divaquest

Dr. Diva

I was right -  I have bronchitis... and am continuously breaking out into puffy, irregular shaped red hives, which is what sent me to the Urgent Care Clinic Sunday morning.

I got my $50 worth out of that office visit.  Benadryl injection, Steriod injection & breathing treatment.  Prescrips for inhaler, cough pills, and antibiotics.  Cough is better but the hives keep coming back and I am living off benadryl.  If I miss a dose, hello hives.  It's really fucking ANNOYING.

Pregnancy changed me I tell ya.  I had a reaction to an injection in the hospital when Amber was born, and now hives.  I've never had issues like this.  I could drink acid and not have any reaction, until now.

Smokers Cough

Ever since I went to the gym last Tuesday and did cardio - I've been hacking.  Hard.  I have a very hard, productive cough that is hurting my upper chest - for almost a week.  I got into coughing fits, I've almost puked.  The cough reminds me of hearing my heavy smoking uncle's wet, disgusting cough.  I've diagnosed myself with Bronchitis.  I've never had this before.  If I am still coughing tomorrow, which I am sure I will be, I am going to the doctor for some super-duper suicidal cough medicine.

I haven't done cardio this week because of the cough.  I'm reading that Bronchitis can last 3 weeks, even more - so Damn It.  I can't afford to go backwards with my fat loss and progress.  I'm thinking I'll do the medicine ball workouts and some weights, maybe not heavy weight - but I'm hoping that as long as I don't get winded, I can continue working out without hacking up a lung.  Other than the cough, I feel ok - but I hate decongestants, they make me sleepy during the day or not able to sleep at night. 

I am down 2 more lbs.

Another Milestone

Amber is crawling - very, very slowly, but she's got the motion down.  Knee hand, knee hand - at least I think that's how it works.

Savanna crawled at 6-1/2 months, Amber crawled at 7 months 2 days.

Milestone Reached

Well.... I can fit into my summer pants, granted - I'd like them to be looser, but they fit and are wearable.  The really weird thing is that my hips are the same size, it's my belly that grew - which is no surprise having had 2 kids I guess, and I've lost all my muscle tone.  Sooo.... I'm hoping when I do get my muscle tone back, I will actually be smaller than I was before kids because I am WAY more active.  I didn't realize how lazy I was.  Now, I don't have time to be lazy.

I haven't gotten back on the gym scale this week, but as of last week, I am down 6 lbs.  It's the body fat % that is kicking my ass - or should I say, sticking to my ass.

Hubby is playing poker, and BOTH GIRLS ARE ASLEEP - it is only 8:00 p.m.!  I am alone and free at the moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!  See - miracles do happen.

I discovered the medicine ball.  Yes - I know it's been around, but "I" just discovered it and I am very excited.  It came upon happenstance.  My mother-in-law told me she used the ball to get rid of her itty bitty love handles.  I saw the ball, grabbed it and tried the, um, swinging side thingies - ok, not swinging, but controlled motion side chop thingies... while doing this I noticed that my arms were getting very tired - and then it hit me!!!!!!!!!!  My revelation was that I can work multiple body parts using this ball, which means I can work more in less time, and my time is short.  So I am searching for good medicine ball workouts on the internets.  It'll add a little variety to the gym.  I am also taking walks at work - I call them "smoke breaks".  I figure if a smoker takes 5, 5 minute breaks a day - I can walk for 25 minutes.

I think the double dose of  Children's Nyquil that I took is taking affect.   

God and Gag

When your 2 year old comes up and says "Mommy, poo poo" - do not simply assume and ask "yes - did the baby poo poo" without investigating the situation.  If you continue doing your hair and putting your make-up on, you may walk into your bedroom to find poop spread across the floor from the 2 year old pooping and walking through it. all. over. the. room. Then you have to hear the husband yell "God!" and gag. This is the God and gag situation.

Also, if she says "poo poo" at the time you place her on the training potty but nothing happens - push the issue because she may really need to poo poo.

Oh, and also... do not let the 2 year old run around naked thinking that the 2 year old will NEVER. EVER. poop in the floor because you think she knows better because on numerous occassions she has actually pee'd and poop'd in the training potty.

Anyone got a carpet shampoo'r that I can borrow?

Jello Smello

I love the South Beach chicken/walnut/cranberry salad packet thingie, although I really need to eat 2 of them.  But give me a break with the jello.  SERIOUSLY?

Jello is ridiculous.  What IS the point of JELLO?  I even hate the texture - or can you even call it texture?  Jello confuses me and it should be removed from the earth.

Bisous, this is for you

I was reading Bisous this morning to check in on her kiddo and I saw that she, too, is in a revolving time-crunch for cooking - and trying to figure out healthy options feels like a mess, or maybe it's meal planning that becomes difficult.  I don't know - maybe I'm not really a good multi-tasker because I just can't figure it all out with 2 kids so much... I digress.  So, Bisous - have you seen Uncle Ben's Ready Rice?  They have several great whole grain options, you nuke them and they are ready in 90 seconds.   They taste GREAT.  I love them.  It's the best thing since.... um, sliced whole wheat bread?

I have them everywhere, well - that would be at work in my desk drawer and at home.  For lunch I'm trying to have those Chicken of the Sea smoked salmon packets, grilled chicken or a Bumblebee lemon & cracked pepper tuna packet with a brown rice option and the single serving steamed veggies.  I have to choke down the Bumblebee salmon, so I like the Chicken of the Sea brand MUCH better.

As far as getting organized goes, hubby and I are trying to figure out ways to help us help ourselves.  The first thing is a food calendar for 3 weeks, which means every day of the week is dedicated to something specific.  Like Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues = cook/left-overs or find your own food.  Wed, Thurs, Fri - are pickup/delivery options.  I've searched the internets for delivery services that deliver real food from good restaurants so that we can have healthier food options with less homecooking/clean up.  We are also using disposable utensils and plates.  We spend SO much time cleaning bottles, cooking and constantly cleaning the kitchen.  Next thing is maybe taking clothes to a discount cleaners, and getting help with the yard.  Also, I have a list of nightly to-do's to prepare for the next morning - clothes picked out for all of us, bottles made, diaper bag ready.  Seriously, pre-planning helps so much, and I've got to have lists because my memory is GONE.

Eck.

Does this sound enjoyable to you?  It doesn't to me.

Meal 1

Egg Beaters made with 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese
2 Thermo DynamX® capsules
1 serving of Betagen®

Meal 2

1/2 serving of Myoplex® Carb Sense® Ready-to-Drink

Meal 3

1 wheat tortilla with turkey, mustard, lettuce and red hot pepper relish
1 Thermo DynamX® capsule

Meal 4

1 Myoplex® Lite bar

Meal 5

Chicken breast with A1 sauce
Brown rice lemon
Steamed broccoli

Meal 6

Non-fat peach yogurt
1 serving of Whey Protein

I've got to have more interesting things to eat, there has to be a good combination of eating tasty, satisfying food AND losing fat.  I've lost 5 lbs.  It should be more like 8.  My clothes fit a bit better, but man, I've got a battle of the flab on my hands in my stomach area from 2 kids.  This is a challenge for me, I've NEVER had that before.  My arms are flabby, my arms have always been a challenge, so it's even worse now.  Almost depressing, but I can do something about this.  It is difficult.  I am always feeling tired and rushed for time.  Right now, I feel a little under the weather.  Mexico is creeping up on me, as is summer-time and days at the neighborhood pool .  I want to be a hot mom.  Time is wasting away.  No one ever said looking good was easy... for most of the world, especially in your mid-30's.  So easy to get caught up in the why-not's and excuses, but actually doing something about it makes you feel so good.

I bought a pedometer, it's a small motivator to get me up out of my office chair, walking to other offices rather than using inner-office mail.  Small things like that.  Another lady at work bought one, so frequently throughout the day we'll say "whatchu got?" comparing our steps.  It's fun.

My time at the gym is pretty rushed, but I'm getting there.  I'm eating better, but certainly not as clean as I should.  It took me 2 years and 2 pregnancies to get this flab, it will not take that long to get it gone, but it will take awhile with my lifestyle and kid/work/housework/cooking time challenges.  We've developed a plan to help alleviate all the time we spend on dishes and cooking, which means ordering in and picking up more food, but I'm planning ahead with healthier food options.  Last night I got a veggie burger from Fudruckers instead of all beef, and it was really good!  I skipped fries.  I think better choices in the long run will pay off.

No, Really

"No, really.  I didn' t knock her over, and I am not feeding her rocks, and she didn't really eat one."

Oh... if daddy sees that rock come out in the poop, I am in trouble.

Ah, Life

You know... becoming a parent brings many challenges, and wonderful events.  I don't know if many people experience this, but my husband and I are mostly room-mates at this point, room-mates who disagree frequently.  All I can say is I hope we figure it out because my energy is leaking out, which is probably part of the problem.  He is a wonderful daddy though.  I've heard other people experience these issues, and when you add 2 "little" high maintenance ones, I imagine it makes it even more difficult, and probably somewhat normal, but very challenging none-the-less.  Men do not understand whining toddlers.  At. All.  You can send them articles about toddlers, you can tell them what the experts say and how to deal with it - and it won't matter.  Anyhoo.

My girls are growing too fast! Savanna loves pushing her baby sister in the baby doll stroller, but I'm not sure Amber enjoys it.  They both love the wagon rides. Amber is working on crawling, and Savanna LOVES purses and "boons".