It's Football Season!!

Rodney, my oldest child, is enjoying a nice start to the football season. He is the starting running back for O'Dea High School. After last night's game, he enjoyed a little print in the local newspapers. "Rodney Stokes led the charge with 90 yards and a score on just four carries . . ." The Seattle PI "Rodney Stokes, a senior running back, had 91 yards on 4 carries, which included a 34-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. " The Seattle Times

As is usually the case, I just don't have the right photo equipment to capture sports shots, but I used my little sony camera to catch 10 seconds of his first run. I was out of battery power by the time he scored a touchdown. Take a moment to enjoy my 30 second home movie. Yes, like most filmmakers, I managed to multiply the actual substantive film with a lot of fluff.

Healthy Baby Girl and the naming wars

Okay, so it's been awhile since my last post. I have three sets of ultrasounds of our baby girl. The amnio was easy and provided very positive results. The full scan was also very positive. So, we don't have a thing to worry about with the baby.

The scans to the left are nearly 30 days apart, June through August.

The old woman carrying her is a bit of a different story. As with my previous child, the blood pressure is beginning to creep up. The doctor decided last week to not put me on blood pressure medication, as a side effect is smaller babies. So, they will wait 6 weeks to reassess the situation. All of my measurements (protein, neck ultrasound) are within the standard ranges, so there is a good reason to be more conservative with treatment. I completely expect my gestational diabetes to show up again. I have the screening in a week. Ugh, reduced sugar intake through the holidays. That is a hard one.

We haven't decided on a name, but I like Chloe. Unfortunately, everyone else around me seems to not like it. I'm not sure that I care. If I hear another name that moves me, then I will truly consider it. My husband like Brooke or Gia. Okay, they are not horrible, but not exactly that interesting to me.

Pregnant!

Okay, I am not surprised. I knew I was pregnant during my first 5k. But, I actually saw the baby this week. I went in for a CVS, but I was only 10 weeks and 3 days, so that was an problem. It all happened for a reason, as I've decided not to do the CVS. The miscarriage rate at our hospital is 1-2%, which is nearly the same as my chances of having a birth defect. So, I will have the integrated screen and then an amnio, much lower rate of miscarriages. I can wait the few extra weeks.

The baby looks fine. There was a strong heart beat and all nubby legs and arms. 42 and having baby number #3. Cool or Crazy. Only time will tell.

We have kept it very quiet. My boss knows because I kept falling asleep during meetings. Thank goodness that has passed. : 0 We do plan to tell everyone at the end of the month or early next month.

My very first 5K

I completed my first 5k today. It was great. I put Naiyah in her jogging stroller and walked and ran the 5k. My first event on Mother's Day. Yeah.

The weather is very cooperative. It was on the cool side, but for those doing the half marathon it was probably perfect. As we completed the last mile, I was more than warm enough. The 1st mile ended with a nice hill. It was great fun pushing that stroller up the hill. It really blew my plan of walk .5 and run .5. During the second mile, I was able to get in some running.

Honestly, I think I could have ran more, but the stroller held me back a bit. Oh well, it also challenged me during the hills. So, all probably evened out. I'm sure only my time suffered. My heart rate was certainly in the upper ranges.

The race is sponsored by the Hope Health Institute - http://www.promotionevents.com/events/events-08/khm/index.htm

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Triathlon Training is Intense

Okay, so much has happened since I last blogged. I have been training for a sprint triathlon. In particular, the Danskin (Yes, I got in.)on August 17th, but I hope to do others. Okay, at least one additional tri. As I mentioned in a previous post, I joined Raise the Hope with Raise the Bar. It's been interesting.



I've had some training challenges:

I am working on my swimming. I joined one of our technique classes. I think I joined it too early, as I really need to go back and relearn the basics of swimming. So, I am suspending my technique classes and picking up a twice a week swimming class.
I tried to pick up speed with my running and developed shin splints. In addition, I learned that I wasn't really stretching properly or icing my shins. So, I'm heading back to the track after a two week break tomorrow. I will need to start slow and build up.

I haven't been back on my actual bike, but I have been riding the stationary bike. I am taking the lessons learned from running and working out using Podfitness - Polar Heart Rate workouts.

This last point is very important. I believe that I am overworking and burning sugar instead of fat. I am not losing weight, but I am working out a lot. So, I am working for the next two weeks at a lower hear rate. While I was running, I would spend most of my workout with my heart rate above 160. Intense, but not smart.

I hope to report back a healthy shin and a little weight loss.

21 Day Cleanse is HARD!!

So, I haven't been the most faithful, but a lot is happening. I've had about 60% successs. Next week is the last week and I plan to do better. In fact, I plan to keep going in a modified fashion.

I have not maintained a vegan diet. I've been eating meat. BUT, I have exercised 2x in the last week and that is very good.

In addition, I am meeting with my triathlon team on Thursday, so that is also very positive. I will have my body fat measured on Monday, which should also encourage me to adopt a better diet in the upcoming month.


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2008 will be a great YEAR!!

I am very excited about the upcoming year, but before I share with you what's coming, I will admit my shortcomings for 2007.

I deviated from eating vegan food during the holidays. I ate fried turkey and ham on Thanksgiving. I had the weirdest cravings for baked chicken the following week. I went back on a vegan diet plan until Christmas. Oh, I did attempt eat fried fish 2x before Christmas and threw it up each time. I'm done with that.

So, again I had fried turkey on Christmas and other items with dairy and/or eggs during the holiday season. On New Year's Eve, I enjoyed grilled salmon and other vegetarian dishes with eggs/dairy. Today, I had a turkey sandwich.

Okay, so those have been my challenges over the last few weeks. What's next!!

21 day cleanse. Yeah, it starts on Monday, thus my continued lax approach to a vegan diet. I will be giving up processed foods during this cleanse. It takes you from a vegan diet to a raw diet over the three weeks. Very cool. This is the same cleanse as 21 Day Detox Steve's Cleanse has an advanced protocols for people who are already raw foodist. That's not me.