New Weight Loss Plan!!

I lost two pounds yesterday. No joke--two whole pounds--aka 5,000 calories!!!!
How did I do it?
Well, I got a crazy raging case of strep throat that the doctor said showed up in about half a nanosecond after they ran the test. Then, seeing the incredible pain that I was in, the doctor prescribed me this nifty, little pill called Vicodin also known as: the weight loss solution!
So, I discovered that if you take one of these Vicodin, at first you feel awesome--seriously no pain at all. You might even run around cleaning your house because you have cooking group scheduled there the next day. However, after about 10 minutes, everything will start to spin a little bit and your head will feel a bit like it's filled with helium. Shortly after that you will vomit every little thing you've consumed---perhaps ever.
Don't take my word for it though, get your own case of incredibly terrible strep throat and enjoy your own magical weight loss experience.

Tum-ta-Tum-Tum-TUUUUUMMMS!

So, I'm feeling a little silly right now. This morning I woke-up with a nasty taste in my mouth. No, not the typical morning breath as you're probably guessing although that's probably partly true too.

I came downstairs and got the kids some food and then decided that it would probably help to eat to get that taste out of my mouth. Only, it didn't help. That yogurt did nothing. So, I figured that perhaps maybe something like Twizzlers would do the trick? Don't give me the health food talk here, I'm pregnant and trying to get a nasty taste to go away.

Twizzlers, didn't do it either. I went for a handful of almonds--see, I don't always choose junk food as the answer. Nope, no luck with those either. I figured maybe it'd go away on its own if I was just patient.

For lunch, I had leftovers of the orzo pasta I made for dinner last night with some strawberry milk to drink figuring perhaps one of those two tastes would work for me.

No, no, no. Still there.

So, I don't know why I didn't think of this before; it happened with my last two pregnancies--it's heartburn! I just realized that's what that nasty taste is and why I can't get it to go away. I get incredibly bad heartburn when I'm pregnant because there is just no room in there for my stomach to do its thing properly with a baby jumping and kicking and pushing it around.

The first time I ever experienced heartburn I was pregnant with Ryanna and since heartburn and I had no history, I just thought I had reached yet another miserable pregnancy milestone--the inability to sleep without feeling a burning sensation in the back of my throat. I went to my OB and described my symptoms and he said, "That's heartburn." Oh, so I don't have to live this way? No, I didn't.

Tums were my best friends and favorite (read sarcasm here) treat. I honestly started to feel a bit like I imagine a drug addict feels. At first one or two were doing the trick, but shortly I needed 5-7 each go. I would honestly just grab the bottle, put it to my mouth and pour. Ryanna came out okay as far as we can tell.

Fast forward a few years to Owen--a much bigger baby. The heartburn started again. I bought Tums, but this time they did absolutely nothing. One night it was so bad that I slept for only a couple of hours and then made a mad dash to Wal-Mart at 6 in the morning to buy a bottle of Pepto Bismol. This was after having eaten ice cream and yogurt and drinking several glasses of milk. I told my OB that I thought I might have to give up food for the remainder of the pregnancy and he gave me Prilosec. Ahhh, blessed Prilosec, I almost named my first son after you.

So, here I am with baby number three on its way in a couple of months. How did I not recognize these symptoms? How did I go through this entire day not recognizing the nastiness of heartburn? Must be that pregnancy forgetful brain thing that everyone talks about. Good thing I see the doctor next week, I don't think there's any Prilosec in the house! And, I may just have figured out the name for our next child...

Where I've Been and Other Exciting News You Always Wanted to Hear

So, I don't usually like to use my blog as a journaling tool as much as a my thoughts on random items tool, but I know that so many of you have been wondering where I am and why I've been silent and well, if any authorities have come to take my children away like that "annonymous" poster said would be such a good idea.

Where: I've been in Utah the last week and a half. My grandma was sweet enough to fly down to Phoenix to drive with me and the kids to Utah. Her help and the double DVD player that Melissa loaned me saved my life. Wait! I feel a song coming on "You are the Wind Beneath My Wings....Oh! The wind beneath my wings."

Why: Women's Conference was May 1-2 at BYU. It was amazing. We were able to first hear from Sheri Dew who is one of the most motivational speakers for women that I've ever heard. Seriously, if you can't feel inspired after hearing her speak, you may need to check your pulse. Once again, there is much credit due here. Thursday, my cousin Kelli watched my kids along with her own, so that I could attend. Friday, my sister in law Sabina watched my kids with hers so that I could attend again. Let's see, another appropriate song..."We are family! I've got all my sisters with me. We are family! Get up everybody and sing!" (Actually, neither woman is directly my sister, but they are my family and their help allowed me to have a wonderful two days.)

So, if Women's Conference was only two days where have I been?

Well, I decided it would be a lot of fun to let Sabina take care of me and my kids while we got sick at her house. On Tuesday (I think that's when it started) Ryanna woke up in the middle of the night and threw up all night. I stayed up with her and helped to rinse the throw up bowl and try to offer comfort. Owen did his usual trick of this trip and woke up at 5:30 Arizona time allowing me just about 4 hours of sleep for the entire night. Sabina was kind enough to let me sleep for several more hours the next day. Ryanna continued to throw up for the remainder of the next day.

On Thursday I felt really sick and my head hurt all day, so once again, Sabina let me get some additional rest in the afternoon. Ryanna was restored to full health and ran around and played with her cousins.

On Friday, my grandma flew back out to SLC and drove back with us to Kanab, Utah where we spent the night and I felt like throwing up all night. I never did throw up and I managed to watch the end of the Jazz win over the Lakers. I see they won again today--way to go.

Saturday, we woke up early and started the drive the rest of the way to Phoenix. Owen pooped all the way up his back and down to his toes. None of this was noticed until my grandma had pressed him firmly and lovingly to her chest and coated herself in poo. I waited in the car while she changed him and herself. We made it to Phoenix where I dropped my grandma off at the airport, so she could fly back to Colorado and I drove home, took a bath and slept for two hours while Derek played with the kids and brought me random items of food I tried to eat.

Today, my energy level is slightly better than it was earlier today, but typing is about as much strenuous energy as I can exert. I did go to sacrament because I wanted to see Ryanna sing a Mother's Day song for me (she rocked!) and noticed that I had developed a weird rash on my arms. The woman sitting next to me said it's some flu virus going around and that her grand daughter had it earlier this week. Did I mention Owen is sick?

A few side notes:

1. Yesterday, nothing, absolutely nothing except for peppermint lifesavers sounded good, so that's what I ate from early morning until I got home and had a Jamba Juice. Oh water, that was the only other item that sounded good. Peppermint and water--who knew? I can also highly recommend Butter Rum Lifesavers. They will refresh you and allow you to stay temple worthy.



2. If you do have to be sick at someone's home, it's really good to be sick at Sabina's house because she is miserable during most of her pregnancies, so she'll offer you a lot of sympathy and let you get the sleep you need.



3. Women's Conference was completely motivational and the speakers reminded all of us that as mothers the only and best place for us to be is in the home with our children.



4. The Museum of Art at BYU is awesome and it was incredibly refreshing to study art again in some small measure like I was able to do in Spain.



5. Kelli is an incredible cook and her raviolis in browned butter sauce were absolutely delicious (so was the garlic bread) and then on fast Sunday, while she was fasting, she made us fruit smoothies (please post the recipe Kell!), ham and pancakes. If I lived with this woman I would weigh close to 300 pounds.

Okay, that's about it. Please let Owen's sickness pass soon...

A Whole Lot of Nothin'

I usually begin my days in a very structured way. Namely, I wake-up and groan at how early my boy insists on greeting the day--the time ranges from 5:40 to 6:30 a.m. Then, I quickly remind myself that this is my life. It's not going to change and I can only change my attitude, so I jump out of bed with a smile on my face and greet the day. Okay, you caught me, I don't shift gears that quickly, but I do get out of bed with resolve and get on my exercise outfit (no, it's not a matching ensemble with cute bows) and haul him downstairs with me.

After locating something with nutritional value, I put him in his chair to eat a small portion (he doesn't like a large breakfast, he said it makes him feel groggy during the day and hey, could I argue with that?). I put on the tape/DVD and get a large glass of ice water. Yes, it has to have ice in it. I don't like water that isn't chilled--call me a snob. "What tape/DVD do you do that manages to keep you looking so trim and toned?" you are dying to know... Well, it's a random assortment based on my tolerance for pushing myself that particular day. If I'm feeling really tough it's David Kirsch's video that has--I'm not kidding or exaggerating--50 push-ups worked into it. Go read the reviews on amazon.com, it'll kick your booty. If I'm not feeling that tough, I may do a Tae Bo or The Firm or another step tape that I really love. For those who are truly interested, I'll let you know if you want some ideas (not all Tae Bo videos are created equal let me tell you).

After the exercise has ended (I've had to stop the tape and remove Owen at some point from his chair), I usually drink a little bit more and let my body cool down a bit by doing the dishes or a general clean up session of the kitchen. I now also have to clean up the bunny do-dos and feed him a bit as well. Following that, I head to a shower, then hair and make-up. This is all performed by me, not a team of stylists. Although I have wished for that before. Following the Audrey production, I throw my kids in my tub--not their tub--my tub. They prefer my tub because it's bigger and I don't mind of course. I get them dressed and do Ryanna's hair and have her make her bed and brush her teeth. We then usually head downstairs to do a 30 minute violin practice session. After that, it's whatever needs to be done for the day.

Why am I telling you the tedious details that seems to take up so much of my morning? Well, it's because today was so very different. Today, was not a typical get up, get going day for me. My day began at 3:45 a.m. and again at 6:45 a.m. I woke up the first time because I had to go to the bathroom and then my mind started going. My husband thinks I'm crazy, but this is a big problem with me. It's not usually to-do's either that run through my mind. It's thoughts like, "I wonder why so and so hasn't emailed me in a while?" or "Really, how could I be a better parent...what could I change, how am I going to start in a few hours to reach those goals?" Other such thoughts that do have merit, but are best left to be pondered in the daylight hours. Once I get going though, it's hard to stop as it was today. I was awake, tormented with my thoughts and feeling sick to my stomach (that's literal) and didn't fall back asleep until 6:00 a.m. At which time my husband got up and I fell asleep until 6:45 a.m. when Owen greeted the day. I was actually thrilled he'd let me sleep in a bit.

Feeling sick, still, I got up and carried him downstairs where I fed him and then let him watch the new pbs channel that is composed of all their children's programs all day--have you seen this? I read a bit of the new book I'm reading and generally felt yucky all day.

My house looked like trash, my body felt like trash and my mothering today bordered on nanny with serious neglect issues. I am not a TV mom. I allow one hour a day. Seriously, one hour, sometimes two if there's a very good reason. Today? Uh, let's not go into details here. Suffice it to say that my daughter loved today because of all the TV.

Did I mention I'm still wearing the pjs I went to bed in last night? Gross. Real, but gross.

Tomorrow? Tomorrow holds so much promise--another day of TV is what my daughter would hope for I'm certain. For me, it holds the hope of my usual routine. I am a creature of habit.