Overdue Hodge Podge Post

Oh my.

It has been so long that I am not even sure where to begin.

Let's just see what randomly comes out of my brain as I word vomit a bit...

• Emily slept 12 hours straight last night!  Yet, the 3 year old was up multiple times, and finally decided to start her day at 4:15 where I laid her on the couch downstairs and turned on Disney Jr to make sure she did not wake her sister and I climbed back into bed. 
• The 3 year old also randomly threw up last night in the kitchen, then proceeded to ask for something to eat.  It was very strange... She is known for hiding her illnesses, but she did not complain of anything and did not do it again.  If you asked her she will say she just "spit up a bit like Emily." ... Maybe that is why she did not sleep last night? 
• Emily has her top 2 teeth coming in... as in any minute now they should break thru the skin.  They are almost gross to look out.  They are definitely lowered past her gum line, you can see them lowered, but they are still covered in a very thin layer of skin,  gum, something! 
• This Saturday the kiddos are going to their grandparents house to stay the night!  Emily will be 9 months next week and this is only the 2nd time we will have a completely free night I believe!! We do not have any plans as of yet, but I would like to just sit in quietness and sleep for 10 hours. 
• We have had our handyman over to give us a quote on tiling the backsplash in the kitchen and master bath next month!  I am so excited to get it done... now we just need to decide on what exactly we want! Its a BIG decision since its something we will have to live with for YEARS! Its not like we can easily take it down and re-do it. It gives me anxiety just thinking about it! 
• I also am currently convincing my father n law to help me put up Board and Batten after seeing the tutorial on Young House Love today! I am so excited!!! 
• Sherwin Williams is having one of their big 30% off sales this weekend.... I think I might try to paint something! ... half bath, loft, our bedroom..... I AM buying some paint! 
• I have a 6 week window before I get my FA results back and major studying for C beings... I have to get all of my projects done NOW!  Send the caffeine I have a lot to do! 
• We are in the midst of tax season. I am doing better than originally thought surviving with the 2 kids.  This past week Brian has eaten dinner at work each night.  It is nice that I do not have to cook a real dinner and dirty dishes (I eat something random, Leah is in a really picky stage right now that she usually eats mac & cheese, lunchable, just fruit, or cereal) which is nice, but I really miss having him home and eating together.  Emily is usually asleep by 7 so Brian never sees her which breaks my heart too. 7 more weeks... 
• My eating lately has gotten a little crazy... definitely splurging a bit more than usual.  I have been craving Fritos which is weird!  I am trying to get back on track... 
• A couple of weeks ago when we took the girls to the Magic House I accidentally parked in the wrong parking lot.  It was just me with Leah and Emily in the stroller and ONLY stairs to get up to the entrance. I decided I was Wonder Woman and could handle it all... I sent Leah up the stairs and told her to stand at the top and wait for me.  I then carried Emily IN the stroller, with the diaper bag, up the flight of stairs.  2 men  asked me if I needed help as I made my way up carrying them and I told them "Nope, I got it!" ... And I did!  I was freaking proud of myself... and then a random lady said "That must be why you are so skinny"!  It all made my day! I might add I was also in a sweater dress, tights, and boots! 

• Lately I have realized that I am VERY goal driven.  If I do not have something specific in mind, I can be mighty lazy.  Once this half marathon thing is over, yes I hope to still run... my friend I ran with the other day that does marathons and such suggested just keeping a long run every other weekend to keep my endurance up. So glad I have my running group to keep me accountable there ... but with the opening of our new rec center later this year, and an ability to go to an actual gym, and classes, and have friends in the area that will be going to this gym too, I really want to work on lowering my percent of body fat.  I have no idea right now what it is... I am guessing not fabulous .... but I want to maybe make my next goal to be to lower it by 5% or something like that. I will figure out the details after the half.  If I think about it too much right now I will begin on that journey and really overwhelm myself. 
• We are getting SUPER excited for Easter in our household... since having kids I realized it is definitely the most fun holiday.  Spring fever, egg hunts, the candy... awesome I say! ... and this year Leah knows all about it and asks daily if its Easter yet! CAN NOT WAIT! 
• I have also been prepping Leah for our beach trip!  Last time we went she was about 20 months old and terrified of the sand.  We spent a majority of the time in the pool, which I wont complain about, but I wanted to sit on the beach and relax a bit.  Right now Leah plays in the sand box at school so I am hoping she will be fine with the stuff... and we have been looking at pictures from our last trip and talking all about the things you can do at the beach.  She is READY... I think!  Emily will be about 11 months and I think our main problem will just be making sure she does not eat the sand.... I cant wait! I am already dreaming about my early morning runs I can go on.   So excited! 

And I think that about catches you all  up with the happenings in the Gilmore household and thoughts in my head... 

Body After Baby: Half Marathon Training Week #6

This week's training lost out to working on my final assessment.

Day 1 - 5 miles

I hit the treadmill for a little de-stressing before beginning my assessment... 

The treadmill really is boring lately so I did alot of changing up my speeds and the incline.  I would do intervals of running at 7:30 to then 9:15 in 2 minute intervals, some walking at an incline of 8, running at inclines of 3 and 5... I was all over the place.   I think I was sweating more than when I just run a steady 5 miles. 

Day 2 - Off

Success at that!

Day 3 - 4 miles at half marathon speed. 

Skipped...

Day 4 - 5 miles

Skipped again...

Day 5 - 5 miles

By this time I was EAGER to get a run in again!  After turning in my FA Friday afternoon I hit the treadmill.  It felt good, but my legs were sore!   It was weird since I had not done anything for 3 days.... I guess it was sore from my muscles getting lazy sitting in a chair for 96 hours and then suddenly having to move again.

I did half mile intervals at different speeds and inclines...

Day 6 - 6 miles

Skipped again.... It was just nice to not get up and run first thing on a Saturday morning or to rush the girls out of the house to somewhere so I could go run.  I thought I would run in the afternoon, but the day just got away from me... Oh well.

Day 7 - 10 miles

Done!  10:04 pace. 

I had my running friend Heather, who is an experienced marathon runner & triathlete run it with me. We ran around our town and it was HILLY! .... but we talked the whole time, and it was just a super EASY 10 miles.  I definitely feel like I could have easily kept going the 3.1 more to make it a half. 

I definitely am not scared of the half distance wise.... I just want a good time! 

This next week I am really hoping to do better at getting my runs in!  

I hate that I slacked so much this past week.

Weekly Roundup: 8 of 52

This week....

Has not been nice to me.

I am beyond glad it is over.

Monday 2/18:

Heading into work on a Monday is never fun... 

Today was the day I would be downloading my Final Assessment.  I had to have a designated FSA with me when I downloaded it so the office it was... 

The FA is a 96 hour case study pretty much. A situation, some spreadsheets, and scenarios that you have to write about. Its alot of work to get done in a short period of time. 

To make sure I got off to a good start on it, my mom picked the girls up from daycare for me while I headed to Bread Co to eat  to get to work.   

This would be the beginning of what is know as my "study diet"

Tuesday 2/19:

I tried to start the day off right with a fresh veggie omelet.   It was yummy.... but soon my stress level begin to sore and I ate EVERYTHING in the house as well. 

Wednesday 2/20:

I vowed to eat better today... and I did awesome until 3 pm when a new round of stress set in.

The weather forecast was calling for a snow storm and wintery mix... I knew it was forecased  but I kept thinking it would be wrong and be just a dusting... Wednesday the St. Louis area was pretty much preparing for the town to shut down.  I knew the girls would probably be home with me Thursday and maybe even Brian.

And then daycare emailed me letting me know that they think Emily had pink eye... and FYI.. she is not allowed back tomorrow.

My last full day to work on my assessment and I would have atleast 1 kid at home with me!  The stress majorly set in.... I grabbed the Fritos!  I was beginning to freak. 

I relaxed a little bit that evening with the girls... They are beginning to interact more and more.  Leah also tested out our new Crayola bath beads that turn the water fun colors.... pretty cool! 

Once Em went to bed Brian took over with Leah and I got back to work on my assessment.  I some how was able to knock out alot and remained with only 1 task left.  I figured sometime on Thursday I would have the opportunity to do it, and Friday would be spent editing before turning it in. 

I was beginning to feel better with my +800 lb self. 

Thursday 2/21:

Leah was ready for the snow! (Snow = boots)  She some how is letting me do her hair lately!! Braided pigtails are my favorite on her.... could she look at cuter!?

She went to daycare for a bit while I took Em to the doctor. Yep, Pink Eye... and an icky virus.... plus top 2 teeth trying their hardest to break thru. 

In the 15 minutes we were in the office, the snow began to fall and cover the streets.  I was a little nervous to head back to our house because I knew it would have been getting snow for a bit longer than at the doctors office and if it was covering that fast there, Eureka would be even worse.  Plus there is a HUGE hill, on the highway, that we have to get past before getting home, that I have heard nightmares about during bad weather... 

I was pretty right about the roads getting bad quick.... this was the the top of the huge hill... I was going about 20 miles per hour... I took the picture to send to Brian as a FYI, get your butt home before it gets any worst message. At this point it was starting to ice instead of snow too. 

He tried to put off coming home for a bit, by within a half hour later he was leaving work.  I am so glad he did since a few ours later, the intersection and highway near his office was completely shut down with people stuck for 3 hrs! 

Although I was stressing a bit from not working on my FA, I absolutely LOVED having my family home while the snow fell outside.  We were all in our jammies.  We watched way too many old movies on Netflix... The girls refused naps... Leah and I made brownies.... which I proceeded to eat 95% of by the next day! 

And I made a yummy home made dinner of pulled pork, fresh green beans, and mashed red potatoes.  It was a cozy day, with comfort food. 

Once Emily went down it was back to work on the FA.... 1 task left....

Some other exciting things were happening this day on the other side of the country....

My brother and his wife found out they are having a GIRL!!  They texted this picture to me... I absolutely LOVE this picture so much!!! I do not think they could look any more excited for the news of their growing family!! I know how awesome of a time it is right now for them and I am so happy to get to see them experiencing it! They will be fabulous parents and I cannot wait to meet my new little niece! 

Friday 2/22:

After a little sleep, Friday morning came fast.  Daycare was not opening until 9 because of the weather so the girls and I had a lazy morning.

Once they were dropped off, it was back to the finishing the FA...

Editing, reading, small changes.... all 17 pages of it!

And into the office I went to turn it back in under the supervision of a FSA.

Once it was turned in I had the afternoon free!   I got in a good workout, you know to try and loose these extra 800 lbs I added from my horrible diet all week, and then did a little solo shopping.

Picked up the girls and hit up the grocery store for a few items.... These two are the greatest things in the world!  They absolutely LOVED sitting next to each other in the cart! ... however, the only car that allows for that at the store is the cart with the car in the front... obviously no one is in the car right now.... so heavy and hard to move, but I guess worth they joy sitting together! 

Saturday 2/23

We burnt off a little steam by picking up my mom, heading to breakfast, and then the mall to do a little retail therapy.  It was super sunny out and Leah requested my glasses bc we could not find hers.  Her pale blue eyes are definitely a bit more sensitive to the sun! 

That night I spotted a new alopeica spot..... My body does not handle stress well at all and I was seeing the week's events play out on my body...

Sunday 2/24

I headed out my for morning run....

When I walked in the house I couldnt really seen. I thought maybe it was just too bright outside with the sun & snow and my eyes were having to hard time adjusting inside...

But soon I realized there was really a blurred streak thru my vision... a sign of a migraine coming on fast.

Stress was hitting my body again!

Luckily Brian's parents just got back from a 2 week vacation and they were on their way over to pick up the girls for a visit... perfect timing!!

Migraines for me begin with the vision problems, Excedrin must be taken (with caffeine)  so I can see... then the headache hits a bit, with extreme nauseousness.  I just had finished running and had not eaten so there was nothing in my stomach to come up... then I need to PASS OUT!  Sleeping off the bad part of a migraine  is the only way for me!  Usually the meds do not really work because I end up throwing them all back up... the pain usually just knocks me out for a bit.  I did take some heavy duty pain killers and a NyQuil (to counter act the Excedrin's caffeine) and my drug induced coma did the trick...

I woke up a few hours later with only a light headache... much more work able.

I cleaned up the house, did some laundry, headed to Target, and got the girls.

I have been wanting a piece of furniture to go in the mud room for a while... I saw the Target ad and they had these shelves on sale for 40 dollars.... I think it works perfectly! I think Brian even approves of it! 

So atleast the week ended on that happy note... 

This week was pretty miserable... .

The Universe tried to knock me down a few times... 

I am just so glad its over... 

this week will be better! 

A Leah Tantrum

Body After Baby: Half Marathon Training Week 5

Day 1 - 6 miles

I only did 4.78. ... In my usual 9:30ish pace.

Day 2 - 4 miles @ Half marathon pace. 

I planned on doing this on the treadmill before boot camp class but the trainer emailed me telling me that a group of people were running the stairs and wanted to know if I would like to join them.  My company has a team that does the Fight for Air Race where they run up 40 flights of stairs to raise money for Lung Cancer.  I had thought about doing it.... until I went and practiced with them.  Running up stairs is no joke!!  My first time up I made it up the 10 flights in 1:48.  By the 4th floor I could no longer run and I had to quickly walk up the rest.  I was so out of breath... The second round I made it in 1:40 because I tried to pace myself a little better.... still by that 4th floor I was done.  The group does it daily... I will be back to do it some more as I know its a great workout... but OMG it is pure torture!

Day 3 - Off

I did 5.75 miles @ 9:46 pace on my hilly route... It was too nice out to not get out there.

Day 4 - 5 miles

Again it was super nice out, but I was not feeling a run... But I knew I would feel better (I had a breakfast of candy... it was Valentines Day) if I just did something so I got our there for 2.48 miles.  The first 2 miles I ran at 8:30 pace and then walked home.

Day 5 - 8 miles @ Marathon pace

I finally took a rest day...

Day 6 - 10 miles

I did my first double digit run in 22 degree weather with a windchill in the teens!

I was SO freaking cold when I got home!

I have to admit something though...

I ran 3 miles to meet my running group. I kept a 9:30 pace. I stopped and stood for probably 5 minutes before getting going again.

Then we ran 4.25 miles together... around a 10:30 pace because we were chatty. Another 5 minute break to chat...

Then I ran a little over 3 miles back home, taking the hilly route. (I stopped and walked once I hit the 10 mile mark)

The first hill I had to walk a bit....

But I finally made it home.

I feel like I cheated a little since I had a few breaks in there... does that count?

I definitely do not plan to take those breaks during the half!

This Saturday I hope to do it all again, and hopefully with no breaks!

Day 7 - 4 miles

I had the Fun Flirty & Fabulous 5 miler on the calendar...

I thought for sure I would be super slow with my 10 mile run the day before.

But I wasnt feeling too sore...

The weather was perfectly chilly & sunny...

And I somehow pulled off a 8:25 pace and a time of 42:03!

I am definitely competitive...

Running along others makes me just keep going!

The last mile was pretty much all up hill...

But I some how pulled off a 8:05 mile!

Uphill people!

I was also really hungry and knew there was food at the end.

I also earned 4th place in my age group... here's proof. And I was 24th overall out of 144 or something like that. 

My 10 mile run at a 10 minute pace made me think there was no way I could reach my goal of the half in 2 hours.... 

But that 5 miler gave me some hope... 

We will just have to see what happens! 

7 more weeks! 

Weekly Roundup: 7 of 52

Monday: 2/11

Last week's "Pass" on my Interim Assessment meant I was able to sign up for my Final Assessment to take next week.  The price tag is stressful enough! Thank goodness work pays! ... Monday at 4:30pm I begin my 96 hour assessment, finishing Friday @ 4:30pm.  .... Yep, the freaking out is beginning... 

Tuesday 2/12:

Leah has a new love for the spare bedroom bed... Some night she starts off the night there and moves to her room, or starts in her room, and moves to the spare bed....There is alot of bed jumping going on.  Its always a surprise to find her in the morning and gives me a mini heart attack when I look into her room to get her up and she is not there... 

Wednesday 2/13

I tried the pinterest - mashed banana, oatmeal & chocolate chip cookies... they smelled awesome... looked kind of good... but BLAH!  I am not that much of a banana & chocolate fan. 

Work from home attire.... running clothes on first thing in the morning to make sure I go... 

Thursday 2/14:

I was able to attend Leah's Valentine's Party at school.... her and her friends are so cute.   They passed out valentines, but it was very unorganized.... I think Leah gave all of her valentines to the same 3 kids. 

This is Leah's bff Logan.  He lives a street over, I love his mom, and he has a baby sister that will be in the same grade as Emily. ..... also, my baby girl really is a giant! 

My other little Valentine. ....Since I picked up the girls early I headed to visit my parents & sister who was home from school for V-day with her boyfriend.   Leah got to see Aunt J's boyfriend bring her flowers and Papa bring home flowers to Grandma.  Leah kept asking where her flowers were.... 

Brian just bought me a little thing of candy & a card for the holiday.  I gave him a card as well.  We never really do anything for Valentines day... 

Friday 2/15:

Daddy brought Leah home flowers!  ... She was so excited. 

Saturday 2/16:

Me and the girls met up with my sister n law & niece Jenna for lunch. 

And then we headed to the Magic House.... (St. Louis Children's Museum) 

Leah LOVED it...She caught a "fish" here and was so proud! 

She loved playing Ice Cream man.... she is paying me to get ice cream from her. 

The girls had a great time.  Mom & Aunt Tara were a little stressed though.  The place was a zoo... the girls wanted to run every which way in different directions.  It was so hard to chase after them, with the stroller in the crowds... I kept thinking I was going to lose Leah.  

Leah is very into her dress up clothes right now.... Today it was Snow White. 

We headed to dinner for my dad's 60th birthday.  Leah kept kissing my cheek and Emily thought it was the funniest thing EVER! .... and yes, she has a giant loaf of bread in her hand. 

Sunday 2/17:

Started off the morning with my monthly organized run with Ms. Melanie & Ms. Holly.  5 mile Fun, Flirty & Fabulous run at Forest Park. 

After... on our running high. 

These 2 look way prettier after running 5 miles than I do! Sheesh. 

Emily's first Eureka Mardi Gras Dog Parade.  She did awesome. 

Leah pretty much just wanted to dance in front of the band... it was a fabulous afternoon out in the cool sun! 

Their Relationship

Emily will be one tough little girl....

Or very dependent on her sister.