Weekend Recap

It has been a busy few days!  Fun, exhausting, and not so great at times, too.  The Spunky Shaylah 5K Run and 1K Inspiration Walk, a girls night out, and then little guy came down with tummy troubles.  But Friday, I did get to rest (thankfully, since Saturday morning was an early morning and came quickly!).

I was really nervous about Saturday--I have never participated in a 5K, and I had the jitters about going out that night, too.  Large crowds of people that I don't know tend to put me on edge.  But I was ready, for both the challenge of the race and for the night out with a close friend I hadn't seen in quite some time! Normally our family rolls out of bed when Z is ready, and that is usually about 7:30-8am.  However, we needed to be at the race before 8am when the 1K Inspiration Walk began to get our shirts and numbers. So we were up at 6am, not too happy about it, but glad that the weather was in the mid 60s and perfect for our little run.  We checked in, got our shirts and numbers, and went to watch the kids run in the "inspiration walk."

It was great.  :) I had a wonderful time, the route was very pretty--TONS of bluebonnets!!--and didn't have to be on a lot of streets. 

Since we are both fairly new to this 5K thing (not to mention, starting to exercise regularly), we weren't "competing" with other people.  We just wanted to join in the cause, get some good exercise, and have a nice time.  There were other people walking with strollers, lots of kids participating, so we didn't come in last.  :)  That, to me, was a win! Bonus--my legs, shins, and feet felt fine...no cramps or pain!!

Mile 3!

I was so proud of myself for finishing, I treated myself to a pair of boots I saw on clearance at Kohls (not to mention, I got an additional 30% off with my coupon) for my Girls Night Out.  It was also a ton of fun--I even stayed til closing!  I had a blast hanging with my dear friend, and also getting to do some country dancing with some of my old dance partners from my Dallas days.  :)  I had been worried that I wouldn't be able to enjoy any adult beverages, as I used to only drink ones that did have malt in in.  But I did find that cranberry juice and vodka--not Grey Goose, as that does have gluten in it--was a tasty alternative.  Yay!!  I admit--I needed the night out.  I was nervous, but turns out I can do fine on my own.  Next time, I will be less scared.  :)  I say that now, at least!  A huge thanks to my wonderful friend Maria for convincing me it was time!

Sunday was a day of resting.  It was another beautiful day, and we didn't want to stay cooped up inside, so we packed up after Z's afternoon nap and went to the park.  There were a lot of families and children there, and Z really didn't know what to do.  It is really a playground for older kiddos, but we thought that we would try the swings--and little guy REALLY didn't like that.  So we finally settled on letting him play in the grassy field by the park.  He loves to pick the grass and throw it--and then go chase Daddy around.  I love those sweet baby laughs...they really warm my heart and make me smile!

Monday Madness!!

I don't know about the rest of the world, but Daylight Savings Time has really screwed up all things sleep in this house.  The teething troubles continue, and are just compounding the loss of an hour.  Little guy doesn't realize that time has changed, and wants to stay on his normal nap schedule, which is now not possible.  So for the last two days he has not had his afternoon nap because he feels the time that I want him to go down is too early, and the time that he wants to go down is too late.  *sigh* At night he doesn't want to be by himself anymore, and can't seem to find a comfy spot--meaning hubby is up with him most of the night.  This is all adding up to a very tired bunch of people--and me not wanting to do any training for the 5k hubby and I are doing in two weeks.

Otherwise, I am trying to keep up with what I have on my plate.  I am trying to plan a super secret date for hubby and I, and a new format for this blog.  Each day will have a certain topic, and will follow that every week.  At least, that is the plan.  I tend to not stick to plans all the time, so just fair warning!

But for now, I need to get back to an unhappy toddler that is trying to take over my computer...

Teething terrors

My poor little guy is going thru a rough patch. Teething time is torture time in this house...at least, this time it is. He's sprouting two teeth right now, and it looks like a molar is trying to make its appearance as well. Of course, none of the treatments that we have used before are working this time, and he is miserable. Refusing naps, bad diapers, constant screaming, biting, lower appetite...I wish that there is more that I could do for him. *sigh* For now, all I can do is give him his teething rings, teething tablets, and Tylenol.
I am looking forward to this phase being over! That and him being able to tell me what is wrong.
Then again, I do love having him as he is now...I wish he wouldn't grow up so fast!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Catching Up

I had every intention to keep at blogging from when I wrote my first post, but life had other plans for me!  No matter, I am back.  :)

Now, the past few months have been SUPER busy.  Mostly with moving, followed immediately by little man's first birthday party, and then some health issues that I had to deal with.  Moving is done (completely unpacked!!), the party is over, and I am on track with my new diagnosis--and feeling better than ever.  So much so that hubby and I have signed up for not one, but TWO 5k events!!

Z's first birthday was wonderful, but extremely stressful.  Thanks to Pinterest, I was feeling like the most uncreative mommy on the face of the planet, not to mention lazy.  I mean, I am a SAHM, so I should be able to do all of that, right??  Mind you, I did not live up to the party I modeled after, but I did go for the "Winter One-derland" theme.  I am still very proud of what I DID do, and I will share a few pictures of my creations.

Me with one of the two food tables.

The Picture Tree

Marshmallow Snowmen (found here)

Snowman Nutter Butters

Revamped S'mores

Z's first birthday portrait and some of the food labels

Food labels

One table of food, mostly done

Cupcakes, round two (my batch failed)

Second table of food (mostly done)

Finished first table

Birthday boy eating his cupcake!

I made 17 dishes, 5 were gluten-free (we had some guests that have Celiacs, and I really didn't want them to feel left out), and I had to buy the cupcakes.  I had planned on making some awesome sounding blue velvet cupcakes in these cute snowman paper wrappers that made them look like they were melting snowmen.  However, they flopped big time, and I was rushing to the store at 10pm the night before the party, buying 6 dozen mini cupcakes since that was all they had.  I hadn't planned on making so much food, but there were three main issues:  (1) I had people that had specific dietary needs, and had to make food that they would be able to eat,  (2) I wanted to make sure that there was a balance of savory foods and sweet foods, and (3) we had invited 70+ people to this party, and not very many people RSVP'ed like they were supposed to (meaning I had NO CLUE how many were going to show!).  In the end, we had 30-35 people come, plenty of food, and a very happy (and very tired, once it was over) toddler! :)

After breathing a sigh of relief that the party headache was over (technically four migraines), I launched my never-ending quest to figure out how to make my life healthier and rid myself of prescription meds--and be done with pain.  I'm obviously not getting any younger, and soon we are going to want to start trying for another kiddo.  I won't do that while on prescription meds, as it scares me to go thru pregnancy again and running the risk of hurting our future child.  Now, because we were having guests at the party that were gluten free, I wanted to make sure when I was making the food that I was doing it correctly.  I started researching what gluten free meant, why people would want to take gluten out of their diet, and how to prepare food without gluten while still having it taste good.  It was rather interesting reading, and I noticed that a LOT of the symptoms of gluten intolerance/sensitivity were problems that I had.  I emailed my doctor right off, and she said that it would be worth checking out.  A few days later my little guy had an appointment, and I piggy backed to get a blood test done (we have the same doctor).  I was very eager to get the results, but all it said was it wasn't Celiacs.  But I had already decided to go gluten free (GF), and had been for a week.  Already I was feeling better, so it was decided by her that I was "non-Celiacs gluten intolerant." 

So now I am navigating the new waters of a lifestyle without gluten.  It isn't always easy, and I will say I get frustrated at times.  But I can't deny that there has been a major change in how I feel.  I am no longer on fibromyalgia medications.  I can walk without the pain that I had come to expect, just a feeling of normal.  I don't dread getting out of bed in the morning, or wondering how I am going to keep up with my child.  Instead, hubby and I are getting back in shape, have registered for two different 5k's, and I am a LOT more active than I used to be! Plus, I plan on sharing my favorite recipes, the ones I fail at making, and anything else that comes to mind.  :)

Happy Tuesday!!