Random Bits

It may be cold and snowy outside, but that isn't stopping Spring from coming to my house.

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Thank you ALL for your fabulous comments about my inches lost.  I am really happy about it too.  So, here is my secret, are you ready?  Exercise.  Regular exercise.  I know, I wish it was easier too.  I found something I really enjoy can tolerate doing at the gym several times a week and I do it.  I have been cycling 2-3 times a week for the last month and a half and have recently added in a weight lifting and body shaping class.  That's it.  I am trying to eat better and I am sure that if I actually did, the weight would come off a lot faster.  But I have this sweet tooth and so little self control when it comes to chocolate.

Anyway, that's it.  I just have been exercising and that is it.  I will do pictures again in July, that will be every 3 months.  It will be fun to see what has happened by then.

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It is day 3 of Spring Break around these parts and we have had snow, snow, and more snow.  Lovely huh?  It is actually supposed to warm up today and hopefully melt the snow.  Even though it will kill the snowman the children and I made yesterday, we will all be okay with that.

We are all ready for sunshine, bike rides, park days, and digging in the dirt.  But until then, they are happy to play with each other (most of the time) and I am content taking their pictures.

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It's 7:30 pm and I am itching to leave.  I want to bolt out the door.  It feels strange to still be here, in this place, in my home.

I rock Libby to sleep.  Something typically saved for Daddy, but tonight it was my turn so I sit and sing to her, rock her, love her.  I soak in the sweetness of my baby that really isn't a baby anymore.  And she is asleep.  I carefully lay her down only to have her wake right back up.  At that moment, Jeremy comes in and trades with me.  At this point she won't go back to sleep for me without nursing.  We all know this.  He rescues me.

I head out to the living room and find the other two ready to read.  I haven't done this in so long, I've missed it.  I've missed smelling their smells while they sit on my lap, long limbs tangled up, them trying to be as small as they can.  I've missed the sounds of their laughter at funny parts of the books, feeling their bodies relax into mine, and talking with them about what we read and their days.  While we do this, Jeremy does dishes and cleans the kitchen.  He rescues me.

All the children are sleeping peacefully and I just can't sit still.  I decide it's time to sweep and mop my kitchen, dining room and living room.  I move the furniture and Jeremy laughs and says, "Wow, you were serious!"  I clean, he cleans, we work together.  Sometimes talking, sometimes in the comfortable silence that comes with time, experience and love.

We finish cleaning and head downstairs to watch LOST.  I tell him that my head is about to explode and if they don't start giving some answers I am going to LOSE IT.  He laughs at me.  We snuggle, drink our chocolate banana shakes, and just enjoy being together.

We haven't had a night like this in at least a month.  I have been gone every night.  I have been working hard, trying to make changes.  I have been going to the gym and attending to my church responsibilities.  I am struggling to find a balance.  Being home only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights just isn't enough.  It isn't enough time to spend with my family, the people that motivate me.  

Every night when I escape the madhouse that is my house, he rescues me.  He comes to my aid, supports me, loves me.  He encourages me to leave, to be healthy, to be strong.  He does this even though he really wants me here.  He wants to hang out with me.  He doesn't enjoy doing bedtime duty by himself every night.  He doesn't like the quiet of the house, the lonliness that comes when I am gone.

It is a sacrifice for both of us.  While we search for the balance, he keeps picking up my slack and rescues me time and time again. And for that, and a million other reasons, I know I am the luckiest.

Best Laid Plans...

I had such grand plans for this week.  Yoga on Monday, Spinning on Wednesday, Zumba on Thursday, weight training everyday.  Big plans.  With the return of the light to my soul, I am ready to get my body fit and smokin'.

6:00 pm came and I was headed out the door.  Going to the gym to work out on the elliptical for 30 minutes and then to yoga.

I hopped down the porch stairs, happy to be free of the 3 children I love so much.  So excited for this small break to work on me.

Then it happened.  My right foot went down and immediately started slipping.  My first thought was, I am NOT going to fall.  Then BOOM! I fell.  I fell with my left knee at an angle to the side and I fell right on that knee.

I was in my front yard, so I yelled for Jeremy.  Luckily he was in the kitchen and could hear me.  He came out, in his socks, holding a baby, and realized that I was hurt.  Quickly he came down the steps and helped me inside.

I was then confined to the couch for the night.  Pillows propping up my knee, ice making me even colder than I already was, and children wanting to be sure Mama was alright.

For those who don't know, my husband works for a company that develops medical devices.  He is an engineer there, so he knows a bit about orthopaedics.  He drew on his skills and helped to figure out what he thought was wrong, sprained MCL -- his unofficial diagnosis.

Tuesday morning we decided I should go to the doctor.  So off we went to see a knee specialist in town.  The official diagnosis, Sprained MCL with a bone bruise.  What does that mean?  I sprained my knee and am now the proud owner of this new accessory.

Pretty hot right?  Yeah, I get to wear this bad boy for the next 4 weeks.  Plus I get to go to Physical Therapy and let them move my knee a lot and make me cry.  Yay Me!

On the upside, it has given me lots of time to do this

And this

Looking for the bright side.  Hopefully I will have a pair of socks done by the time my knee is healed!!