Day Five of Twenty-one

I let myself sleep in this morning. What a waste of what could be the only nice day this spring. After I arose I ate a breakfast of oatmeal, fruit and a cup of tea. I made a grocery list and left to pick up the younger one from art class. I saw Carolin's family there as well as the Little One also takes the same art class.
My younger son and I went to Costco and stocked up. Many dollars poorer we went home for lunch. I ate some whole grain chips with spinach dip for lunch. (oops!) Drank a glass of water and went outside to garden. I gardened for about an hour and a half. I came in and drank some more water and went straight downstairs to log my activity credits on the Wii. While it was on I did a 15 minute yoga routine to stretch out and a few balance games. I was pretty proud of myself as I was not sure if I would have made the time to exercise or not.
Well, dinner is bbq'd steak with potato salad and wine. (Hubby just bought a new bbq in case you were wondering)

I am watching my food portion size and am hoping that along with the exercise I will start to slim down and tone up. I do feel better, mood wise so wish me luck for the rest of the days to come. I sincerely hope this will turn into a lifelong habit!

Catch Up Fridays

(Carolin) I guess I won't give Cathy a hard time for setting up the blog (with nothing in it!) as she has been so good blogging for the last three days and getting us another follower! Way to go Cathy, add double the amount of Wii fitness credits to your account, go ahead you deserve it. (Sunshine) I big welcome to our new follower.

(Cathy) You'll give me double the fitness credits! This way I won't have to exercise today! Ok, just kidding. If I don't exercise today I think Carol (in Calgary) will send me a nasty message.

I PVR'd the wedding as I decided to sleep in this morning. I woke up when Sunshine called me this morning. Hey Sunshine, what time was it when you called? I lazed about a bit more then decided to get up and watch the wedding. I love the PVR as I can fast forward through the boring bits.

Let's see, what did I eat for breakfast. I scrambled two eggs, heated up leftover chili, toasted one slice of homemade whole wheat bread and a cup of tea. I will try for fruit for lunch. I don't think I will make pizza for dinner tonight which will be protested by the males of my household. I think I will make chicken. I just have to decide what part of the world I will be inspired from.

I will be doing laundry while watching the wedding. I hope it doesn't rain this weekend so I can get out and garden.

Its been a long week even though it has been a short week. Does that make any sense? I have been busy at work and I am driving out east to camp Friday night and cooking three meals on Saturday for a work crew of 40 that will be there. I feel the same way. For some reason every short week always feels just as long and sometimes longer then a regular week. So you are going to cook at camp. I really think that you are a gluten for punishment.

I have been nagging the little one all week trying to get her work on her Ancient Civilization project. She is doing an Ancient Roman Atrium House and it is due this Monday. Nag, Nag, Nag. Oh, now I see why you are going away to camp for the weekend, or is she coming with you?

Cathy are you serious about volunteering for me? If so I might be able to use you May 13th for about two hours. Friday's are normally a busy day, but we also have burger day (about 150 - 200 extra mouths to feed) and I have a Principal's luncheon to feed and serve (another 40 - 50 people) All at the same time! If you want I will give you more info the closer we get to the date. Yes, Cathy, put your money where your mouth is.
No problem. I'm off on Friday so I can help you out!

Ok, so I am sure that you have all noticed that I am grumpy. Well, I have a good reason for that. I am now on about a month and a half of TMI. My Iron is very low and my hemoglobin is also low. So, I am really tired and very irritated. I saw the doctor again today. He ran some tests last week. That was the first time that I ever had a trans vaginal ultrasound (internal). I really did not like it at all. Anyhow, apparently I am definitely not going through any kind of menopause what so every, not pre, or peri or what ever else there may be. The better news is that I do not have uterine cancer or anything like that (a huge load off my mind). The suspicion is fibroid degeneration and the treatment for now is drum roll please. I have been put on the pill for the first time in 46 years. It was a little bit embarrassing as I had absolutely no idea that you had to follow a schedule in taking it properly. I am supposed to take it for two months and hopefully that will work and if not then the next step will be a DNC. I really hope not to have to go that route but we will see. I guess the biggest issue is blood loss and becoming so anemic that other complications will arise. I am to increase my iron pills and hope for the best. Please, please wish me luck. It has been one thing after the other health wise since last July. I am ready to feel good again really soon. Ok, I did laugh about the "Pill" part; I sincerely hope it works. Me Too! I was eating a piece of Banana Bread when I read Sunshine is going on the Pill and choked cause I was laughing.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!!

Day Four of Twenty-One

It's my day off and I spent it watching the Royal Wedding. What a beautiful wedding gown! Everyone looked really nice. Kate's sister looked stunning in her gown as well. It was a beautiful ceremony.

Just to recap, (if you read, "Catch Up Fridays"), for breakfast I enjoyed scrambled eggs with chili and toast with a cup of tea. For lunch I made oatmeal with a cup of berries; oh, and a cup of tea. I did drink two glasses of water as well. Dinner is bbq'd chicken with salad.

In between lunch and dinner I exercised for 46 minutes on my Wii. I let the Wii configure a 30 minute workout mixing both yoga and strength exercises. I do not like the plank! After I did about 15 minutes of aerobics.

It does feel good and I hope I continue.
On to day five!

Day Three of Twenty One

When the alarm went off this morning I thought of many reasons not to get up. I finally sucked it up and off to work I went. What a messy morning....lots of cancelled flights and frustrated passengers. (As an aside, do any of you think airline workers should be deemed an essential service?) As a result of being super busy there was no time to take a break. Time passed quickly and boy was I hungry when I got home. I ate a slice of pizza, a brownie and a cup of tea! Yummy! (not very good for loosing weight though) Instead of exercising I fell asleep on the couch for three hours. Yech! I shook myself awake and ate some trail mix with a glass of milk. That's healthy, isn't it?
The older one had to be picked up at school after band practice. I was very proud of myself because when I came back home I worked out on the Wii for 45 minutes! I found out that I could program a streamlined workout with both yoga and strength training. It was actually fun! I then did about ten minutes of aerobics. I have to start wearing a pedometer again at work as I would like to see how many steps I take with this new shift. I can add "fit credits" to the Wii.

Dinner was bbq'd chili dogs, home fries and salad. It was really good; Hubby put it all together. I only had a small helping using a luncheon plate rather than filling a dinner plate.

I'm off for the next two days. Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. Is anyone going to get up early to watch the wedding? I think I will PVR it and watch it when I get up!

Day Two: on the way to 21 Days

It was a really foggy morning and I really had to concentrate on the drive to work this morning. Worked a couple of flights in four hours (lots of fog delays) then left work. I stopped at the grocery store on the way home for milk and when I reached home I realized that I did not have time to work out on the Wii as I had volunteer time this afternoon at the kid's elementary school.
So, I ate lunch of leftover potatoes, green beans and carrots and a chicken hot dog with chili sauce. I enjoyed a cup of tea and went to school. After school I picked up the kids from band practice, came home and ate a whole wheat wrap with lettuce and fake crab with a glass of milk. Next, I drove the younger one to his honour band practice.
Finally, when I came home Hubby was home so we took the dog for a nice long walk. Ahhhh, exercise at last! One more thing to do. I just have to pick up the younger one and afterwards I will pour myself to bed to sleep, perchance to dream!

Day One on New Shift

Carol in Calgary says, "just do it!" So, ok, today when I came home I drank a glass of water and went downstairs and did a thirty minute workout with my Nintendo Wii. I was really hungry afterward so I ate two slices of leftover pizza and some bbq potato chips. Huh!

Tomorrow will be better yet. How many days to become a habit?

Catchup Fridays

(Sunshine) Today is Good Friday. We are meeting later for fish and chips. Today's venue will be at a Golf Course and there is a modest crowd of 27 of us. Unfortunately, Louise and her kids will not be able to join us this year.

For a short week, it seemed really long to me. Work was busy and life at home is busy as well. This weekend we will be at my brother in law's for Easter on Saturday and at my sister's on Sunday. I am off the hook and loving every minute of it. (Cathy) Good for you! You deserve to just go and enjoy for a change. Although, you did clean the house for all your visitors on Good Friday. Which, by the way was a great time! The food was great and the location was beautiful! Thanks again to Mr. Sunshine for making all of the arrangements. The fish was very good Mr. Sunshine.

My sister in law and her Hubby arrived from Paris just in time to join us all for Good Friday dinner. They had a great time and enjoyed meeting everyone. Maybe, they will drive out from B.C. to join us again next year! (Carolin) I think it is so cool that you can be eating breakfast in Gay Paris (as happy and cheerful) and then traditional Good Friday fare in a small town outside of Toronto. Our younger one was at his girlfriend's for dinner. Saturday he will have some friends over for homemade pizza and pop. We will have Easter dinner at my parent's home on Sunday.

Sounds like you two got out of cleaning and cooking this weekend, lucky you. I, on the other hand will have 17 for dinner on Sunday. I am cleaning and cooking. What are you cooking? Ham, roast chicken and scalloped potatoes. Oh yeah and two lemon meringue pies. The guests are bringing the rest.

I enjoy my conversations with Teen Sunshine yesterday and wish I tape recorded it. I love all the dreams and enthusiasm she has for what she would like to do in the future. I wish I could bottle that up and be able to give back to her and all the other teens I chat with everyday. Some of these dreamers will have their dreams come true, others will follow their plans and then realize it really wasn't their dream after all. Others will have life get in the way and their dreams will change. But I would like to take that bottle of dreams and enthusiasm and sprinkle it on them over the years when they feel discouraged, frustrated and just tired. That was so beautifully said!

I start my new shift this Tuesday. The alarm will go off at 4:00am. Oh, well, it's work. Keep it quiet would you when you are getting ready for work in the middle of the night, some of us will still be sleeping. (I promise to do my best, lol!)

It is a busy weekend for us as it both boys birthdays, Easter, and Earth Day. I hope it doesn't snow! Happy birthday boys!
Happy Easter everyone!!!!!!!!

Catch Up Fridays

(Cathy) Hey Sunshine..... where are you? Sunshine and I have been playing phone tag for a few days. It's shocking to think that we have not really had a good long chat since she's come back from Hawaii! I am so grateful for this blog so we can stay in touch as life seems to be moving along at a clip! I also love it as I can keep up with my girlfriend, Carol, in Calgary. So everyone...should I join Curves or not? That is my question for the week. I work a four hour shift in the morning and was thinking I could just go to Curves straight after work. I would then exercise for 30 minutes and go home. Is it worth the money? From what I can find online the cost is about $40/month plus a $150 start up fee? Would this be better for me than walking the dog for 30 minutes/day (when I walk him) and there is gardening starting up. I also have the Wii Fit, however, it continues to send me dirty looks as I look at it instead of working with it! Would I use Curves or would I stop after a while? I know only I have the answer to that one! I am thinking because I am driving straight there after work that I will go. If I were to go home first..... well there is the pull to sit and enjoy a cup of tea; one of my great pleasures! Where will my willpower come from? I do not want to wait for a "health event" to force me to comply. I want to avoid that consequence and I am trying not to take my health for granted. I am a Gemini.... I know, say no more.....please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Carolin) I have read your blog yesterday and today and Cathy I am pretty sure I have burned a few thousand calories. Holy exhausting go if you want to go, don't go if you don't want. But just make a decision and don't analyzed to death. If you go you could meet some new people which might be nice for all of us (jokes). Why Curves? Why not the rec centre or other fitness places. I would think the rec centre would be cheaper and during the day it would be filled with women or old men mostly. (Sunshine) Hello everyone. Cathy, any exercise is good for you. As long as you start somewhere and continue doing something. You are at a good place in your life. You are young and healthy and you want to stay that way and you have the good insight to find a positive way to continue that road of healthy living. I personally think that you are the kind of person that will get good use out of a membership because I really do believe that if you pay for it, then you will force yourself to use it. Also, I really think that if you pay for it, then hubby will certainly hound you to make sure that you go on a consistent basis. Take the plunge!!!!! It is going to be a rainy weekend. On a positive note, only two more months of work until summer vacation. I am so looking forward to being off. Carolin, are you off for the summer or are you filling every moment with work? Everyone here is dong well. Mr Sunshine is home after being away for two weeks minus about 12 hours so I am in a really good mood. Easter is around the corner and it looks like it will be a very busy weekend. Carolin I know that you are in for Good Friday annual fish and chips outing. Cathy I am still a little bit unsure if you are definitely joining us or not. How about Louise, has anyone talked to her? The next two weeks at work will be short weeks because of Good Friday and Easter Monday. yay!!! Have a great weekend everyone!!!!!!!

Catch up Fridays

(Sunshine) Hello everyone. How is everyone doing? It's been a very uneventful week. After the very busy birthday weekend, its been a very slow work week. It is so slow around there that I am so bored. Mr Sunshine is away all week and the girls are busy with school and sports and other activities. FYI, I think that we are now on day 24 of TMI. (Carolin) Day 24! Are you sure this is normal pre menopausal stuff? (Cathy) 24days! I think I would have no more hair on my head! I'm with Carolin, is this normal? No hair on your head! How do you have your periods Cathy? Work is work, busy like usual, I have been getting food ready for this weekend's 30 hour famine. Which sounds weird as it's a no eating thing. After it is over all the students have a big BBQ so that is what I have been ordering and organizing. I am enjoying "American Idol" this season. Love Steven Tyler and J Lo(is that how it's spelt?). The contestants are all so very talented. "Dancing with the Stars" is also somewhat entertaining this season. I am enjoying watching Kirsty Alley and the karate kid (Ralph Mucho (Macchio)or something like that). I, as usual haven't seen these shows but I have watched a couple of episodes of Celebrity Apprentice. And I am liking it! Nascar. It's all about Nascar in our home! I can't really think of anything else to say at the moment. My goodness can you be just a little more boring. Well, I am glad Sunshine that you are having a calmer week, albeit boring. At our home we did a bit of spring cleaning this week. Yuck! It was kind of funny when I asked the older one to dust the walls! He looked at me like I had lost it and said, "dust the walls?" He did go and dust the walls and was he ever surprised at the dust that sticks to vertical walls! Lesson learned! The younger one learned how to thoroughly clean a bathroom. It was interesting to see how tidy their bathroom stayed this week, lol! As for Good Friday, two things. One, it's the younger one's birthday and second Hubby's sister and brother in law are coming home from Paris that afternoon. So, at the moment I am not sure how it will all play out. Before we knew the arrival date we were game for fish and chips! I will keep you updated! Carolin, see you tomorrow morning! Good Friday fish and chips is good for us same place same time? Everyone is welcome back at our place. Let me know so I can be a little more prepared. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!!!

Catch Up Fridays

(Cathy) Hi ladies! I am so glad this week is over! It was shift bid week and you know how stressful that is for all of us! Well, let's just say that the shifts continue to degrade. This will be life for the next six months: I will work five days with Friday and Saturday off. The shift is from 5:30am until 9:45am! Even less sleep! I will have to wake up at 4am! Ugh! (Sunshine) Sorry to here about that Cathy. I know how much we all love working five days a week, sucks!!! We are in birthday party mode as little Miss Sunshine has just turned 11. It is party weekend for Saturday and Sunday and Friday was her friends party. I am tired already just thinking about it. My sister in law had her baby last week. She is so cute and so small and everyone is doing well. (Carolin) Congratulations to all All is well around here, nothing new or different. Mr Sunshine is away all next week, so I am preparing myself for a busy and very moody week. Well I hope that I can control the moodiness so that the girls don't have to deal with it. I am usually pretty good until closer to the end of the week. That is usually when my exhaustion and frustration start to kick in, just before his plane lands. I think that your body instinctively knows that it can start to relax again and you finally start to feel what you have been suppressing all week. I suppose the good thing is that my period should hopefully be over by then as I have had it know for about 15 days. Pre menopause fun wow!!!!! I know, I knwo TMI!!!!!! 15 days! What the heck kinda crap is that? I got to the little ones Art Class early to pick her up so I thought I would spend the time doing some work. I am sitting in my car talking to a supplier trying to get some food prices for a Fundraiser Dinner next week. When this guy parks in front of me and gets out of his car I think wow that guy looks like Cathy's hubby. Well as he gets closer low and behold it is him. Seems his son in at the same art class. I couldn't get off the phone so Cathy went and got the little one for me, Thanks Cathy. In the car driving home and asking the little one if she recognized anyone at art class. Her friends from church Sam and Jasmine are back and yes she saw Cathy's son but she said they didn't talk. And then she said there was a girl standing beside her and she looked familiar so she asked her if they went to the same school? Seems they do and this girl is in grade 4 but she didn't know her name. I asked the little one how she felt being so popular and knowing so many people. She said she liked it. Have a great weekend everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!