My new running toy

So my trainers and friends know me well enough to know I wear a heart rate monitor EVERY time I run.  Why? Because I have a crazy HR.  I finished one race this summer and my HR topped out at 205.  During that race I kept a conversation going the whole time.  My trainers have said it is because of my dance background where you go really hard for 5 minutes then stop.

After two plus years I have been able to reduce my HR where I can do a hard run and top out at 185 now.  I would love to see 180.  Ok, so the point..the point is THIS!  The All Sport Bra Heart Rate Monitor I am a huge Lululemon fan and I haven't seen one of these bras in years! I just got mine yesterday (I ordered it).  So here is my feedback. I had to size up which I am glad I did otherwise I wouldn't be able to breathe. I tried it on to see if it would link with my Polar FT60 and it did no problem.  They do say it should work with most Garmin and Polar items. Do you know what this means? No more having to wear a HR monitor and then a sports bra that rides up all over and makes you feel like you are in a vice grip.

I am really interested to see how a run in this goes. The run however, will have to wait. I was right yesterday in that I have ear infections again and another sinus infection.  10 more day of antibiotics to see if we can get rid of this. That means most of December was a horribly sick month, and I am not a fan of taking antibiotics that long. Yuck.

all sport bra heart rate monitor- source 

all sport bra heart rate monitor - source

The return of ick

I had great plans yesterday, which included running.  This however, didn't happen. Instead here I sit at 4am having been up tossing and turning all night sick again!

I have no idea what is going on but I think I will go to my real Dr. today versus Target clinic.  It's almost the same thing again with a fever, sore throat, and my ears are killing me. My $ is on ear infections. I swear I am the only adult who gets between 3-5 ear infections each winter. It doesn't help that I never sleep at night thanks to one of the kids always being sick these days.

Here is to hoping for quick answers today.  I haven't sick this often in years.

Back in the saddle

After being sick basically since September with a cold a few rounds of antibiotics finally kicked out the sinus infection, ear infections, and crazy cough. I felt good enough yesterday to hit the treadmill. I got in 4 miles. They weren't great miles but I feel like I am restarting now that I can breathe again.

My Christmas present was a new weight bench. That has been used quite a bit. Living in the MN tundra sometimes it's just to cold to go out. I basically have an entire gym in my basement that includes : treadmill, weight bench, bosu, spiri bands, exercise ball, 10-15-and 20lb weights, a medicine ball, and 2 kettle bells. Yup. Pretty sure I never need to leave. That being said I do enjoy have my trainers teach me new things.

As for Christmas. I love it, it's crazy, but when it's over I want my house back. I have already taken down the Christmas tree in our living room and put away all the decorations.

The kids were spoiled and it looks like their playroom is overflowing! It was a year of the bulky presents some of which included a cozy coupe, a play kitchen, a dollhouse, 2 roddy bouncy things, an art easel and many more gifts. Yikes. No new toys for a long time

Today? Really?

It has been a good Christmas but I won't post about it all from a phone my fingers will fall off. I will say the kids were spoiled, lots of food, and tons of family.

What I wasn't ready for was jail breakers. This means an earlier conversion to beds than I wanted I wanted two more months so I could finish my last class. Oh well.

The start of Christmas

So today was the first day of Christmas presents for the kids. Today's presents were courtesy of Aunt Libby.

We start by heading out with the kids to the Cheesecake Factory for Lunch. They did really good for the hour we were there. You could tell it was naptime at the end.

We got home and it was hilarious!! Auntie did t even get on the door before Sara started shouting presents. They made out like bandits. A cozy coupe, a playhouse they can color on, Charlie Brown books, and food for her dolly.

Now is the hard part sharing the car.

My BFF is awesome and got me a BIC band. I have now ordered a few more these are the best headbands. They don't slip, leave your hair with the wierd bump, or give you a headache. Love them.

Tomorrow is the start of another day of presents.

TGIF

And it appears both kids are on the mend and can go to school today! It has been a long few weeks. I have needed to make a target run but with everyone being so sick I haven't hit target in well over a week. Good thing I get 5 gallons of milk every time I go.

Buddies was just up so we had our cuddles. It was so cute. As we were rocking he reached up and just laid his little hand on my cheek. My kids know just how to melt my heart. I have been looking slightly awful being sick (still am too ugh) and all day yesterday out of the blue Sara says " mommy you look pretty". Just a reminder that no matter how I look I am their mommy and they love unconditionally. After the school shootings we have had a lot of extra cuddles both from me and from the kids. It's like they can sense it. Then again, we have always cuddled.

Today it's time to buy all the food to make the appetizers for Christmas. It is going to be a fun one now that the kids love to open presents. I think the cutest thing is Sara has to hug the Christmas tree everyday.

Oh the sadness!

Well somehow even on antibiotics Sara has been running a 104 fever which means no school. I know last month I took danyal out of school while Sara was sleeping. Today was the first time they watched their sibling stay in another place. ZOMG!!! Sara didn't want to leave her danyal at school. Keep in mind preschool is 3 hours long. She cried for danyal for TWO hours! Lets just say its been a long week. Ok a long two month if everyone being sick.

I am really ready for everyone to be healthy now. School is my only free time now so just a few hours a week and now they are off for two weeks.

It seems time is flying by. Sara officially drinks out of a cup now and I am thinking big kid beds around March 1. Both are trying the potty training. It makes me realize how quickly they grow up.

To save my own sanity I think I will be using FaceTime a lot more. The kids totally put on a show. Hilarious.

On a fun note we listen to music all the time and sing. I couldn't be more proud that danya loves "Wonderwall" by Oasis. Next on to "talk show host" by Radiohead!

Holy sickness batman!

Well Sara made a trip to the Dr. today as did I. We both have ear infections, I have a sinus infection too (after having a cold for 2 months). I was worried that Sara's cold was turning into bronchitis or rsv. I did not expect to hear her ear was so full he was worried about it rupturing. She has only had a few nights awake, no fever , and had been eating like a champ. At least she has antibiotics as do I. The husband is also sick with the same thing.

Ugh if we feel this bad with 102 fevers I can't imagine how my baby felt with a 106 fever. Even the dr. Thought it was funny. 106 fever no meds for Sara. No fever seems fine minus a cough, antibiotics and almost a ruptured ear drum. She doesn't get that from me. Ear infections and I don't get along and it usually involves a lot of pain. I was a pain when I was a kid and was sick with them. If her ear drum had ruptured I would feel awful!!

Now off to bed with an electric blanket.

Ps. The last pic she was chewing on her hands and put them on the wall. Ewww Lysol time.

Sleepless but we saw Santa!

Well. The kids were up from 12-4. Ugh teething! It never ends.

That being said it took my mom 2 1/2 hours to make a 45 minute drive. All so she could come to the kids christmas concert. They did amazing!! These two were dancing, clapping, singing, and signing. I am so proud of them. And yes. Blankie did make a stage appearance.

We went to see the mall Santa and I figured Sara would freak out. I was wrong. It took a bit for her to warm up but she did. What suprised me was danyal refused to leave Santa!! So cute oh to believe in Santa.
Ok maybe I still do a little.

Would you like that now or later?

I know kids have a year where they are always sick. This looks to be our year. There has been about a healthy 3 days since November started. After their fevers we have now moved on to coughs that keep me up all night. Danyal won't fall asleep with it and Sara is up all night coughing. I know it's a cold as it is only really bad when they lay down.

And now Dino's was just up again with a fever. This could be a long year.

This meant that I missed a workout yesterday due to a sick girl. I hope I don't have to cancel to much. Ugh.

Snow day

At least it was fresh snow. All they wanted to do was eat it.

Early wake up call

I am not sure if it is growing pains or teeth (plus a stuffy nose) but Danyal has been getting up at 3 am for the last week. I have to say though nights like tonight just melt my heart. We were rocking and he feel asleep and I just couldn't put him down. He is very much a toddler as he never falls asleep if I rock him. About 5 minutes later he snored and woke himself up, thank you Mr. Sniffly cold.

Flashback

This picture took me back to the late 80's early 90's! Oh the hairspray!

Take 3?

Ok so I have tried to post two other times and both disappeared and didn't save.

I talked to people in my school program and it appears the last class I have to take is taught by a new professor. Not good! I guess they finished in October and still don't have grades for anything. Profs have 10 days to get grades in. I can already tell this may be a frustrating class.

On the workout side I did a 4 mile run Sunday which was rough having to stop and cough every few minutes. I have been battling this lingering throat and sinus stuff for 2 months. Yesterday was a Steele day and it felt lovely.

As for races I have a virtual 10k in Jan. a virtual half marathon in Feb and a 7 k in March. Soon it will be time to sign up for the color run again!

On the fun side the kids will have their first ever school Christmas concert next week! I cannot wait.

Done & 13 in 2013 Challenge

Well it's official.  I presented my Thesis last night and it went great! I couldn't be happier with how everything turned out.

It was a big day, I finally got the basement cleaned, got rid of the junk that has piled up since the sale of our last house and now I feel I can relax a little.

I have decided to do the 13 in 2013.  The goal is to run 13 races in 2013. I am going for varying distances as I am trying to increase my race distances. Last year I managed 8-5K's and 1-10K in my first year of running.  I would love to try and get one or two half marathons, three to five 10K's, and the rest 5K's for fun.  It should be interesting.  Thank you Marathon Mom.

Finding Routine

I think this is the hardest thing I struggle with as it seems to be always changing, due to school, the kids, sleeping, when the kids are sick, a whole host of things. 

Now that I have finished my thesis and will be presenting it I feel like I can finally start to work out again. So far this week I have had 2 training appointments and I forgot how good I feel afterwards.  2 months of no personal training was enough to break the routine I had built.  I am really focusing in December on getting in 2 training appointments a week with 2 runs a week.  I feel just blah.  

To help get the motivation going I am starting to set up and look at races for 2013.  I am hoping to do more of a variety this year 5K, 7K, 10K and a few half marathons in the year.  

Here is to hoping to a relaxing December and getting back to a routine.

1 to go

So tonight I finished my class a week early. How you may ask? Well I had offered to show how a PechaKucha presentation was done (the prof asked) and did my final presentation a week early. Plus I turned in all my papers last week. I think this is because I have a lot less free time and actually have to schedule homework in. I have I prioritize everything. Otherwise Sara wants to type my paper for me.

To make tonight even better I hit the SUBMIT button on my thesis!! Now all I have to do is present/defend it next week. I already have my presentation done. Hopefully now I can breath a bit. One class to go and I am done!

It's been a long few weeks

The last few weeks have gone by all to quickly.  The kids were sick for about a week and a half and decided to share it with me. Ugh, I am still sick and not enjoying it.  A few highlights are

• Sara decided to use the potty chair by herself!
• My thesis is pretty much done minus fixing the reference page
• I had the kids first school conferences (they said Danyal is chatty, that is a given!)
• I finally have managed a few runs and they were tough

That pretty much sums it up if you count not sleeping for a few weeks. 

Still sick

Once I sleep someday I will post more. Until then when your sister is sick how do you comfort her? Sit on her of course!

2 sick kids

Makes for long days and nights. But lots of cuddles. Here is to hoping for some sleep!

Children's

Thank heavens for a good kids hospital. The long and the short is Dino's has had a fever for over a week and nothing else is wrong with him. This won us a trip to children's for a massive blood draw. It was awful to say the least. I just want him Better ASAP.

It was odd having one kid today. It was much easier to navigate parking lots And car seats. But oh how they missed each other. The first thing they did was hug. So cute!!

I just put little man to bed with a fever. Here is to hoping it starts to improve because I don't want to hear the word blood culture again!!

Yes, that is an Elmo photo drop in at the hospital.

Task master

So I am the annoying student who works ahead. This is really to my advantage. Why you may ask? I think I just finished my thesis 3 weeks early!!! I have really been writing in every spare minute and I am glad. I really don't want to be stressed out around the holidays. I will probably have to fix a few grammatical errors etc. if that is all though. I can finally breathe a little.

In addition, I am also 4 papers ahead in my other class. This means one last paper to write. Wow.

I think what made me want to finish as fast as possible is one day after writing Danyal came up to me an said "I missed you mommy". It killed me. Needless to say there was a lot of book cuddling and a little later bedtime.

Today I wrote for 6 hours and then went out for a much much overdue run. It didn't feel great bit it was worth it.

I knew the time would come

When the season of fall/all winter sickness would begin. Both kids have had stuffy and runny noses for a month. I knew that was from the flu mist.

Last night a cute little boy woke up hysterical! A fever of 104. I glad we made it to November before the first fever. Now when they get sick they are always 3 days apart. Not this time. 2 hours later Sara was up. 104 fever. Really?! Needless to say it made for a long night.

The day got long when Sara thought a 1 hour nap was good enough, and danyal, forget that napping stuff.

It is really 7:20 with the time change and you know what. I am going to bed. It has been a long day with some grumpy bears but as always plenty of hilarious moments.

That was interesting

I have no idea what happen today except the transformer for our house and 9 others blew 8 times!!! We had no power from 12:45pm until 7:30pm. My worst nightmare was I wouldn't get rid of all of our candy.

Oh how wrong I was. 1 hour, $130 worth of candy 100+ trick or treaters.... All gone! We finally had to shut off the lights at 8.

The kids just went up our street and had a blast. Sara insisted on wearing Danyal's dragon from last year. Danyal wanted to wear Sara's owl for this year. Oh we'll they were cute.

Until next year. Oh Halloween you are my favorite holiday!

Rain or Shine?

So I have noticed something.  I tend to work on my thesis only on days when the sun isn't out.  It isn't planned that way at all.  I have certain times set aside ahead of time (aka when I have quiet time thanks to grandma or the kids are at school).  This means a total of about 12 hours a week is all I have devoted to this as I am still taking another class also.

It seems to work really well so far.  I am about 5 pages shy of being done with the main content of my thesis.  After that on to the references and proper formatting.  OMG my formatting is awful right now! I am not concerned with how it is formatted yet I just need to get everything down on paper and then the final changes can be made.  That will still be a two week process however.

I know I have been in this program forever due to taking 2 years off due to bedrest, infant twins, and my mom's cancer, but I am happy to be near the end.  I will start my final class in January I found out and will be done before the end of February.  I have no urge to go back to school. I think having kids changed that for me.  I would rather play with them and teach them colors, math, and reading (Dino's can already identify all the letters of the alphabet) than go for my Ph.D.  It was a thought.  Maybe when they are 5. Then again, then I am sure they will be into sports and life will be just as hectic.  For now I just want to finish and move the kids onto potty training and big kid beds.  This will mean no sleep for me, but hey, I won't have any papers to write!

Fall cuteness.

We got our fall pictures back. So cute!!

I feel like today was super productive. I am on about page 20 of my thesis so I am getting there and it's a nice feeling. I have a lot more writing and reading to do but that is fine. I love my topic and it really interests me so it doesn't seem like so much of a chore.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow was supposed to be paper writing day, instead it's take my uncle to the dr. day. That's ok as I am burned out on writing after today and need to recoup for a day.