommy and chloe day. We went for a family breakfast, followed by shopping. When we got home, Chloe decided to fight me for a nap….so as a change I let her sleep in a “big girl bed” instead of her crib. She thought and knew that was soooo special. I held her hand until she fell as asleep, her eyes would flutter so softly, and when she saw the slightest glance of me, she smiled. Melted my heart. I held her hand, and felt so damn lucky that she was mine. She’s healthy, smart, beautiful, and I love everything about her. She’s my BFF for life. When she got up, I brought her to my bed to read some books; she cuddled right in, looked up and said “I love you mama”.

Sunday evening my brother and sister inlaw brought their kiddies, whom are staying with us for the week. Jayden, who is 9, and Josh who is 2.5, are amazing. They’re great kids, and Chloe loves them to pieces. It will be a busy week, but a great week.

Hope you have a great week too :)

Monday, April 5, 2010

do we gamble?

Roll of the dice…..

When Paul and I got together, we had all of the pre-wedding discussions, kids, money, house, dreams, etc. One thing we settled on was to have 2 kids after we got married. Luckily our little miss muffet came immediately after we were married, no problems getting pregnant, ha ha! However after realizing how much “work” being a mom actually is (don’t get me wrong, I love being a mom), I thought I had changed my mind on just having one child. Paul on the other hand, still really, really wants 2 kids.

The last 4 years Paul has been on call, working a ton of overtime, and working a very unpredictable schedule, which I think has a lot to do with my mind set of one child only. Since I work mon-fri, it’s me doing the daycare drop off’s and pick up’s, every day, which can be up 30-40 times a month. And since I am done work at 4:00, it’s me being at home with chase and Chloe alone, until Paul get’s home, when he is working. Once again, don’t get me wrong I love doing this, but not alone, you know??? I am working full time, and loving it, I love earning my own money, and I also love that Chloe goes to day care…maybe not 5 days a week, but now that Paul is working a different schedule, Chloe will only have to go 3-4 times a week. I also take pride in keeping a clean and tidy home, playing and teaching Chloe, cooking, and let’s not forget the 100 pound lab (my first child), that Chloe and I walk daily. Our mon-fri schedule goes something like this. I get up at 6:30, shower, get ready for work. I wake up Chloe at 7:00, get her ready and we leave the house by 7:10, so I can have her at day care by 7:15, so that I can get to work by 7:30. I then work 8 hours, until 4:00. Immediately after work I pick up Chloe from day care, then we head home to change and walk or run Chase. By 5:30 we’re done our fresh air walk/run, and we come home to play/make supper. Then we tidy up after supper, clean up the toys, and get ready for a bath. After bath we have books, a cup of milk, give Chase a treat, and my little girl is in bed by 7:30. As you can see, this tight schedule (which I love) barely leaves time for a pee! Oh yeah, repeat this 5 times a week. Now, I can’t even in vision myself juggling this schedule with 2 kids….

But on the other note, Paul’s new schedule of 4 on, 4 off, will allow him to help and hang out with us much more. It will also allow him to stay home with Chloe here and there during the week, which will take a load off me from all of the drop off’s, pick up’s, and getting ready for day care, not to mention me not having to wake up Chloe in the morning.

And on a side note, Paul is nothing but a fantastic husband, and loving father…it’s just his schedule that drives me nuts (but this is not his fault, and we knew it would be like this for our life together).

And on another note, if we were to have another child (relatively soon), I would have a full year off with Chloe, and “baby”, this time frame would come in handy since Chloe will then be able to attend pre-school and play groups, and I’d be available to take her (for those of you who don’t have kids, the nursery school and pre-school classes have weird times like 9:00 – 11:30, or 1:00-3:00, which would be difficult to juggle if your working). Also, having a baby relatively soon, would also get us away from having to pay for 2 full time spots at day care (approx 800 a month). After my mat leave, Chloe would be in kindergarten, so we would just have the new baby in daycare and have to find something for Chloe on the odd half day here and there (we have lots of help with family and friends, so I am not to concerned with this).

And on another note, Paul, Chloe and I are very healthy. We are financially stable, and have the life most would dream of. We’re happy. I’m worried if we “shoot” for another baby, would we be pressing our luck? What would happen if there was something wrong with the baby? How will Chloe handle it? Can Paul and I work together and make a family of 4 as successful as our family of 3? I love Chloe and Paul with all my heart, do I have any more love to give?

OR since we’re so happy, healthy and have successfully “mastered” (so far, ha ha) our marriage, balancing our lives, and parenting, do we have another one?

But what if we have twins? (NO COMMENT)!

And more on the “cons”, I hated breast feeding, which I did for 10 weeks, I don’t really feel like gaining 25 pounds, I also don’t feel like puking for 3 months straight, and let’s not forget pushing a watermelon through a hole the size of a peanut!!!! But these are all things I may now be willing to conquer again…..i can’t believe I/we’re thinking about this.

Your thoughts, comments? Do we gamble and go for one more baby and have the “perfect” family of 4; or do we consider ourselves lucky and stick with the “perfect” family of 3that we are.

Ugh.

Monday, March 22, 2010

"running" into my 3rd week

“running” into my 3rd week….

Well…I have to say, I’m quite proud of myself…in the last 3 weeks of my running schedule (which is 5 days a week, plus now 2 days a week for boot camp), I have missed 1 run, which I made up on my “off” day….not to shabby for working full time, having a little one at home, and a hubby.

It’s funny, since I’ve been exercising, my eating habits and lack of alcohol have sure shaped up too. Why run and work out hard, and then eat junk…..(Paul is missing the junk though…poor him). I think he’s beyond proud of me too, for keeping up with the schedule. On Sunday, I literally ran across the city of Brandon….one point for me :)

On another note…dancing with the stars starts tonight….can’t wait (pathetic I know). Kate Gosselin, Pam Anderson, “The Bachelor”….perfect evening! Ha ha! Thank goodness Paul has hockey!

And on another note…my aunt continues to battle. She’ll be heading into WPG every day this week for radiation treatments. What a fighter. What kills me, is that she is now experiencing pain…It’s so hard to watch and hear someone you love with all your heart, be in pain all the time; and what’s worse, is there is nothing you can do. Be positive….I keep thinking there are those miracle stories, and I’m hoping she’ll be one.

Well, stay tuned :)

Thursday, March 11, 2010

day 5, of week one

i'm proud to say, i haven't missed a run yet....which is a good thing, because it's only been 5 days of our 16 week running program! today's run is a 6km or 4 mile, steady run. I'm actually looking forward to it. One of my runs this week I was able to take Chase and Chloe, and well enjoyed it, I'm hoping today will be as successful as that run.

tomorrow is our "day off" from running, and we are back at'er on Sat and Sun, which is fine by me. I believe Celebrity Apprentice starts on Sunday, and Desperate Housewives will be on too, which will keep my feet moving, and my mind occupied!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

kids these days....

we've been very lucky with having several babysitters to watch our little one....however we want to do dinner and a hockey game on saturday, and all 5 of our regular sitters are "tied up" with, I guess, better things to do :(

so we're training up a new girl....it may be just me, but when you get used to a couple of regular girls, with your little girl, I tend to tense up at the thought of getting someone "new".....

ah well, I guess they got to start some where.....and maybe I'll invest in a "nanny cam"....kidding, maybe.....ha ha! with chloe talking as much as she is, i think i have to worry way less.

i guess the more baby sitters we can get used to the better, I hate asking family and my parents to help out, they have a life to (although they usually offer, which is very nice, I hate to ask)....

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

This morning I woke up contemplating building a house again, and selling our place….I set out the pros and cons, and pondered all day long. After a busy day at work, and thinking about the unlimited options, I tackled and enjoyed a 5 km run with Chloe and Chase, and it felt wonderful.

I had a great play with Chloe, made supper with Paul, and pretty much considered this day done…and then just when you think you can pack it in for the night, a bomb is dropped.

It sounds to me like my aunt, only 52 years old, who has been fighting f-ing cancer for the last 4 years is running out of options and time. Although every day has been a blessing since her first being diagnosed (and considered terminal), I’m hoping for a miracle, an absolute miracle. I’m exhausted and drained about hearing of the doctor updates, treatments, options, scans, chemo, the list is endless; I can only imagine how she is feeling; never mind the damage that the chemo has done already, why her, seriously, why her?

Tonight is one of the first nights I’ve actually taken my thoughts to what it would be like with out her. Monday night Bingo would never be the same, “Geiler Girl” nights would be missing their leading lady, and I can’t even fathom the idea of Christmas. Her laughter, her jokes, and her smiling eyes would be missed by everyone, I repeat everyone. Everyone that has ever met her, can’t say a bad thing about her, she is just that like-able. She finally had a chance to check her e-mails the other day, and she had responded to my pictures of Chloe that I had sent, within her e-mail after telling me how adorable my little girl is, she writes “I’m so happy and lucky you’re my niece”. I have read the e-mail a dozen times, and I still get goose bumps.

Cross your fingers…..and send good luck.

Monday, March 8, 2010

week one of sixteen

Well….look out marathon here I come. I’m attempting to knock something off of my “bucket list”, something that I really use to enjoy; running. On Sunday June 20th (Father’s Day), my BFF and I are going to attempt the Manitoba half Marathon.

Week one, started on March 7th, which called for a long, slow run (run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute). March 7th was a perfect start date; my husband and I got to spend the weekend in WPG with good friends, and I could consume beer without feeling guilty, ha ha.

Also on March 7th were the Oscars….all 3.5 hours of it, perfect time to run and critize the best and worst dressed (Best dressed goes to Demi Moore & Sandra Bullock by far).

I am pleasantly surprised on how the run went. I actually completed it, with no problem, and probably could have gone faster….but hey, just the fact that I enjoyed it and completed it, is a step in the right direction.