And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Blessings

I have so many little good things to share.   God has blessed our house so many times, and I just want to share the joy with everyone.   I don't really have one specific topic, and I think that listing out what I have seen lately is the easiest, and the best way to share what little joys my life has had in the past few weeks.

1.  This pregnancy has been such a blessing for me.  I am so excited to be having another sweet little girl!  I love to feel her kick me, and nudge inside when I am doing something she likes or doesn't.   I feel like she is saying "hey mom, I am in here and I love you."   I cannot wait to show her just how much I already love her and how amazing she already is.   When you have your first child you learn that you have a whole new level of love, and you never thought you could love someone quite this much.  When you have your second you learn that each child is loved that much, and your heart literally grows another for each child.  Now, I get to have that for a third time. 

2.  Samantha is blossoming at school.  She is loving, and sweet, and so caring.  The first day of school, Bill and I came together to pick Samantha up and she was in her classroom.  She didn't know that we could hear and see her.   There was another child crying and she went right up and offered to make them feel better.  She wanted to give him chinners (a strange thing that we do in our family where you bump your chin on someone to let them know that you have overwhelming love for them.  It is kind of like a big hug.  I know it sounds weird, but it is one of those things your kids make up and it gets incorporated and becomes dear to you.)  She settled on hugging the crying child instead, and I was so proud of her for stepping right up.

3.  Phebe is getting to be so big.  I am overwhelmed by how mature, and how understanding she is.  I cannot believe it is going by this fast, and that she is already about to turn 9.  How did it go by so fast.   I am so thankful that I have been around for everything from her first words to her first day of school, to her first crush.  I have not had to miss a moment, and I am so thankful for that.

4.  A note on kids who are NOT my kids, but I consider them honorary kids.   Parker (bestfriend's son)  last week made my ENTIRE day because he hugged me 3 times before leaving, and then had to come back to the door again to hug me and tell me he loved me.   I love it!  Robby (other best friend's son) always comes over and compliments my cooking and tells me how delicious everything is.  It is really sweet and nice to hear!

That is all just a blog of happiness.

Friday, September 16, 2011

The baby stole my brain-working out with a cold

I don't have a title for this blog mostly because I don't have any real reason to blog.  I just felt it necessary since I have not written anything in months.   I am going to pull out the mom card here, and say this baby ate my brain.  I cannot even start a book I haven't read before without confusion.   I have a list of interesting blogs that I can start and should be able to write, but I don't have the mental capacity to try it.  

In reflection of my life this past week, being both pregnant and sick, I decided to make today's blog about working out with a cold.  Obviously, regular moderate exercise is something that will prevent a cold.  According to a lot of findings, exercise helps make your immune system more capable of fighting off a cold or a flu.  But what do you do when you have already gotten a cold?  Should you workout, or should you skip for a few days and rest?

There are a few rules of thumb for working out with a cold.

1.  Listen to your body.  If you are extremely tired, or have a higher heart rate already due to decongestants then take it easy..  Decongestants and a few other cold medications are known stimulants, and you might find yourself short of breath a lot easier.  If you just have a head cold, go ahead and workout.
2.  Don't workout if your chest is congested or if you have a fever.  The rule of thumb is if you have a head cold, go ahead and do some moderately intense workout.  But if your chest is congested, or you already have a fever it is better for you to rest and stay in bed.    
3.  Stick to moderate intensity.  It is never a good idea to do a really intense workout when you are sick.  Moderate intensity however, should help your immune system along on the process.  If you are tired, but still feel the need to do something try yoga, pilates or a short walk.
4.  Rest and drink up.   Don't forget to drink plenty of fluids and in general let your body rest more than normal.

Back to heal myself.  :)