Month 2 of Fit and Healthy Mommy

So month 2 of my Fit and Healthy Mommy Journey. So far it has been slightly slow. I have been recuperating from oral surgery, having Zechariah a little over a month ago, adjusting to two children, returning to the swing of things at church and returning to work. I'm hoping that month 2 will yield me more results now that I seem to have a system down.

Above are two photos. A frontal view and a side view. As you can see, it is not that bad. I would really like to tone and firm some areas up. So, here goes my initial stats (ekkkk, can NOT believe that I am admitting to these stats, oh gosh....) 149lbs (in my defense I had full tatas. At weight in it was nearing time for me to pump or feed Zech. lol. Hey now, it's my story and I'm sticking to it.) And my body fat was 16%, which is not good, but it's not bad. So Monday I will sit down with my trainer and devise goals, and a plan to get me to goal and maintain goal. Thursday night however is Zumba again! He wants me to start with two cardio workouts a week, to help build back up my endurance. I am SOOOOO OUT OF SHAPE, that it is not even funny.

Tonight I did Body Attack, and OMG, I thought I was going to die! It's SUCH an intense workout. It's almost a cross of Zumba and Taboo. SOOOOOO intense. I'm already feeling it in my arms and legs. Feel the burn baby, feel the burn. lol. Other than my heart pounding and screaming while trying to escape my chest, it was a good work out. It actually felt great!

I did however, accomplish a lot of other things on the list towards becoming a better fit and healthy mommy this last month. I saw  my OB/GYN for my 6 week PP check up this last Friday, all went well. Everything went well there. Well, mostly well. There is still only 1 lingering issue to deal with. My BP was still higher than normal. =( It was 132/93 which isn't "that" high, but definitely higher than my "normal". My normal before my pregnancy with Zechariah was 98/67, so you can see why it's still some what concerning. So she knew I had my appointment the following Monday with my family practitioner, so she sent my records to her office, and would go with my family practitioners recommendations.

On Monday I saw my family practitioner. Outside of the normal check up, only a few concerns. One of course being my bp. It was 130/90 on Monday, so slightly lower, but still higher than "normal". She ordered me a daily bp monitoring kit. She wants me to monitor my BP every day for a month. Record it, and every Friday bring it into her office. I'm to check and record my bp 3 times a day. Which when she checked my heart it sounded enlarged to her, however, she feels like it is due to my high blood pressure. So that's why she wants me to monitor it for a month, and she will re check my heart at that point. If there is no change she is going to send me to the same heart doctor that Scott was referred to.

My in office thyroid test came back slightly low. So she is sending me to have a full blood panel done for my thyroids. Doesn't surprise me. =( Thyroid and heart issues, along with blood pressure and diabetes run in my family. Hopefully it is not something substantially wrong, and just a fleeting moment or faulty test. So we shall see.

I also had my check up from the oral surgeon from my oral surgery. Everything is healing perfectly fine! So thank you for all of the prayers and good vibes for a speedy fast, and un eventful recovery. Seems to be that I am recovering just fine.

I also checked my spirital well being this month as well. In adition to dedicating Zechariah to the LORD, I also took a huge step forward with our womens ministries and asked for help, guidence, and prayer. I guess since I'm being open with my church family and with my very close friends, might as well be frank with the rest of the world.

I LOVE working. Not only is it an additional income that helps sustain a living for my husband and our family. I LOVE having the freedom and independence of working. I love being able to socialize at work. I have worked my entire teenage and adult life. So for me not to work, it doesn't feel natural. However, lately I've been hearing God giving me a "new calling". One that I'm not totally prepared for. One that I'm not sure I can do or fill as well as co-provider.

I have this deep desire, and want to suddenly become a stay at home mom full time. I want to foster the growth, learning and development of my children. I don't want to miss a single after school activity or sports event. It's a feeling that keeps growing and growing inside of me. I tried the "stay at home mom" gig for a short 4 months after having Jayden. It just didn't work for me. I was SOOO bored, and I hated it. Scott and I had many issues. Mostly because I was so bored, and it was so hard to find or do anything within budget of a one income family. I enjoy the freedom and flexibility of a two income family. We would have to really sit down and completely re arrange our finances, and re set our budgets if I were to become a stay at home mom. I am NOT sure what God is wanting from me at this point. I'm waiting on Him before I make a decision and commit to it. It's a very real, and difficult struggle inside I am having. I'm having a rough time working through it. That's why I went to my church family. So my spiritual well being is wonderful, aside from this delima I am seeming to have.

Beautiful momma is in full swing. Full Pedi done. Eye brows done, and next week I have a massage appointment. =) This is by far my favorite and most difficult part of my journey. It's obvious as to why it is my favorite, but not so obvious why it is so difficult. It's hard for me to spend any kind of money, attention, or detail to myself and my appearance. It's NOT something I can easily do. I'm working through it, with some help of course! I am really trying to enjoy it. So far I have learned about myself is, I miss writing, and reading. I LOVE to read and write. I also have lost my desire for photography, and it's because I have lost my desire for myself. So because I want my photography to flourish, I am looking for my beauty, in every way. I know that may NOT make sense to some, but if you want I could try and explain it. It is my hope that ONE day, my photography can be a large supplement to our income for our family, because it is flexible and I can have my boys right there with me. =)

Well that's about it for now. I'm going to go enjoy some snuggle time with my wonderful husband. Good night ya'll.

We have decided that simply discipline Jayden is not working. Spanking his bottom, smacking his hand, and time outs are not working. I am tired of disciplining him only to have him laugh at us like it's a game and then do what he just got in trouble for again, or completely ignore us and do something even more disruptive and destructive.

We know he's just testing his limits as a toddler, and because he has a new baby brother and wants to see how much he can get away with now that we have divided attention between the two boys.

So after some research and talking to family members and friends at church, we have decided to give this whole positive re enforcement thing a try with the disciplining, as well as the usage of charts and learning. It might be that he is like me. When I wasn't being challenged I was a fire cracker. Once I was being challenged academically or through some sort of after school program such as music, track, girl scouts, etc I excelled and was a model student and child. So we are going to try it this way and see what happens. If nothing else we can move onto something else if it doesn't work.

So below are the pictures I took of Jayden's mini lesson area with his charts. I truly hope that this works. We chose to do prizes and special outings and ice cream for one for incentives until we pin point what gets his attention and keeps it in regards to rewarding the good.

For his Learning chart the first week we are learning the following:

The letter "A"

The number "1"

The color "Blue"

The body part "Eyes"

The Second week we are learning the following:

The letter "B"

The number "2"

The color "Red"

The body part "Nose"

Every day he has the chance to earn a 1, 2, or 3. 1's means he didn't even try or attempt to do the lesson, pay attention, sit down, or was disruptive/destructive. 2's mean he had some difficulty that day, but over all he was on task. 3's mean he had a great lesson that day in that subject.

His prize for the Learning charts is that on the following Monday he will get to go get Ice Cream with Mommy and Daddy as long as he does not have any 1's on his chart. He will get to help pick out a sticker and put it on his chart for each subject each day. Hopefully that gives him some excitement to partake in it.

For his Good behavior chart His 3 goals are:

1) No hurting others. This means no hitting, biting, throwing, pinching, slapping, etc. We are going to try to use the concept to encourage him to "Keep his hands to himself" and "Use Nice, gentle hands". So we shall see how that goes.

2) Listens to directions and follows them. This one is self explanatory.

3) No tantrums or whinning, use our words to ask for things we want or need. (This one is going to be by far the hardest for Jayden.)

His prizes will be either go to the Big Park with the splash pad, or go swimming at grandma and grandpas house.

His Chore chart is also fairly simple: His prize is the same as his good behavior chart, just flipped from week one to week two.

1) Pick up his toys when he goes to nap, bed for the night, and when we leave.

2) Throws away his trash, dirty diapers and helps with throwing away baby brothers diapers.

3) Helps out when asked and needed to.

His final chart is his potty training chart. With this we will be asking him once an hour if he has to go potty. When he sucessfully tells us he has to go potty and uses the potty he will get to pick out a special prize from the prize bin. Those prizes will range from "gift certificates" to spend special one on one time with mommy and or daddy, special treat out for dinner, special snack, a new little toy (Like hot wheels or something), etc.

For each chart we have bought stickers in which he will get to help us put up his stickers he has earned for that day. He will only get a sticker if it's a 3 for that chart that day. If it's a 1 we will mark it with a red X, if it's a 2 then we will let him help us mark it with a yellow check mark. We want to mak sure he understands that RED X is not desired, and getting a sticker on the chart is. =)

We shall see how this all works and plays out!

I have somewhat come up with my own lesson plans and goals. I have made it to where there is 4 subjects a week we will work on.

Anything else I get from below:

I get my filler in lessons from this website:

http://www.woodlandsmommy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=282&Itemid=119

A Mama in Pain with Two sick boys.... =(

Well my day is not going well at all. =( Fail. Here's a quick run down so far....

430am: Hubby wakes me up to nurse Zechariah because apparently I did not hear him crying because he was hungry. I think I finally got comfortable enough and got rid of the pain long enough to sleep. I wake up in severe pain again, and blood filled mouth. After spitting out the blood, I start to nurse my munchkin. Apparently I missed the memo or instructions that I was suppose to sleep with my head elevated above my chest. Opps.

5am: Zechariah is done nursing, and in a milk coma. I get up to use the restroom, take my antibiotic, some pain meds, wash the blood taste out of my mouth by hesitantly brushing the front teeth, and using my prescription strength mouth wash. I go ahead and brush my moppy head, wash my face and drink a full glass of water.

530am: It becomes apparent that the amount of pain I am in, is keeping me from being able to go back to sleep. So I decide that instead of waking everyone up, I will go outside and enjoy the "coolness" of the morning while I can before it reaches the dreaded 111 it's suppose to reach today, and watch the sun rise. Beautiful sun rise this morning. I check my facebook and cafemom while sitting there and discover that it is "National Donut Day" lol. Who knew right? So I checked to see where the closest Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme was. Dunkin was closer so I decided we would make our way over there later in the morning to get our free donuts today.

6am: Hubs walks out and gently gives me a kiss goodbye as he leaves for work. Sigh, a day in pain without hubs is gonna be a LONG LONG day! I text my grandmother and mother in law and ask them a few questions about the amount of pain I'm in, and the mouth full of blood. Apparently I missed the memo that I was suppose to sleep with my head elevated above my chest. (So I would find out later in the morning after calling the dentist like my grandmother insisted and suggested that I do.)

630am: I walk in to get a soda out of the fridge because it's the only thing that is keeping me from puking my guts up. It's helped a LOT with the nausea. I get Jayden's Milk sippy ready, and some breakfast ready for him. I think get everything I will need to change the boys and all when they wake up.

7am: Jayden is stirring and started to quietly play by himself in his room. I shut off his baby monitor and walk down the hall to get him. I open his door and I'm greated with a exuberant "Mama!!!!!" I grab some diapers out of his closet to replenish the diapers in the diaper area in the living room. I take him to the living room.

710am: I change Jaydens diaper. I apply some Desitin to his bottom because it is slightly red. He's a little sick and teething, and this poor kid gets a dang rash EVERY SINGLE TIME, no matter what when he's sick and/or teething. =( ugh. I gave him some children's cold and mucus medicine. I then apply some of his eczema cream on the two spots he has on his face. (Also only comes around when he's teething or sick.) I then thoroughly clean the outside of his nose and face (He had gotten crusties on his nose during the night.) I then suctioned out all of his boogies. I then give him his sippy of milk and breakfast.

730am: I turn on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse as he drinks his sippy and eats his breakfast. We snuggle together on the couch while we wait for brother to wake up.

8am: Zechariah starts to stir a little. So I turned off his monitor, used the rest room, and then went in and got him.

810am: I changed Zechariah's diaper, also applied some Desitin on his little bottom as well, because he has what Jayden has. I can't give him anything. Apparently he is gonna get a diaper rash when he's sick like his big brother does. =( I feel bad for my boys. I also thoroughly cleaned his face/nose, and suctioned his nose out. When I was done I nursed him, as I played around online.

9am: I got both boys dressed and ready to run and get our free donuts, a soda, and run by the dollar store.

930am: We get our free donuts from Dunkin donuts, as I got Jayden a Chocolate Milk and myself a Mocha Iced Coffee. I have no idea how to eat this donut after yesterdays surgery. =( I got a few bites in, somewhat, before throwing in the towel. Oh well, guess it just wasn't meant to be.

945am: Stop at the Dollar Store on the way home. I needed to get some pads and toilet paper. I just didn't feel up to battling people at the grocery store and/or Walmart. So I went to the dollar store. While I was there I noticed they were having a teaching supplies sale. So because we are working with Jayden to get him ready for his first year of Pre school in the fall, and on some behavior issues, I picked up some things. Last week I printed off alphabet letters he can color. I got Letters and number cut outs to put on the wall, tracing paper and writing paper for Jay to practice with. I got some Poster Boards that had numbers, shapes, colors, letters, etc on them. I got plain white Poster board to make my own "chore Chart" and "good behavior" chart for Jayden. So he doesn't regress any more, and has something to look forward to when he learns something new, behaves and be a good big boy/brother. I hope this will help. It's gonna be a reward sort of thing.

1015am: Stop at Circle K to get my 87 cents 44 oz Pepsi. I love Mary Lou at our local circle k! lol. She knows I had oral surgery yesterday and asked why I was getting a soda, and told me that I couldn't use a straw. I said no straw, I just tip my head back to drink it, and that it helps with the nausea feeling.

1030am: back home and take the boys inside. Change both boys diapers again, thoroughly clean their noses again and suction them out. Get Jayden some more to drink in his sippy, and nurse Zechariah. I let Jayden watch the rest of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Wonderland Adventure. (I had it DVR'd from the other day).

11am: I take some more pain meds, antibiotic, and rinse my mouth out again with the prescription strength mouth wash. I use the restroom myself. Check in with my facebook and cafe mom some more.

1130am: I feed Jayden his lunch, and nurse Zechariah again, until he's in a milk coma. So that way I can get the charts done and the learning things up over Jaydens little table in the kitchen to start his little mini lessons.

12(noon): I put Jayden down for his nap in his room, and then I put Zechariah down for his nap in the swing.

The smart thing would be for me to take a nap myself, but I'm still in a lot of pain and unable to sleep. I need to call the oral surgeons office and have them call me in a refill script for the weekend. I'm maxed out with my pain meds of 2 every 4 hours. =( I def do not have enough to last till Monday and I don't foresee the pain getting any better.

In any case, that has been my morning. I'm dreadfully tired, but this dang pain is keeping me awake. I just want to sleep but I am unable to do so. So I'm gonna go work on the charts I am making for Jayden and his little "teaching corner in the kitchen."

Anyways, I hope my day gets better! I just checked my work schedule for returning to work next week. Ekkk! It's a lot of work! It's okay, I'm ready to return to work. Well, have a great afternoon everyone!