I'm Going On An Adventure!!

[Saffity]

All right, firstly, Secret Santa, I'm very sorry, I'm throwing in the towel and admitting that I don't have time to go look and find out who you are. It's up to you whether you reveal yourself or not but please know that I love my workout and will be doing it frequently.

The year has begun with a job hunt that is taking what's left of my mental capacity after keeping two tiny humans alive.

Luckily my previous job connected me with a company that assists with the job hunt for a bit so my resume is looking spiffy. Now to just apply to a bunch of jobs and hope I find one that I'm as happy in as my last one but hopefully pays a bit more.

I'm also taking an online course to get my specialist certificate in Microsoft 365 Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to hopefully give me a bit of an edge.

I've decided to start Pathfinder over (especially since Munchie enjoys the 'finding water' and 'finding firewood' workouts and often asks to do them at random). Buddy has gotten into it and puts his arms up when we're doing jumping jacks, and crouches down during lunges and squats which is super cute. I'm modifying where I need to for my knee, and so far it's tolerating it.

I've done the first 3 days so far and will be doing day 4 later today.

Between that and the various toddler exercize videos and activity songs, plus playing Chase, wherein we run in circles around the living/play room, I think I'm getting a good amount of movement in.

Checkin:

Weight - 167.2 - down 1.2 lbs

Main measures are:

High Bust- 37.75" (main bust line is inaccurate due to continued nursing) - down 0.75"
Waist - 33" - down 0.75"
Hips - 43.25" - down 0.25"

Pretty proud with that. Going back to my first weight/measurement check in on this thread it's as follows:

Weight down 12.8 lbs
High Bust down 1.5"
Waist down 1"
Hips down 0.75"

Which quite frankly is exceptional! I'll be taking progress pics soon, and will probably be surprised at the difference from the 6 month post partum checkin because like last time I don't feel like there's been much change, but I'm in my body every day so don't notice it.

 

[MadamMeow]

Wishing you good luck for your job search. Really hope you find somewhere you can be happy and be compensated well.

 

[Saffity]

Wow, where did January go? I will fully admit, the month very much got away from me. Not sure what February will get, other than another loss in the family on my husband’s side this time.

Thankfully so far the kids, husband, and I are still doing all right.

 

[Saffity]

I live! But barely. Apparently I tempted fate with my last post.

After husband flew to the other side of the country with his mother for a funeral, leaving me and two kiddos at home for 5 days, he got ordered off on medical leave and has been home since then. It's been nice seeing him with the kids, but it has disrupted our schedule.

Then, we decided to go to church for the first time in 4 years, and the kids and I got adenovirus. 3 weeks of illness before it was figured out that Daughter had pneumonia and I had possible whooping cough... antibiotics and another week and a half of recovery and we are finally back on track.

I would like to thank adenovirus though because it got me past my plateau. Now to make sure I don't increase back above it.

I've also been a little bit hindered due to physio on my knee. I have exercises specific to that but I'm not to do anything even moderate intensity (including running around with my kids), so I'm stuck on level 1 workouts at the most which is a bummer.

Doing my best to keep somewhat active and take advantage of the bit of decent weather we're getting here with walking.

With luck we'll get back on even footing soon.

 

[MadamMeow]

Glad you were able to get your sicknesses taken care of. Hoping your knee gets better for you next.

 

[Mamatigerj]

Sorry you and your family had to go through all of that! Sending thoughts and prayers for continued healing!

 

[Saffity]

Ok halfway point check-in.

Life has a way of being crazy and getting away from you and suddenly you turn around and it’s July 1 and you haven’t done a single program or challenge. I have been active, just not as targeted as I’d like.

I’m still doing physio for my left knee. It’s getting better but not there yet. Currently doing leg raise and baby squat exercises to strengthen my outer quad specifically. I’m going to look at the knee rehab workouts, but for now I’m sticking to the doctor prescribed ones.

I have added another physio because we got into a very minor car accident in May, but due to how my arm was resting on the centre console, my left shoulder got injured. Luckily this is minor enough that I can do an upper body workout so long as I take it easy and listen to my shoulder.

With that said, it’s time to start up again, and so I will be doing Arms of Steel, and trying out the new Ronin program but may stop that if it gets to be too much. I will do Daily Dares where I can as well.

Today:

* Arms of Steel day 1
* daily dare w EC
* shoulder physio w elastic band
* knee physio w weight (28 lb baby)

 

[Saffity]

Hello Bees,

Long time no chat!!

In an exciting turn of events, I now have employment!

This is taking up 40 hours a week (plus a half hour commute twice a day) on top of kiddos and life. The downside is now figuring out my new schedule and trying to find the best place to put "Darebee exercize".

I attempted an earlier wakeup this morning, but alas, the snooze button eluded me and I turned off my alarm entirely. Thank goodness for kids who wake with the birds.

I have finished my physio course for my shoulder, which now allows for more strenuous movements with it, though my youngest is doing his best at being a 30 lb snuggler to keep my arms looking ship shape.

My knee on the other hand is taking it's sweet time. I'm still not cleared for anything more than low intensity on my lower body, which is decidedly frustrating as I want to be able to run with my kids without pain. Slow and steady builds the muscle I guess.

As we come up on September, my oldest is heading off to school for the first time, a very exciting adventure for all of us. And also melancholy as my baby is now a full fledged child.

I look forward to getting back into a routine that includes a workout every day, it's just a matter of figuring it out.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Congratulations on the new job Saffity!
And cheers for improvement with your shoulder!

Re: fitting in exercise: is your job one that would allow to to squeeze in Micro Workouts throughout the day? Even very short workouts--particularly if you do them regularly--have significant benefits to our health. If you have an office job, getting up and moving periodically throughout the day is especially important.

Not all of these would be easy to do in an office environment, and some include high-impact exercises you'd need to modify for your knee, but DAREBEE has quite a collection of mini workouts. See for example:

Work Break Collection
At Your Desk Workouts
Exercise Snacks (YouTube)
2-Minute Workouts
Micro Workouts Collection
Exercise Snacks Collection

Best wishes for figuring everything out and adjusting to the new normal for your family!

 

[graoumia]

And also melancholy as my baby is now a full fledged child.

Welcome back. I fully understand, my small baby is going to be 17 in end of september

 

[aku-chan]

Congrats on the new job!

 

[Saffity]

@Laura Rainbow Dragon Thank you for those links! I checked out some and will get to the rest of them (busy mom and all that )

Moreso than finding the 30 seconds for micro workouts, it's a matter of just learning my new schedule to put in the 20 ish minutes I'd like to include, and the schedule is changing again with Munchie off to school and Biggie (who at 19 months is about the size of a 2.5 year old) looking to start daycare.

With that said, I'm going to be starting the Light Cardio program that just came out (have to do light due to continued ban on any sort of impact to my knee... no matter how much I grumble), and seeing about adding that to my evening kiddo time (Munchie, the 4 year old, still asks to play the Exercise Game so she'll likely enjoy getting some of her wiggles out with that).

I'm also looking at setting my alarm a half hour earlier to give me time (with children waking up factored in) to do 30 Days of Yoga in the mornings to get me going.

Thanks for all the support everyone, this community is really what keeps me coming back no matter how many hiatuses I take.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Happy Birthday @Saffity !

 

[Fremen]

Happy Birthday

 

[neilarey]

Happy Birthday!!!

 

[JCU]

 

[Montserrat]

to you @Saffity!

 

[Syrius]

Happy Belated Birthday!! :cake:

 

[Saffity]

First off, thank you so much everyone for the birthday wishes!

So, I am coming back to this check in thread exhausted, strung out, and ready for things to hopefully figure themselves out soon.

The start of school/daycare has plunged us into the realities of rotating illnesses.

In September - Daughter started SK with a batch of Pink Eye, and just as we got that cleared up, her other eye got it!

In October - We just found out yesterday that Son has: ear infection in both ears, bronchitis, AND Pneumonia.... we're pretty sure Hubby has Pneumonia too, so he's going to get the x-ray today and hopefully get onto some antibiotics.

And in between these were continued colds, coughs, and fevers that were mildly annoying but not worthy to be kept home from school/daycare. I've luckily missed the worst of this... this time (I'm knocking on all the wood).

We've been worried that Daughter isn't gaining weight, and, in fact, appears to be losing it. This could be explained by her illnesses, but with our family history of Celiac Disease, it's something that's ringing alarm bells a bit. Luckily we're not seeing any other symptoms for that so far.

In weighing her, I stepped on the scale too (because we all had to do it), and was mildly shocked to see I'd inched back up to 177 lbs.

Now, I stated my weight out loud as a fact, with no emotion, because we don't do weight shame here (though I'm fighting my demons internally), and I'm trying not to obsess about this. I know some of it is due to the fact that Son is now officially weaned, so I'm not using those extra 500-700 calories a day, which means I need to start cutting back my portions again.

I've already been working on having my meals with more veggies, even if I'm the only one eating veggies that day. I'm also still learning the schedule of getting the kids up and my lunch made in the mornings. I think I really need to start planning ahead and preparing my lunch the night before. :salad:

Like I said, I'm fighting my demons. I grew up watching my mother do every fad diet in existence and never being happy with her body. I don't want to start a crash diet, even if my brain is telling me to. I'm reminding myself that this is a bump on the path and I can get things going the other way again. Plus, I'm still strong enough to rock my 30+ lb 1 year old to sleep, even and especially when it takes over half an hour to do.

I need to find myself some time to actually work out. At my previous job there was a gym in the basement that would give me the opportunity to run down and do a daily workout or something. Here, there isn't even a meeting room I can really hide it. It's a much smaller company. Home is also difficult to find time as I get home from work, eat dinner with the kids, half hour of play time, bath time, then bedtime, and then I'm just bushed and don't particularly feel like working out in front of the husband.

I've put a gym membership on my Christmas wish list. I have an hour long lunch and there's a relatively affordable gym just a 6 minute drive away. Sadly, at the moment, we just don't have it in the budget, Hubby doesn't start his new job till mid November.

For now, I'm going to try to take advantage of this small patch of nice weather and continue to take the kids out for walks (3-4 km because they're nuts) and to the park. Any motion is good motion.

 

[Saffity]

Ooooo I just saw the Halloween challenge is coming up. Daughter still regularly asks to do last years (we saved the image). She likes to 'fight the minions!!'

Can't wait to tell her we have another mission.

 

[Saffity]

Daily movement achieved.

There's a natural area across the street from where I work. I finally took it upon myself to go check it out.

Did about a kilometre or so walk in about half an hour. Didn't exactly have hiking shoes on. Going to bring them with me tomorrow and see how far I can get.

 

[Saffity]

We are Hive Defending in this house! Participated in both parts of the first wave and got some kicks done for the second wave.

Continuing to walk, even if it's just going around the block with the kiddos.

Planning to join the November punching challenge, going to try and get my 30 days straight of fitness badge on here.

Still doing my physio exercises to get my knee better. Hoping to get the ok to fully exercise again soon, missing my jump squats and such. It's been a year since my injury, but I didn't start Physio till December, so I'm taking it as a plus that I'm so close to being better.

I really want to get another badge for a program, and I think I need to take it easy. As much as I want to do an RPG fitness, I think I should stick with Reboot or Foundation Light to start off for now.

I'm also making sure to take advantage of my standing desk, and doing one of the Micro workouts using it that was linked to be before by Laura Rainbow Dragon. Any motion is good motion and the next step to my goals!

Otherwise, I'm working on continuing adding veggies to all my meals, and watching my portions. The biggest challenge has definitely been that I stopped nursing, so no longer needed the extra calories I got used to eating. Meal planning, for me and the rest of the family, is becoming a big thing. Knowing what I'm cooking for the kids allows me to know what extras to add for mine to boost up the veggies and reduce the carbs/fat.

The other big issue, I have discovered, is that I'm a snacker, I will eat smaller meals but have tiny snacks throughout the day. So, making sure that those snacks are fruit/veggie centred, or just being aware of the nutritional value, has been helping. I'm not actively calorie counting or dieting, I want to be strong and healthy, but now that I'm entering the next stage of motherhood an overall diet change does need to happen.

Balance is the key, and it's what I want to teach my kids.

 

[Saffity]

With the Hive defended I need to find something else to do. Thankfully the punching can continue with November's Challenge.

With the short bit of warm weather we're having I'm trying to get outside and walk before we hunker down for the dreary months.

I've already discussed getting a gym membership near my work in the new year. He's starting up a new job soon so we'll have to wait to see how the finances lie. I have an hour lunch and the gym I'm looking at is just around the corner, so I could go there, do a Darebee workout or two and then be back with time to shower in between!

I think having that scheduled time will really help with motivating me, because I can say I'm going to exercise "after the kids are asleep" and then my son screams till 11 and I'm just completely out of energy.

Doing a mid day workout will also, hopefully, boost my energy so I don't drag around 2-3 like I am right now. Standing desks can only do so much to help with that.

Today I'm getting the daily dare done, and some micro workouts at the desk - Specifically:


as well as my knee physio which can also be done at my desk.

Every little bit counts!

 

[Saffity]

Daily Dare and Micro Walk done today.

I almost want to track how long I spend rocking and walking my son because that's a 30 minute workout in itself some nights.

I know my feet, calves, and knees feel it the next day anyway.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

I almost want to track how long I spend rocking and walking my son because that's a 30 minute workout in itself some nights.

Yep. Definitely counts as a workout. How much does that kid weight now?

 

[Saffity]

Yep. Definitely counts as a workout. How much does that kid weight now?

31 lbs at 22 months of solid muscle if you can believe it. My shoulders weep by the time I put him to bed.

Just editing to put in, he's over 3 feet tall, and can move a double sized metal baby gate like it was nothing if he decides he wants to go through.

This is a standard size door, and he is not yet 2!!!

 

[Saffity]

Halloween resulted in quite a nice walk with the kiddos, it was slow, but still pretty long.

Tracking Biggie rocking: took about 40 minutes of pacing him back and forth across the living room to get him asleep enough to go into his bed. The plus side is, he only really woke up once needing a small diaper change, then slept the rest of the night! Thank you antibiotics for allowing my son to breathe! Course this also means he's full of energy and getting back to destroying all the things with his sister. The two of them plot against us I swear it.

Husband though, apparently did NOT have what Biggie did, he may have had so many viruses this year that he's developed asthma... so breathing test it is...

Munchie is back to having munchies and her appetite is back, thank goodness. Having back to back illnesses for nearly 2 months meant she dropped weight and is only 3 lbs heavier than her brother.

Today begins the November Challenge and so I will be doing my punching! Also continuing the Micro Walk workout because if I get caught doing it at my stand up desk I can just claim a cramp or something.

Otherwise, mentally there's some personal stress due to a family member, and I'm trying to not let things bother me but it's difficult. Especially when this is a family member who comes over daily to help with the kids so we have to keep peace or we lose what little help we have.

Gratitude/Positive Outlook wise though, the kids are getting dedicated at church on Sunday, which was delayed for us due to various lockdowns. It's just nice to finally get it done, plus it means some family coming in and celebrating with us. Additionally, got the gardens winterized and tidied. There's still some landscaping with rock paths we want to do, but for right now that can wait till spring.

 

[Saffity]

Rough weekend was rough, but I survived.

Got some punches done, have some catching up to do, but some is better than none.

Biggie threw a fever on Friday and as of Saturday night, as far as we could tell, it still wasn't coming down. Hubby took him to the emergency room and we have no found out that while his temperature was elevated, the ear thermometer we currently use was likely throwing false positives for high fever. Now we're going to get an under arm one and to hang with convenience because we need accurate numbers with how these kids' colds are going. He's congested, which means he won't sleep in his bed, which means I'm now on day 3 of short sleep and just barely surviving on caffeine and Advil. Hopefully I can get some sleep tonight.

In Gratitude/Positive Outlook: The dedication went well, my Dad and Stepmom came in from the west coast and my cousin came in from out of town to see it. The kids did great, and we had people watching online too. Munchie appears to be on the mend and hopefully will fend off anything else that comes our way.

Really right now, things are good, I just need to get some sleep.

Forgot to add, stepped quickly on the scale today, before breakfast, after getting dressed, and it said 175.5 lbs. We're heading in the right direction again!

 

[Saffity]

Working on catching up my punches today - finished November 2 of the challenge so far, have 300 more punches to catch up tonight, but I can split it out with tomorrow too. I'm allowing myself some leniency with this challenge. The goal is 10,000 punches in 30 days, if I don't follow the daily numbers exactly that's not the end of the world.

I forgot to mention two things from the weekend.

First is that Munchie is feeling better enough that she wanted to do some of her toddler exercise videos again (Miss Linky on YouTube), which of course meant I had to do it with her. There's one 2 minute section where you pretend to be a mermaid, basically lean back in a v-sit, and use your 'tail' to hit oysters to get pearls. This section absolutely kills me. My legs and abdomen is so sore the next day.

Which brings us to secondly, after doing the workouts on Saturday, then came the dedication on Sunday. The plan was for Hubby to hold Biggie, and I monitor Munchie who would likely stand in front of me. Well the second part was true, but Biggie wanted Mommy. So I got to hold him on my hip one armed, with Hubby trying to support as much as he could while Biggie pushed him away , and also monitor, and at times physically support, Munchie, who didn't want to stand still and would periodically grab onto my arm and lift her legs, hanging off me. Strong Mommy is still strong.

Got my Micro Walk workout in at my desk, after taking a cat nap for part of my lunch.

Have family in still tonight, plus a possible lecture about how school mornings are going to work from now on so I'm going to try and focus on the good visit and let the 'new rules' just stand as they will be.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Strong Mommy is still strong.

Have family in still tonight, plus a possible lecture about how school mornings are going to work from now on

 

[Saffity]

Good News: I got sleep last night!

Bad News: It was only half the night because Biggie is just not good. His fever is controlled by meds but it's not breaking. His breathing is getting worse, and he's bugging at his ears again. Last night all he wanted to do was sleep, but he needed to be held, just to keep him at an angle he could get air, and even then he was using his stomach a lot. He's off to the doctor's again today and we're hoping it's not another bout of pneumonia.

I'd say over night last night total I did about 90 minutes or so of carrying/rocking/pacing Biggie around the room. I've started to include baby squats/baby lunges as I'm going around, and walking sideways in a forward/back zigzag to try and work my glutes and other leg muscles. Eventually, I'm sure, my arms will stop feeling like they're dead from the effort.

Today I started the updated version of Zero Hero and completed day 1 I may do day 2 later, but we'll see how I feel.

Still have to catch up my punches but they'll be done in sets.

Family's gone home so the house is ours again. In other good news, Munchie's appetite remains and she's been doing a great job of eating her meals.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

for Biggie!

 

[Syrius]

for Biggie!!! Feel better soon!

 

[Saffity]

Mid-day update: Thank you guys for the healing vibes. Biggie is clearing up from his last big bout, ears and lungs look clear, this fever is likely a separate virus. Virus fevers can apparently last 5 days, this being day 4. So no daycare till Thursday earliest. If his fever hasn't cleared by Thursday he is to be seen again, but for now we just support him as we have been.

So far I have completed 300 of the 520 punches I need to do to be current with the challenge.

Editing to add: 220 more punches done. Caught up on the challenge.

And I did Day 2 of Zero Hero - Level 3 for both days.

Also did some of my physio squats, since I was doing some Word Processing and had a bunch of reading to do.

Now I am enjoying sitting down for probably the rest of the afternoon, until I get home and start chasing after the kidlets.

 

[MadamMeow]

Awww, hope Biggie feels all the way better soon.

 

[Saffity]

Welp.... out of the pan, into the fire. No update yesterday because I didn't do a lot. Another night of very little sleep being up with Biggie, who is still seriously congested, then Hubby woke up with a fever, so I took the day off work to take care of them both. Gramma took Munchie to school but that didn't last, she came home with a fever by 9:30, so we became the house of the many plagues. Luckily, so far other than a sore throat, I'm still avoiding it.

Luckily with some sleep and meds, Munchie bounced back and is at school again today. Yesterday she woke up in such a mood I knew something was up, but her temperature was fine when we sent her to school. Hubby slept 90% of the day and is now mostly better as well, other than exhausted because he took the nightshift with Biggie.

Biggie is heading back to the doctor's today. His fever hasn't broken and now we think he might have a UTI or something by his various reactions.

Exercise wise - did some toddler videos with Munchie once she was feeling better (Mermaid tail flicks still suck). Also paced and carried Biggie for a huge portion of the day due to him being a suck (kind of wish I hadn't caught up on all those punches the day before.)

Now I'm back at work and can do some Zero Hero at my standing desk, as well as catch up yesterday and today's punches.

On we go!

 

[Saffity]

Managed to do Day 3 of Zero Hero.

Biggie is going through a gamut of tests (luckily no blood draws yet) so hopefully we can tie this down and get him better soon.

 

[Saffity]

Getting urine samples for kids who don't understand what's going on is difficult! I swear he waited to pee for when we didn't have the collection stuff in hand.

And he still can't breathe so another night of short sleep... I swear my blood is just straight coffee now.

Munchie appears to be on the mend with another night of full sleep and no fever/coughing so fingers crossed it stays that way.

Mildly stiff back and my iffy knee is a touch tender today after the lunges yesterday. Zero Hero today is butt kicks and march steps so I should be good for that. Just keep it low intensity.

Food today will be interesting because see previous pee collection struggles equals no time to grab breakfast or lunch. I have some chicken meatballs in the freezer at work just in case, but it's not the greatest all things considered. I'll make up for it at dinner I guess.

 

[WolfDreamer]

And he still can't breathe so another night of short sleep... I swear my blood is just straight coffee now.

Goodness. I'm sorry to hear this.

Munchie appears to be on the mend with another night of full sleep and no fever/coughing so fingers crossed it stays that way.

You're staying strong and resolute in the midst of this, and that really matters because it can be the hardest damn thing to do some days. I remember staying in the hospital with our foster son during a scary bout of RSV, and I did my best to keep it together for him in the scary moments.

I know I don't know you well, but I'm proud of you.

 

[Saffity]

Goodness. I'm sorry to hear this.





You're staying strong and resolute in the midst of this, and that really matters because it can be the hardest damn thing to do some days. I remember staying in the hospital with our foster son during a scary bout of RSV, and I did my best to keep it together for him in the scary moments.

I know I don't know you well, but I'm proud of you.

Thank you, it really means a lot. Since August has been really tough, that's when Hubby got his cough. They're now asking him to do a Covid test just to see if that could be part of the issue for him, and he has a breathing test later in the month. So far we haven't had RSV, but this year alone both kids have had bouts of pneumonia, and due to the start of school we've had rotating illnesses all fall.

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one going through it. Being able to go to work and getting a bit of separation has helped, both with keeping me from getting ill and allowing me a mental break.

 

[Saffity]

Antibiotics are amazing things! Still tag teaming nights with Biggie, but after just one dose we noticed a change in his congestion. This one is twice as long as his last one so we’re hoping that this time we kick all of it to the curb. Munchie is about 90% better, just a bit of a cough left now.

Sleep is soon to come I’m sure.

Did 390 punches to get caught up on the November challenge to yesterday.
Completed the daily exercise with EC
Did Day 4 of Zero Hero yesterday and Day 5 today

Also did about 30 minutes of running around with the kids, about half of that with Biggie on my hip.

Now to just get Hubby through his breathing test and on the way back to health and we’ll be good.

 

[Saffity]

Yesterday was a wash. I have been mildly hit by the household plague. Luckily it’s just congestion for me so far. I took some time yesterday to try and keep myself from getting worse.

I also knew that I had a big day today, as my work gives Remembrance Day off. In addition to observing, Hubby and I were taking advantage of the kids being at school and daycare and dug out the dining room. When Biggie was on the way we did a renovation and had a lot of stuff that had to be sorted and organized. Also a lot of stuff that needed to just leave the house.

As our dining room is right beside the front door it became the staging area for everything that need to be dealt with. Which meant it became full of junk!!!

Trying to dig that out with two very active kiddos had been lengthy and difficult but we are in the final stretch. We probably need on more childless day to get it all done but we made huge progress today.

And that included me crashing for a 2.5 hour nap.

Biggie is still congested but also still improving. Munchie is pretty much perfect finally, and has increased her weight by half a pound so yay! We’re both heading in the right directions with our weight.

Other than major housework, I also did 300 punches to try and not fall too far behind on the monthly challenge. I’m getting this check mark!

 

[JohnStrong]

Trying to dig that out with two very active kiddos had been lengthy and difficult but we are in the final stretch.

Having two young kids myself I understand this! Congrats on your progress.

 

[Saffity]

BIGGIE SLEPT IN HIS BED ALL NIGHT LAST NIGHT!!!!!!!


This means Hubby and I got sleep! Which is amazing!

I was bushed again yesterday after pulling basically an all nighter, so I took a break. Now that I've actually slept and got energy again it's back to work.

My arms are definitely showing improvement with Biggie and the November Challenge. Put a sweater I knit a few years ago on as it's chilly today and the only spot it's tight is around my biceps...

The scale was nice too, it's currently reading 173.5, so at least I have the increase stalled and turned back down. I'd like to get back under 170 again by the end of the year which I think is a safe and doable drop with my diet changes and increased exercise.

 

[Saffity]

Taking advantage of the standing desk and reception area again

Daily Exercise - 40 single leg hops + EC
Day 6, 7, 8 of Zero Hero
320 punches for Monthly challenge (I'm 3 days behind but I'm doing my best)

We'll see if I can get the next day of 340 punches done tonight, just trying not to fall further behind at least while I try to get to the 100 punches day.

 

[Saffity]

Biggie split time between the couch and the bed, but that could just be due to him being used to the couch. He went to sleep without being walked around the room, or driven in the car! Just some snuggles and a few sips from his bottle, then carried up to bed! We'll slowly work on getting him to spend more time in bed, the good news is he only woke up twice for diaper changes.

The whole family slept in this morning, which is good because it means we're all catching up on missed sleep, but it meant we really had to rush because I HAVE to be out of the house by the time Gramma shows up so that she can park in the driveway or.... it is not a good morning.

My arms are a bit tired from the punches yesterday, but I will continue to get caught up (or at least not fall behind) today.

I'm getting some planning for the holidays started. I'm Canadian so Thanksgiving was back in October, which means I just have Christmas/New Years/Both Kids' Birthdays to worry about. I apparently like having kids in December...

The dining room needs finished, but I have a day off work planned to get that done. The Christmas Tree is still up from last year, just got buried at the back of the room with junk, so at least we don't have to set that up. I'm hosting two family events, and possibly having a friend event or two that's not on the calendar yet.

To prepare for that (and to give Munchie some one on one time) I'm looking at baking one batch of holiday cookies each weekend from now till Christmas and sticking them in the freezer. The issue becomes, there are so many good options that are gluten free now! I have to shorten my list or get overwhelmed. Going to start with some simple sugar cookies I think, they're a classic. :cookie:

 

[Saffity]

Managed to get the daily dare in yesterday and that's about it.

Some days there's just not a lot of energy. Seeing as I'm congested this morning, I think I'm still fighting the household plague, just in such a way as it doesn't affect my day to day.

The dreary weather here lately doesn't help. If it was cold enough for snow that would perk my mood up, but dark, foggy, misty... not my vibe. At least not when I want to have energy up. It's more of a: curl up by the fire with knitting/book type of weather.

We had another night of Biggie sleeping in his bed, so this is very promising!

Otherwise, I'm going to attempt to do some Zero Hero today, but I'm listening to my body and not pushing it too hard at this point.

 

[Saffity]

300 punches so far today, plus Biggie pacing.

Making some bread in the breadmaker too. Yay for a recipe book that works!

 

[Saffity]

I come to the check-in thread battered and bruised.

Biggie beat me up yesterday. First we got in a fight over the bathroom door as he is obsessed with his potty training and wanted to join Munchie while she was using it. He let go, and the door bashed into my forehead. Then, Biggie doesn't walk anywhere, he hops. Think Lemur. I just happened to bend down to grab something as he hopped by and he bounced into my eye socket/nose. I was worried he broke my nose, but luckily it's just bruised.

This after I gave myself food poisoning on Saturday by not properly washing some veggies. (at least that's the best we can figure because it wasn't a gluten attack)

Spent yesterday recovering, as best as I could with the beating up, and I'm feeling better today. Tight and sore in my neck and shoulder area today but with the head trauma by toddler that's to be expected.

The kids continue to improve!! Biggie is almost done his current course of antibiotics, so hopefully this time it sticks and we stay healthy through the rest of the month.

(I apparently didn't post this yesterday but it was saved in the cache, so I will post it now with today's addition)

Today is another taking it easy day. I have to get a crown, and I am not good with the dentist, so just trying to not let my anxiety take over. At least after today it will be done and I don't have to worry about it.

 

[MadamMeow]

Good luck at the dentist, hope it goes much better than you anticipate.