Trainer Workout #12

Warm-up for 5 minutes.  Nothing too strenuous.

Do the following circuit 3x.  Time yourself and try to beat your time.  Your last time should be your fastest.
 -Run 1/4 mile
 -Using a 15-20lb weight (the round ones that go on barbells) (or kettlebell), hold the weight with both hands, squat and bring it underneath your legs and lift up until a little above eye level.  30x
 -30 push-ups (20 if you do all "boy")
 -Lay on your back, arms straight out above your head and legs about 1ft off the ground.  Bring arms up and legs up and try to touch your toes.  30x

Rest 2-3 minutes.

Do the following circuit 2x. 
 -Run 1/4 mile
 -20 box jumps (jump up on boxes or up onto something that is about knee height)
 -Using a 15-20lb weight (the round ones that go on barbells), hold the weight with two hands next to your stomach.  Lift it up to your right side, over your shoulder, around your head, and down your left side until it is back at your stomach.  Repeat going the opposite way (i.e., up your left side, over your left shoulder, around your head, down your right side).  20x each side
 -Using a 15-20lb weight (the round ones that go on barbells), hold the weight with two hands at your stomach and then act like you are throwing it over each shoulder, alternating.  20x each side

Plank for 1 minute.  Walk arms up and back.  3x

You are finished!

Baby Fever, Who's Got It?

Stop!  Before you start thinking that I am crazy, let me explain . . .

In the past week I have had three friends deliver little baby girls.  One friend is due any day now with a little girl and then my niece, Sarah, will be giving us all little baby Ian in June.  That's a lot of babies in a short time and it just makes me nostalgic and a bit jealous.

Believe me, I have my hands full with three kids between school, naps, diapers, spills, clean-ups, "Mommy I need help", "oops it was an accident" and "she hit me first" but when I stop and think about it I could see myself having another baby.  Logically, though, I know that another baby is probably not in my future and I understand that I have to take the baby home from the hospital and actually raise it-lol.

There is just something about having a baby that is joyous.  No, I don't mean the stuff before or after the hospital, I mean something about actually having the baby.  The labor part is really my favorite part of the whole thing.  Yes, of course, it hurts and I want to scream at everyone and cuss them out and cuss myself out and think "Don't you ever come near me again!!" but then when the baby is actually delivered and the nurse puts the baby in my arms for the first time, I can't even explain the feeling.  It is like the best drug in the world.  To me, it literally feels like I am holding a piece of Heaven.  

I know that it is probably different for moms than it is dads and maybe it is just me but you have to understand.  When I  amcarrying this little egg inside of me that is literally all I think about: "Am I eating the right food? Did I drink enough water? Can I take a bath? Is this normal or should I call my doctor?".  It seems like my mind never settles.  Then, as the due date gets closer and my bag is packed by the door all I can think about is "maybe tonight will be the night".  Every pain makes me wonder if this is the beginning of labor.  Like I said, for 9 whole months this little baby is all I can think about:  "Will it be a boy or girl? I wonder if he/she will have hair? What will we name her/him? What about babysitters?  I hope her brother and sister will accept her.  How am I going to do this?".

So, when the moment finally comes and I have to focus solely on getting the baby out, it is a very powerful moment. 

And, when I finally get to see, touch, smell and hear this miracle that I have been carrying, it is absolutely the best minute (or 3 for me) of my life.

Here is where the sad, jealous and happy feelings come in for all of my new mommy friends out there (and repeat mommies, too).  I am sad that I probably won't get to experience this again, jealous that your baby is only a few days old while mine are 6, 2 and 10 months.  But, I am so incredibly happy for you all.  For the new mommies, you will absolutely learn what it is like to love something more than you have loved anything before.  It is the greatest gift to that you will ever receive. 

Trainer Workout #11

Warm up for 5 minutes.  Nothing too strenuous.

20 squats
20 lunges

Do the following circuit 4x each:
 -Barbell squats.  Take a deep breath and then sink down into a squat, breath out as you push up.  Keep knees straight on the way down but try to push your knees outward on the way up.  15x each
 -Utilizing a Roman Chair, bend over the padded portion and hang down in front.  Pull yourself up into a parallel position, bending your knees and squeezing your butt as you come up.  15x each

Rest 1-2 minutes.

Do the following circuit 1x.  Use the same leg all the way through.  Rest.  Then, switch to other side all of the way through:
 -Balance on 1 leg and bend down and touch your knuckles to the ground.  10x. 
 -Bulgarian Split Squats. Stand about 1 1/2 feet away from a bench and put one leg behind you up on the bench. Squat/lunge down while putting all your weight on the foot on the ground. Do not use the foot that is on the bench at all. 20x 
 -Step ups.  Step up on a knee high bench or chair 30x.

Rest 1-2 minutes.

Do the following circuit 3x each:
 -1 leg, standing leg curls.  15x per side
 -Holding a 10lb barbell, balance on leg and bend down and touch the barbell to the ground and raise back up.  While going down, bring opposite leg parallel to the ground.  15x per side

Do the following circuit 3x each:
 -15 shoulder press
 -Utilizing 10lb dumbbells, hold them in front of your face.  Keeping the dumbbells and arms in the same position, open your arms to the side and back.  (Arms will be bent at the elbow pointing upward holding the dumbbells, move out to the side and then back to in front of your face). 12x

Plank:
 -While balancing on your arms (push-up ready position) hold for 1 minute.  3x

You are finished!T

Puke City

This week has been one of those shall we say "trying weeks".  Out of the blue, Caleb threw up a bottle.  I don't mean he threw it up, I mean it was like a cannon coming out of his mouth.  He had no other symptoms, wasn't acting bad, wasn't overly cranky but just could not keep his bottle down.  I was instructed to give him Pedialyte every 10 minutes for 4 hours.  If he kept that down, then increase the dosage until I got to 8 hours.  If he kept that down, then go back to the bottle.  Well . . . we always made it to the 8 hour mark and as soon as I gave him a bottle, right back out it would come.  That baby only had 3 bottles in 3 days and he threw those up.

So as if Mommy wasn't a walking zombie already, Wednesday Kanin throws up.  Same thing--no other symptoms.  Then, at midnight that night, Gracie throws up.  Gracie continued to throw up every hour for about 6 hours.  All over her bed, pillows, floor, herself, etc. etc.  I am talking puke city around my house.

In the midst of all of the puking, I remember having the distinct thought that it didn't even really bother me (that much) that Caleb had thrown up on me and that it was running down my leg.  I always heard people say things like "When it's your own child those things don't really gross you out" and surprisingly, it didn't.  I was more concerned with why they were all sick and what I could do to make sure they stay dehydrated than by the fact that I had baby slobber, goo, formula and just plain 'ole chunks running down my leg.

Crazy how motherhood can change you.

Sleeping Beauty

Do you know how many times I have fallen asleep like this (minus the binky)?

Kanin's Last Soccer Game, May 8, 2010

So, does it make me a bad mom to say that I am so happy that soccer is over?  I loved watching Kanin play and he had a good time playing but it was so hectic every Saturday morning going straight from hockey practice right to soccer games, scarfing down lunch, getting Kanin changed from hockey gear to soccer game, getting the babies dressed appropriately, etc. etc. 

I was warned, too, about Spring soccer games.  We got rained out more times than not and ended up having makeup games on random days.

But, oh, what fun Kanin had.  I was really surprised at how good he was since he has never played before, other than in the front yard with Gaga.  He learned a lot from the first game and ended up actually trying to pass the ball some rather than just keeping it to himself.

He is a pretty good dribbler, too.  Scott says he takes after him.  LOL

Then, there is this look and I guess it made all of the hassle worthwhile.  Here is the obligatory trophy (he doesn't know that we didn't used to get trophies just for participating).  He thought this part was really cool and it is sitting proudly on his dresser.

See his black eye?  Yeah, that's a whole other story.

Where Is My Baby?

Where, oh where, did my itty, bitty baby go?  It seems like everyday Caleb is doing something new.  He has 4 or 5 teeth on top and 2 or 3 teeth on the bottom.  I know that I should know the exact number of teeth but YOU try sticking your finger in that mouth. 

He is definitely one of the joys of my life!

Look at how much he has learned and grown in just 2 weeks!

Caleb pulling up on April 26, 2010

Caleb high crawling on May 7, 2010

Caleb crawling on May 11, 2010  (just started "for real" doing this today)

Only 2 more months and my baby will be 1.  Can't even believe it.

Thank You, God

Thank you God for my 3 beautiful babies.  You have allowed me to realize what it is like to love someone more than myself.  They are my reason for living.  They make me laugh, cry, smile, rant, rave, cheer and pray.  They bring out the best in me and make me want to hide the worst in me.  They give me more joy than I could have ever imagined.  Life may have been easier before them but it certainly wasn't as interesting.

Kanin Joshua Riley born November 15, 2003.  6lbs 1 oz, 21 inches

GracieAnn Elaine born July 1, 2007.  6lbs 13oz, 19 inches

Caleb Scott James born July 3, 2009.  6lbs 5oz, 19 1/2 inches

Trainer Workout #10

Warm up for 5 minutes.  Nothing too strenuous.

Do the following cirucit 3x:
  -Inclined Bench Press 15x (I just did the bar)
  -Seated Row 15x (50lbs)
  -Overhead press with small barbell (20lbs) 15x

Rest 2-3 minutes

Do the following circuit 3x:
  -Inclined Press with 20lb dumbells 12-15x
  -Pull Downs (hands out really far, bring down to chin) (60 lbs) 12-15x
  -Standing flyes 15x (10 lbs)

Rest 2-3 minutes

Do the following circuit 3x:
  -15-20 push-ups (15 boy or 20 girl)
  -Standing rows 15x (15lbs)
  -Using 5lb weights, bring your arms straight up out in front of you.  When hands are in front of you, turn them so the weight is parallel to the floor.  Then twist your hands back to where the weights vertical (perpindicular) to the ground and then lower your hands back down.  15x

Rest 2-3 minutes

Plank for 1 minute-3 x.

You are finished!
 

I Can See Clearly Now

Today was a very exciting day at the Westerhold house.  As you know, we bought this foreclosed house back in December 2008.  There are so many different things that need to be done to this house but one thing that was vital was to cut down some over-grown trees in our backyard.

I guess one of the previous owners had planted some trees and then they sprouted out until it became one big mess.  There were 7 trees in our little backyard with roots growing on top of the ground.  We never went back there and the kids never played because it was so full of holes and roots that it just wasn't a good area.

Well, finally, we got started on some renovating and the trees came down today.  All of our neighbors were just as excited as we were.  In fact, dad and our neighbor, Corey, sat outside all day and watched all of them come down.  I have to tell you that we were amazed at how precise the cuts were and how they had to hang the ropes just right so that the branches would fall exactly where they wanted.  All in all, it took about 10 hours.


First cut!

View from the deck at the house directly behind us.

This was the first tree that they took down and as soon as they started, it made a world of difference.  We can actually see the neighbor's house now.

This was actually 2 trees that had grown together and they were totally rotted in the middle.  They would have eventually fell over into the neighbor's yard.

Tackling the cottonwood . . .

This cottonwood tree has been such a pain for the entire neighborhood.  When it blooms, there are literally little pieces of cotton floating in the air (hello, allergies!!).  The cotton gets sucked up into each neighbor's air conditioner filter so everyone had to make sure to constantly spray them down.  Our garage has cotton pockets everywhere.  So happy to see it come down.

This was amazing to see and scary for the guy up in the tree.  He cut it and it was just hanging in the air parallel to the ground.  When he cut it the whole tree shook.

The last of the tree coming down.  I video taped this, too.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1LX2jhZO24

After taking down the trees, then they had to grind the stumps.  There were so many roots above ground and the roots were so big that they almost dug up the entire backyard.

Where the cottonwood tree used to be.  Notice the next door neighbor who came out to check it out.

It honestly looks like a whole new yard.  It doubled the size.  There is obviously still a lot of work to do but we are so happy with this start!