A crumb-y morning

This morning I had to work. Silly me, I thought everything was going smoothly. In case you ever thought it would be a good idea to give an almost-five-year-old and an almost-two-year-old access to a bag of cornbread unsupervised, as long as you told them to stay at the table and not make a mess, then you should see this and think twice.

Sadly, these pictures don't even do it justice. For example, it doesn't even show the huge mess in my kitchen (I hate the grainy feel of cornbread against tile in my bare feet) or the mess that was everywhere else. It took me forever to vacuum, then sweep, then clean the table...I'm getting tired again just thinking about it.

I wanna be like my brother...

Tonight I got a little teary-eyed while our kids said prayers. Why, you ask? Well, first, we were trying to explain to B2 that D follows his example. At the time, B2 was twirling in circles as we were desperately trying to get the boys to kneel down. B2 decided to test our theory, and knelt down. Immediately, D stopped twirling and knelt by his brother. B2 said his prayers, and then helped D say his. It was one of those moments where we felt that we might actually be doing something right as parents.

After prayers, both boys got in bed. D has been insisting that anything B2 gets at bedtime, he gets too. So, B2 got tuck-ins and good night kisses, so D insisted on the same. D decided to one-up his brother and gave Mommy stuck kisses.


I wish every night was this good. I almost feel bad about putting them to bed if they're going to be all cute like this. But then I hear D scream and I'm happy it's bedtime.

Knee Pain--Self-diagnosed

I'm just about 2 months from my marathon, and I've self-diagnosed my knee problems as <a href="http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/runners-knee">runner's knee (patellofemoral pain syndrome)</a>. The symptoms all match up--pain in the knee cap, which is made worse when going down hill or using stairs, usually associated with an increase in running and more common in women. Blah! I decided that there really was a problem on Thursday. I bought a new knee brace this week in preparation for my 5 mile run. I wore the brace during my whole run (which, yay for me!, I completed without walking), and felt my typical soreness toward the last few miles. However, in the last quarter mile, I had a small incline (felt like a huge incline at the time) that really started killing my knee. I felt like I limped my last little bit.

After my run, I did my normal stretch cool down. However, this time I noticed something: my knee kept hurting even after I stopped running and after my body warmed up from being in the cold weather outside. In fact, my knee kept hurting all that night, to the point that I woke up every time I turned over because the process of doing so hurt my knee. Friday I wore my knee brace all day, and had really bad pain whenever I bent my knee--going up stairs, going down stairs, lifting my leg to move my foot from the gas pedal to the brake, etc. Today it's much better, but I still have some slight pain when going up or down stairs, or if I suddenly move my knee or something (like one of my kids) puts too much pressure on my knee.

So, after some internet searches, I realized that Runner's Knee perfectly describes the pain I'm having, and fits with the potential causes. As a result, I'm taking a break from my training routine. Yesterday and today I didn't work out at all (not even P90X). Next week I'll be back on P90X, and I'll try to be better about running nearly every day, but only short distances. Then I'll try to work back up to my schedule. I'm worried that I'm being forced into one of two conditions: 1.) not complete the training workout as outlined, so I don't ever get up to a 10 mile run before my half, and therefore not be as prepared as I would like, or 2.) try to jump back onto the training schedule too quickly that I just aggravate this problem. I think one of the biggest things I have to do is run more frequently. Mainly, I've been doing my big runs once a week and then expecting P90X to carry the rest of my training. I think that's part of my problem. Unfortunately, it's hard finding time to do my runs with my husband's work schedule. I think I'll be running more at night once he gets home.

As for my other goals, I'm doing pretty good. I'm back to calorie counting to try and hit that 135. I bought my new swimsuit for the summer, and I'd really like to drop these last 5 pounds before the summer heat hits. I'm on track to hit my goals for reading the Old Testament and 12 other books. I'm still doing P90X, though not as religiously as at first (I skip some routines and replace others with running), but I'm very excited about having the end in sight! Only three more weeks!! I think that the only goal I may not hit this year is getting to 135 pounds. Honestly, with P90X, running, and the weight I've already lost, I feel really good about how I look and won't be too bummed if I don't see that magic number. The exercise has trimmed me down a bit (even if the scale doesn't show it), but mostly I have more energy, I'm happier, and I'm more comfortable with myself, and that's good enough for me. :)

Another addition to the White house!

The boys got a new bed!

We bought a new bunk bed, custom-made by Colungas Custom Beds, for the boys. Tonight is their first night in it. In fact, it's the first night D has not slept in a crib or play pack. Right now I'm hearing B2 shout, over and over again, "Go to bed! GO TO BED!" Apparently, D won't let him sleep now that he has a choice about whether or not he stays in bed. Haha!

Funny things B2 says

We spent the weekend at my parents' house, and B2 said some funny stuff.

Scene: B1 and I are downstairs. My dad is playing his computer and B2 is watching him.

Grandpa. I'm tired. I'm going to turn the game off and go downstairs.
B2: What are you going to do down there?
Grandpa: I'm going to go talk to Uncle J and your mom.
B2: Okay, but don't tell my mom that I'm not in bed.
Grandpa: Are you supposed to be in bed?
B2: Well...kinda.
Grandpa leaves. B2 runs in and climbs in to bed, just in case I come up to check on him.



Scene: My dad is playing Lord of the Rings on his computer, and B2 is watching.
B2: Grandpa, are we going to shoot some dragons?
Grandpa: No
B2: Why not?
Grandpa: There aren't any dragons in this game.
B2: Why not?
Grandpa: Because the people who made the game didn't put in any dragons in it.
<Pause>
B2: Grandpa, you need to talk to some people.

Can't sleep

Ug. I can't sleep. I hate it when I can't sleep. I'm not sure if I can't sleep because I took a 3 hour nap this afternoon (soooo good), or because of the nightmares I had while taking said 3 hour nap (not soooo good--mostly strange dreams about D drowning in pools and I can't swim to save him because of the surprisingly buoyant clothing I'm wearing *shivers*), or because... I dunno. Maybe if I get some of these random thoughts off my mind, I'll be able to turn it off and go to sleep.

I'm worried about B2. (Warning: this paragraph is highly TMI--if you don't like discussions about poop, please skip this paragraph.) B2 has had bowel problems since he was a baby. When we first introduced him to rice cereal, they cropped up. Basically, he can't seem to move his bowels on his own. We've given him Miralax almost every day since about he was about 6 months old. If we ever forget for a few days, it happens: the backed up, rock hard, bum-tearing bowels. In these cases, we usually have to give him an enema, which he of course hates, just to get it to come out. Our pediatrician told us that some kids just like to hold on to "it" and that he'd grow out of it. That was two years ago, and it's still not better. In fact, it seems worse, because now that I'm home I'm realizing how much of a problem B2 has. He's potty trained just fine when it comes to pee (even at night now--yippee!!!) but for the love of all that is holy cannot go poop by himself! Instead, he "stores" it in between his cheeks when he feels it coming on! It's so gross! We know he feels it coming, because a.) he'll still go and hide sometimes, and b.) he freaking squeezes in his cheeks! How can he not feel that? But, instead of just going to the bathroom, he'll stay like that, sometimes for hours until we catch the smell or undress him for a bath. It happened again today--third day in a row that he's done this, and third day without really pooping even when we make him sit on the potty. Plus, he's still on the Miralax. After 4+ years, shouldn't he really be off this stuff now? I'm close to my wits end. I'm tired to spending so much money on Mirarlax and multiple wash cycles to clean his underwear. Any help?? I'm definitely going to bring this up to the doctor when we take B2 in for his 5 year check up, but I'm willing to try just about anything before then--except taking him off the Miralax, because I just can't stand seeing my baby cry and scream in pain when he tries to have a bowel movement.

I guess it's time for a good update on my yearly goals:

Finish P90X
I'm getting closer to finishing this goal. I finished Week 5 this week (though I didn't work out today--sadness!). Legs & Back is my favorite workout, and I'm sad to see that I won't be doing it the last 4 weeks because it's not on my schedule. I started a new lifting routine this week: Shoulders, Arms and Triceps. Many swear words when through my head during this workout. Curse you Tony! I'm getting bored with the Kenpo routine (which was ironically one of my favorites at the beginning), plus it's starting to hurt my knees. I may stop doing this particular routine in favor of my new training (see goal 2). I measured again this week, but didn't see any difference that's worth mentioning.

Run a half marathon
Progress is being made! This week I registered for the Utah Valley half marathon, to be ran June 11th. I start my training next week. I alternate between really excited and freaked out of my mind. I think that as long as I can actually do my training schedule, I'll be okay. We'll see though. I just hope all that road running doesn't aggravate my old knee injury.

Get to 135 pounds
Let's be honest--I suck at weight loss. Not because I'm not capable, but because I seriously lack the discipline not to each an entire "family" sized bag of Doritos in one sitting. ("Family" sized my butt--what family would be satisfied with that teeny little bag??) Doritos are sooo good. Not only that, but now that I'm home more a lot of my meals are homemade (or leftovers of homemade), so I don't have good calorie counts. I've largely fallen off the calorie counting band wagon. I'm hovering right around my homeostasis weight of 140. Not bad, considering that I'm probably building a bit of muscle mass with P90X, but still not a great number.

Finish Old Testament
I'm finally making progress here too! I finished reading the Book of Mormon yesterday, and so am continuing my newly developed habit of daily scripture reading by finishing the Old Testament. This goal will take me the rest of the year to accomplish, so I won't really comment more on it in future posts. Just check the side bar to see how I'm doing. (I'll update those numbers soon--I don't have them all in front of me right now.)

Read 12 books
I'm not quite on track here. I'm finishing my second book of the year, a non-fiction book called Boys Should Be Boys. It's a book on parenting, so it's taken me longer because I've wanted to soak in what I was reading. Plus, my last few weeks have been spent making my little sister's baby shower gift (I still have a few more items to make before her shower on Saturday), and making a blessing blanket for my adorable niece O, who will be officially adopted, sealed, and blessed at the end of the month. So, I have some time crunches with those projects, which means reading has been pushed back in priority.

Funny things B2 says

Scene: Daddy brought home some pizza tonight (leftovers from work--sweet!).

B2: "Mommy, guess where Daddy got pizza from?"
Me: "Work?
B2: "Orc?"

Looks like I already have a Tolkien fan. Can't wait to read him The Hobbit!!