Narrow Escape

This weekend was a "blah" weekend. Boom had a bit of a cold, and my husband and I were tired and didn't feel like going out, so we did the hermit thing. The only time anyone got out was my husband taking Boom to tennis lessons on Saturday, and me, to get my hair colored, which I absolutely hate doing.

Until I started to go seriously gray, I never even went near a salon. I always feel as if it is a colossal waste of time, I do not like the gabbing gossip that goes on, and I hate the smell and feel of the "product" that is applied to my sensitive skin. However, when you are of "advanced maternal age" and your kids are 4 and 2, you really need to do all you can so that people won't confuse you with the children's grandmother.

I have already gone through several audio books. I am soaking them in like a wilted houseplant that finally gets a cup of water. The minute one CD ends, my hands almost shake as I fumble to put in the next one. I am giddy to be "reading" again, and I do it constantly. I need to be careful not to have my ears plugged all the time, which I'm afraid I had, this weekend. I had to take out my headphones to hear what my boys were telling me. I even listened myself to sleep.

I finished Momzillas (Jill Kargman) The Girls of Riadh (Rajaa Alsanea) and Angela's Ashes (Frank McCourt). I am now in the middle of Teacher Man, also by Frank McCourt, and have a few lined up that I can't wait to read, for example, Leap of Faith : Memoirs of an unexpected Life by Queen Noor, aka Lisa Halaby, and Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books (Azar Nafisi.) My rental shelf contains close to 100 titles. I am in heaven.

Tomorrow I will write in my other blog about how I stopped my car, containing my boys, to get out and pick up some trash that was in the road, in front of my sister-in-law's house. 5 minutes later, a 100-foot tree dropped on the very spot. Needless to say, I am very happy that we were spared. That tree would have landed on me or on our car, and would surely have maimed or killed one, two, or all three of us.

I feel very lucky tonight. Hey, it's not every weekend that you can say you had a close brush with the unimaginable.

Honey, I ate too much baklava!

Today I got my period, and I didn't know it. So far, not one cramp. It remains to be seen whether or not the IUD removal was a success, but so far, so good.

FedEx brought me a brand new set of pots, all stainless steel. Tomorrow I am doing a serious triage in my kitchen, getting rid of a lot of toxic stuff.

Speaking of toxic-- today I made a killer baklava and had two pieces. I feel as if I have a brick in my stomach. I can't decide if it was worth it, although it was the most divine baklava I have ever eaten in my life. I will be sure to post the recipe, which I got from an 81-year-old Greek man. Brief preview: almonds and Greek honey :)

Yes, evil carbs and lots of butter-- but tomorrow I am skating *and* lifting 120 pounds!
Read Flowers in the Snow

One two oh.

Today, I looked at my file at Dr. Z's, and was shocked to see that when he started me on the dead lifts, it was with a mere 20 pounds. Twenty! That's it!

When I pointed this out to him, he said, "Wanna do 120, just to say you went 100 pounds over what you started with?"
"Sure," I said," thinking he was joking.
He was not.
Not only did I do lifts with 120 pounds, but I did an extra one, just because I realized I could.

I walked out of there, feeling like, well, 120 million bucks. Not to mention that I walked out of there with no pain, anywhere.

I need a pointy hat

Ice skating, today, was necessary. Glad I went for half an hour, even though I was cold because I had left my helmet and gloves in the car.

This morning, I woke up the witch from hell, and everyone was better off to stay away from me.

Dead lifts with 110 pounds today. Major ice cream attack after dinner. I ate as much as I wanted, with cream, nuts, and dried cherries, and it was *good*. OK, so I knew I was eating too much. But once in a while, you just have to do what you want.

Dr. Z. thinks I have estrogen dominance. I have a saliva kit ready to go, to daily measure hormone levels and see what is going on.

If he can fix this, well... I have no idea what I would owe the man.

Oh, and I finished The Bone Yard. The book sucked, but it was a book. I signed up for a book on CD rental service, and have Running with Scissors on the way.

Happily exhausted

Today was an extremely long day.

We got to the farm at exactly 10, when they opened, we had a blast getting pumpkins right out of the field, we went on a hay ride, a Clydesdale wagon ride, and there were dozens of activities for the little ones, including grinding corn and a zip line. There were farm animals to see (I was more interested than the boys) drainage pipes for slides (climbing on hay to get up to them) and tiny tractors to ride.

Boom found a Wooly Bear caterpillar, who is now sleeping happily in a container in our fridge. Why? Because he is supposed to be dormant right now, according to this site. Oh, the things you learn, when you have little boys.

The weather was perfect.

My body held up well for all of the running around and climbing and carrying tired little boys. I honestly would not have been able to do this, 3 months ago.

Interestingly enough, neither child napped (Stefan for 1/2 hour only, on the way back) and they continued to play hard at home. I guess they got on such a high that they never stopped.

Everyone *just* got to sleep. I am crashing.

Fun is so exhausting, LOL.

Saturday

This is the USDA Recalls, Withdrawals and Alerts web page, something I wish I would have found a long time ago. Now, I check it at least a couple of times a week.

Good day today. For some reason, I am craving peanut butter. I like to eat it with plum butter (D'arbo-- I get it at World Market) instead of Jelly. Deeeee-licious!

I found this brand, Smart Balance Omega, that tastes incredible and is made with flax seed oil-- but I don't give it to my guys, because a very reputable doctor told us that flax seed oil has been shown to cause prostate cancer in men.

Dead lifted 110 pounds at Dr. Z's today. The weight lifting is getting intense. The goal, he says, is to go as high as I can, where I can only do a few reps before I get to failure. Well, 110 pounds felt OK! I know I can go higher. I hope my hand bones and tendons can handle all that weight

.

My baby boy was in a wonderful mood today, my big boy was helpful and well-behaved, and I am loving life.

Today I took Boom to open house at our local fire station, and while he enjoyed the huge moon-bounce style slide and miniature fire truck rides, I talked to the chief and checked out their new unit (ambulance) put into service just 2 months ago. Wow, how things have changed in 10 years. It was fun to show my son all the equipment, and to explain to him the uses of the different things we saw. Not to mention, climb into all the trucks, and go into the firehouse.

But it got me wistful, too. I sure do miss working as an EMT.

Tomorrow we are driving south for about an hour and a half to go to a real pumpkin patch-- the kind where you have to go on a hay ride to get to where the pumpkins actually grow. The weather is scheduled to be perfect.

And since my back is perfect, too, I just can't wait.

Hope your weekend is just as good.

Read Flowers in the Snow

Vastus!

Yesterday, I told Dr. Z that my outer thigh is hurting, and said that it feels like a muscle pull. "It probably *is* muscular at this point, " he said.
He then instructed me to get down into a lunge position and lean forward, stretching the vastus muscles, asking if it hurts. It didn't. He then reached for my hips and twisted me to the side. "How about now?"
"Ouuuuchhhh!"

I was convinced I would be hobbled from that point. But when I got up...nothing.

"How does that feel?" he asked.

I wiggled my hips. I jumped up and down.

The pain was, unbelievably, 100% gone.

It stayed gone, and right now, it is minor. I went ice skating today for half an hour, with no ill effects.

Have I mentioned that I love that man?

Had a great time this morning while the kids were at school, despite really awful PMS.

First I went Christmas/birthday shopping, and for myself I got, for the first time ever, a book on CD.

This one ---->

I have to admit, I am not liking the way it is read (the reader is way too dramatic and makes the characters sound fakey when they talk) but it is nice to get to "read" a book again, and use the time spent in traffic a little more efficiently.

Since both boys and my husband have upcoming birthdays, plus Christmas is around the corner, I have been shopping for about a month. It worked very well last year, and it took all the pressure off, to get things done, and wrapped, in time. Although last year I didn't get to wrapping until Christmas Eve, because my mother-in-law was in the ICU-- and then passed away a day before my husband's birthday, on the 20th.

I'm already stoked about the upcoming holiday season. We're all healthy and in good moods, the businesses are going very well (something that was not true last year) and having less back pain gives me additional cheer.

After shopping, I went ice skating for an hour, and got to talking with a woman who recommended a skating instructor. She claims this guy is the absolute best. He happened to be on the ice coaching a little girl, who I had noticed before he showed up. She was so little, yet was skating like a little ballerina, with great confidence, plus she looked as if she was having a blast.

Exactly what I want for Boom. I put in a skating lesson request for this guy.

Hey, I might go for a few lessons myself.

Blue toenails

Yesterday I went skating again.
It was great, but I am horrified to feel that my SI pain is getting worse and worse.
I want to go right now, very badly. But I am afraid that if I continue this way, it's going to cause some irreversible damage what will completely bench me, in the long run.
The "winter fix" I get when skating is incomparable. I absolutely adore the rush of cold wind, the sound of skates scraping the ice, the glide that feels like I'm about to take flight.
OK, so now I am desperate to go.
I'll see you later.

2 PM: Well, I never went. Looked down at my toenails and decided to try giving my self a pedicure, because I do not want to go to the salon for that anymore.

I found the blue toenail polish I had purchased when Boom was a baby. Back then, I never would have contemplated using it on myself; I bought it to color code some pockets on a diaper bag.

Because Boom had told me recently that "You can have blue toenails, too, Mama!" I decided to have just that.

Not as exhilarating as skating, but it definitely is nice to have toenails that are polished-- even if they do look strange, LOL.

Read Flowers in the Snow

In the groove

Yesterday, I worked out with weights again. I upped the cable lift weights to 110 pounds. Felt pretty good all day!

Today I went ice skating. Not only was the rink full of idiots people who skated very poorly but were going way too fast and wiping out all over the place, but it was full of kids, too, who had the day off from school. When I drove in and saw the number of vehicles in the parking lot, I almost turned around. But I went in anyway, because I knew I would have been ticked if I had missed my fix, and I had waited all weekend to go again.

To my delight, this time, not only was I steady on my skates, but I found my groove and weaved in and out, avoiding collisions and wobbly skaters with pretty good skill.
Because my skates are starting to fit very well (I had them heat molded) and my feet were not killing me, so I was able to relax and just concentrate on having a good time.

I skated for an hour and a half, and came out almost high. I had a great cardio buzz happening, and, boy, was I happy with myself!

Today at the appointment with Dr. Z, when I proudly told him how I had kept working out and about the 110 pounds, he warned me not to overdo it and not to do the exercises every day.

Sigh.

I always want to do more, more, more.

People are telling me I'm a Type A personality. You think?

Today I did something I have not done in a long time: I went in the basement and worked out. It was not as it was before. All the pressure was gone. I was doing something good for my back, and strengthening my injured body. I didn't have strict impositions about time or type of exercise. I didn't feel as if I hadn't done enough. Actually, having done more than I normally do at Dr. Z's office, I felt pretty darned effective!

Surprisingly, it was Boom who said he wanted to go work out. He went through a series of weight lifting exercises, plus trampoline jumping, plus boxing with the heavy bag, complete with gloves, all under my husband's watchful eye.

It feels so wonderful to see my little guy do all this and know that he does it because it's what he sees in the home.

The coconut oil is a 10. You only need a tiny bit, it is totally tasteless and odorless, and it works beautifully. For flavor, I drizzled some extra virgin olive oil on top of our morning eggs. The breakfast smoothie I made contained carrots and avocado, and my boys practically inhaled it. Plus, all of us are taking Catalyn. This is a manufacturer that Dr. Z trusts-- all their products are pharmaceutical grade.

I am now sitting here, with Max, my cat, sleeping on my legs. Our home is clean, quiet, peaceful, and full of love.

Life is extremely good.

Ice, ice, baby

Today I managed to purchase some new Jackson skates and to go skating, without falling, at another rink in the area.

A blissful half-hour, it was. I can't wait to go again.

Mari left me a disapproving message, implying that I should do cardio "with my feet on the ground." Said that she wants to talk to me about the break I want to take.

The other studio won't give me my money back. I got a message saying they want to talk to my chiropractor and work around "whatever it is you have."

Go away, world. For now, I just want to skate.

Read Flowers in the Snow

I've got a lovelee buncha coconuts...

I am very impatiently waiting for my coconut oil order from Tropical Traditions. I was shocked to find out that it is actually healthier to cook with that than with any other oil, because other oils have a very low-temp disintegration point and become unhealthy when heated.

The first coconut oil I tried, from Whole Foods, was not deodorized, so my family did not like the coconutty goodness of Sunday's eggs. Mrs. Z. recommended this one, which is all she uses to cook.

In addition, coconut oil contains lauric acid, one of the compounds found in breast milk. Who knew?

Click here if you are interested in more!

Feeling lighter

There comes a time when you just have to put that white flag on the stick and wave it.


Flicked some things off my overloaded plate today.

First of all, I called Pilates Studio Number One and told them I will not come back. I asked them to refund the 5 remaining lessons, which they will probably do.
Called Mari and told her I am taking a 2-month hiatus. The rush on Wednesdays to go pick up the boys, drive them home, rush to class within a 10-minute window, and then go straight to the doctor, all the while praying that traffic will cooperate-- just too much. Plus, I want to let my spine heal before stressing it any more.

So, today I am feeling lighter-- OK, not poundage-wise, but at least, a little less crazed.

I got a call from the Russian skating instructor I requested at the ice rink. She has a 2-year-old and can only do lessons at 6 or 8:30 (!) PM. Not the most convenient time, so I told her I'd get back to her. Her mom is coming from Russia in November, and staying 6 months, at which time the instructor will be available during the day. Much better for all of us.

Dinner at our house is normally a 7-person affair, and it falls on my shoulders 99% of the time, so I'd really like to keep dinnertime stable. I like to have a nice, nutritious dinner every night, if possible. It's good to just sit and connect with family. Also, to have a lesson at 6 would mean too much juggling. I am just too tired to juggle right now.

Darned mid-back feels tight, but other than that, no pain.

Oh-- and today Dr. Z had me dead lifting 100 pounds.

One hundred pounds.

I've never lifted 100 pounds in my entire life.

Today I did 6 times, injured.

Nice.

Pain is still nasty in my mid-back. The rest of me is doing OK. My husband took the kids to school this morning, and I went back to bed and slept until noon.

Today Dr. Z. surprised me by restarting my therapy with dead lifts at 90 pounds, which I had been doing. I did all the exercises, with heavy weights, despite my back smarting. Hey, he knows what he's doing. He said I would work through this, which is just fine with me.

Have to go lie down, because sitting really hurts. Plus, for some reason, I am sleepy despite the 12 hours of sleep I got last night.