Week 27 - big surprises!

Right before I left a friend asked if I was going to get a 3D ultrasound in my quest to find out the gender of this baby. DQ told me I should do it in VA. He figured it would be cheaper and he knows how much I want to know. So of course as soon as I got down here I Googled "3D ultrasounds-VA." There were a few places (more than in MA) and and one place was only 30 minutes from my parents house. They even had a Christmas special. That made it $50 less than the place in MA. So Sunday night I asked DQ, who wasn't coming until Wednesday, why he was willing to let me do this without him being there. DQ won't let me go to a single OB appointment without him. Why would he be willing to let me do this without him? He said that he knew how much it meant to me and figured it would be cheaper here. He also wasn't sure when he could come with me so why not get it done?

Well, that's exactly what I did! Monday morning I loaded my dad and the kids into the car and wouldn't tell them where I was going. My dad figured it out once we got there and he was so excited. The boys, again, could care less. The room was dimly lit with a large couch and a big screen TV. My dad started on couch but when the tech started putting images on the screen he hopped to the chair beside me. Our first images were of the face. The 3D part was wild. It looked like s/he was smoking a cigar but it turned out to be the umbilical cord in front of his/her face. S/he has a cute nose - I think it is my nose!

The tech asked if I wanted to know the gender and my dad and I both said "YES!!!" Just like my first ultrasound the baby was right behind my belly button so I wasn't expecting anything again. But as soon as she moved the wand over, and I saw the legs I knew exactly what I was looking at!" The tech said "without a doubt it's a GIRL!!!!!!!!" It's a GIRL!!!!!! AHH!!!!!!!!!
I was so excited and overwhelmed at the same time. It took my dad a minute to cotton on as the tech kept referring to her girl parts as a hamburger. My poor dad..."What's a hamburger?" But clear as day you could see it was a girl. Below is a picture of her face:
This actually isn't the picture I thought it was so I will try to upload some more later.

I didn't tell my mum or David right away. I wanted it to be a Christmas surprise. I was given a DVD of the entire ultrasound so my younger brother tricked my Mum and DQ into the TV room late Christmas eve. In went the DVD. It took DQ a minute but he yelled "You did it!" I think my dad spilled the beans to my mum because she wasn't as surprised as I thought she would be (although she is sitting next to me right now and says he did not tell her. That said, she wasn't too surprised when I told her I was pregnant either. Maybe it takes a lot to excite her!!! wink wink!). When we got to the part of the ultrasound with the legs and "parts" DQ kept saying he saw boy parts. Imagine HIS excitement when, typed across the screen, came "It's a GIRL!" YEA US!!!! It was a great way to end the night.

It is Christmas Day here and has been a fun morning for us all. I hope you and yours have a special holiday season!!

Til next week -
Mummy Q. - mum to two boys and A GIRL!

Week 26 - part 2

I made it out of MA before the weather got bad. We left MA around 6:00 AM. After a stop or two, we were in northern NJ and the snow started. It was pretty bad with limited visibility. The further south we went the slushier it got then it finally turned to rain. After much traffic in DC and No. Va we finally arrived at my parents house. No matter how long I have been married and out of the house this is still my "home."

Back to week 26 - it went well. I managed to get in a few walks. My doctors visit was actually pretty funny. I had the whole family with me. My own doctor was running late so I was waiting for one of the other doctors in the practice. I don't really mind if I meet everyone else or not since I have a scheduled c-section and my own doc will be doing it. That said the doctor we got was very personable and made for a fun few minutes.

I gained one pound which this doctor said was fine. Then he measured my "bump." He said I was measuring big but that was OK since my c-section was scheduled. He asked how big the boys were at birth (7 lbs and 10 lbs). When he heard about the 10 lb'er he said "WOW - good thing you are having a c-section!" We all chuckled. Then the doc listened to the heartbeat. Again it was in the 150's. DQ and I were getting all excited at which point the doctor said "There is absolutely no correlation between the heart rate and the gender of the baby." DQ and I looked at each other and DQ said "This is my balloon and you are the pin that just popped my balloon!!" We all had a good laugh.

That said we still left the office thinking that maybe possibly it was indeed a girl. My own doctor said that it sounded like a girl so we were going to go with what she said!

At my next visit, in just two more weeks, I have to take the glucose test. UGH. Of course I want to know if I am starting to get gestational diabetes but that drink is so yucky!

til next week -
Mummy Q.

Week 26

hi! I will write Friday or Saturday. It has been crazy here in MA as I am trying to get home to VA before it snows again here.

Super quick - everything is A-OK! I had a drs appointment today and it went well. I will write all about it!

Til then -
Mummy Q.

Week 25 - viability

My oldest friend, Lori, is a labor and delivery nurse. When I was pregnant with Scout and reached 25 weeks she said "whew...a least it is a viable baby now!" What the heck did that mean?! While she was trying to ease my mind it just made me worry more. And if you know me at all you know I am a worrier! (Did anyone see the article on CNN last week about a nuke attack in the US by 2013?? I am already stockpiling food!). Who uses a word like viable to describe a baby? Someone in the medical field, that's who!

The thought of having a baby anytime before week 34 is just a scary thought. Another friend of mine had her baby at week 29. Little Jesse is fine now but in the beginning it was so scary! I am sure I have nothing to worry about. I am feeling fine. Plus my doc is just outside of Boston so I have lots of great hospitals within reach. Who hasn't heard great things about Brigham and Women's NICU??

I had a great week. I did get in three walks, which was great. I have already walked once this week and hope to get another one in tomorrow and a third over the weekend.

After gaining almost a pound week 24 I spent most of this past week thinking that I was getting pre-eclampsia and constantly checking myself for swelling. As I got on the scales this morning I was prepping myself for a three pound weight gain. I was pleased as punch when I didn't gain a thing! YEA! My pants are getting tighter. I was telling someone yesterday it is hard to get in the frame of mind that it is OK to get big when I have spent all this time trying to get small again. Well, I was never small, so maybe I should say trying to get smaller!

The next ten days or so are a little crazy. I have dorm duty this weekend and we head into the last week of school before break. The boys and I are leaving next Saturday morning for VA so I am also trying to pack and get ready for that!

til next week -
Mummy Q.

Week 24

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. Thanksgiving itself was very quiet. I basically spent the day in my PJ's, reading a book. The next day we drove to Deerfield for our annual Yankee Candle Factory excursion. Santa was there - the Santa - so we saw him first. Holden proudly told Santa what he wants. He is asking for a mini guitar, a chicken Webkinz, Sorry Sliders, and Bakugan. With the exception of the Bakuagn I think Santa can handle the list. Scout didn't want to talk to Santa. He said he will write him a letter later.



After the candle factory we drove to Cranston's Tree Farm in Ashfield, MA. Sometimes it felt like we were in VT rather than MA! The people there are lovely. We explained to them that we wanted to buy a tree, just not for ourselves. They were happy to oblige. We did look around for a table top tree but thought we should just pay for the non-tree tree we were getting and head out. We are hopeful that we made someones day!


The rest of break was pretty relaxing. Church on Sunday. I read another book. Monday the boys were off of school so we went to our favorite diner for lunch and then went to see "Bolt." It was a cute movie. I love it when the boys laugh out loud; it makes me smile!

So now I am in week 24. I am really starting to show. Only a little bump but people are noticing. I also gained almost a pound this week. I am struggling with that. I know I need to but I have to tell you I do not like seeing the scale go up at all. My pants are getting tight. Time for the belly band!

I have had two great walks this week and am hoping to go again today. It was my goal to walk three times a week and I think I will accomplish that today.

Til next week -
Mummy Q.

Week 23 - a lot to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving! The boys have already given me something to be thankful for - they slept until 7:30 AM! I have been sleeping well lately. Making it from about 10:00 PM - 5:30 AM. I know it's not eight hours but it is solid, uninterrupted sleep.

The last week has been uneventful in babyland, much like previous weeks. I did receive confirmation that Baby Qua #3 will be arriving on March 23, 2009. Unless s/he decides to come early. But the other two didn't want to come out at all so I can't imagine this one will want to come early!

In the last week DQ and I have managed to go out, twice. All my usual babysitters are home from secondary school so we are taking advantage of having them back. It is a win-win situation. They earn money, we get to go out and the boys have fun!

Tomorrow we are headed to South Deerfield. We will stop along the way at Cracker Barrell, then arrive at the flagship Yankee Candle Factory store in S. Deerfield. It is an amazing place. First of all, it is huge. Inside are rooms with different themes, including a toy room, a train room, and of course lots of candles. We easily spend two to three hours there just looking at everything. Then there is Santa. Santa is there year round. The YCF claims that he is THE Santa. All the rest are fake. So we will wait in line for the boys to see Santa. They have already told me they are going to spend time today creating a list for him!

Once we leave the candle factory we head out to a tree farm in the middle of nowhere. We are probably going to use a fake tree this year, since we aren't going to be here over the holidays. But we still want to get a tree and give it to someone. Do you know how hard it is to give away a tree?! We have asked several friends if we could give them/get them a tree and they have all declined. I understand wanting to pick your own but how often does someone offer to buy a real tree and give it to you! We have tossed around the possibility of just putting up the real tree in our house and then leaving it to die while we are gone. Or taking it to VA with us. Although I am not sure what we would do with it in VA. Unless my parents wait and use our tree as theirs. But I am pretty sure they will already have theirs up. We will figure something out!

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
til next week -
Mummy Q.

Week 22

Hello from brrr chill New England! I swear it is going to snow sometime soon.

I had a drs appointment that went really well today. Mind you she was an hour late because while we were waiting she had to run and deliver a baby. That's OK. I am sure I would want her to make everyone wait so she could deliver my baby!

Speaking of delivering my baby, we have a date! My mum is so excited. Our delivery date is tentatively set for March 23, 2009. I will find out for sure on Monday, but if not March 23 then March 26. I am hoping for the 23rd. Then all my kids would have their birthday on the 23!

The heartbeat was strong. In the 150's. To quote the doctor "it sounds like a girl!" She also said that if, after two ultrasounds, they can't see male genitalia then it probably isn't there! That said I am still waiting until another ultrasound confirms it or I see it for myself.

More good news - DQ will get to cut the cord! When the boys were born hospital policy wouldn't allow him to cut the cord since they were c-section. Not the case this time. I am so happy for him.

I think that's all for this week. Oh yea - My weight hasn't changed much. According to my scales I think I gained .4 lb. According to the doctors office I gained a pound. The doctor was A-OK with that. She said as long the baby is growing it doesn't matter. Although she did say that, if by my last trimester I haven't gained much weight then I will have another ultrasound. Just to be on the check things out.

Have a great week! I am done with work tomorrow and am looking forward to having a few days off. And HOPEFULLY starting to work out again!

til then -
Mummy Q.

Sonogram picture

From our sonogram on Nov. 12, 2008!

Week 21

The baby is very active lately. S/he moves around lot! DQ even got to feel it on Monday. Very exciting.

The big news this week is that I had another ultrasound today. We were seen very quickly which was nice. I also got to keep on all my clothes! It's the little things in life that make me happy.

I told the tech we wanted to know the gender, if she could see it. As soon as she put the wand on my stomach the little one's bum popped up on the screen. She said that it's legs were really close together but she would say it is a girl. "I see lines, and lines normally mean it's a girl." She offered to check later on in the visit. In the meantime she spent a lot of time focused on the baby's face. At the last visit the tech wasn't able to see the lips and they can't rule out cleft palate unless there are lips! While the baby didn't seem much more cooperative today the tech was able to see everything she needed to see. They were able to rule out Downs Syndrome and/or a cleft palate. She tried one more time for the gender but said that the baby's legs were closed tight. She said "I guess it will have to be a surprise" but then she said she would say it's a girl. Needless to say I didn't run out and buy anything pink. I am dying to hit the clearance racks at Target. I am a huge fan of buying things on sale now for next year and beyond. Not being able to do that is killing me!!

I have been sleeping well recently. It is a welcome change. Now if I could just get my dog to sleep through the night we would all be happy!

I have my next OB appt next Thursday. I will write again then!

til then -
Mummy Q.

Week 20 - the halfway point

Wow - 20 weeks have gone by. It seems a little crazy to think about. I am not sure if I am technically 20 weeks or not. At my ultrasound last week they pushed my due date back to
April 1 so I am not sure what that means for an official week count.

I am feeling good. I took one long walk last week. I only have two more weeks of coaching and am counting down the days that I can get into the gym again. Let's hope I have the willpower to do it.

I am still not really showing. In fact I bought some new trousers this past weekend that are a smaller size then when I first got pregnant.

Not much else happening! I have an ultrasound next Wednesday so I will update you then!

til then -
Mummy Q.

It's a ... baby!

Hello! What an great afternoon - NOT!! The Women's Imaging Center at my hospital has you change into a gown or two with nothing underneath. and then wait in a sequestered waiting room away from your family. DQ and both boys came with me and they had no idea what was going on. After about forty five minutes of waiting we were finally called back to a room together. Poor DQ - Holden had fallen asleep and had to be woken up. He was a cranky boy. Needless to say the ultrasound was not the "ohhh ahhh mhhh" moment I had hoped for. Scout refused to look at the screen and Holden sat on a trash can the entire time!

The baby was not cooperative at all. It had it's back to us and was under my belly button so she, the ultrasound tech, couldn't get a good look at it. she sure tried though. She pushed so hard that at one point I thought she was going to push the baby right out. After about thirty minutes in there she was ready to hazard a guess. She prefaced it by saying she couldn't be sure, but she thought it was a girl. Now, I am SUPER excited. However, a woman I work with JUST this moment told me that her middle child was a girl until 22 weeks when she found out her girl was actually a boy. Eight years later he is still a boy!!! UGH!

So...even though I am wearing a pink belt today, I am not buying anything pink. DQ has felt all along it was a boy and the heart rate was only 147 yesterday. Since the baby was in such a bad position I have to go back in two weeks for another ultrasound. Hopefully we will see a better picture then.

The wait continues. Either way it will be OK. If it is a boy I already have lots of clothes and I know what to do. If it is a girl I get to go shopping!!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

Week 18

Hello! I am almost to the half-way point. The baby is now the size, length rather, of a bell pepper. According to BabyCenter.com, it is seven ounces and five and a half inches long. Its ears are in it's permanent spot!!

I am feeling good. I forgot to weigh myself but I am feeling bigger. Everyone tells me I don't even look pregnant but I feel like I am looking bigger. If you are already big(ger) to begin with it takes a while for people to notice. A little bit of a bummer but I will be OK!

Our ultrasound is on Monday. I am through thinking it could be a girl. DQ is convinced it is a boy. I am telling myself it is a boy. Either way it is a new Qua and that makes me happy!

til Monday -
Mummy Q.

Week 17

My little bambino has gone from being the size of an avocado to the size of a turnip. Why does everything related to pregnancy have to be compared to food? I will never forget when I was in labor with Scout my nurse was talking about dilating. She had a chart to show us that I needed to get from a Cheerio to a bagel! That is a HUGE jump! I told her I would never look at a bagel the same way again.

I feel pretty good but am always tired. I think that is due to my job more than being pregnant.

I jumped on the scale this morning and I am holding steady at the same weight, which makes me happy. It is still ten pounds less than where I started; I can still wear shorts with a belt! But I am feeling bloated.

It is amazing how much you forget from each pregnancy. Mind you it has been seven years since my last pregnancy but there is so much I have forgotten. I don't remember not being able to sleep on my back so early. The doctor told me that after sixteen weeks I needed to start sleeping on my side. Like that is an easy thing to do! Every time I wake up on my back I fear I am damaging the baby. My dr. said sleeping on your back limits blood flow to the baby so I envision (invision?) it floudering around in there, trying to get my attention to make me roll over. I cannot wait for the ultrasound to tell me if everything is OK or not!

It has been gorgeous up here in NE. Beautiful weather in the 60's and the trees have all changed colors. DQ and I took the boys on a hike on Saturday. It was nice to be outside with everybody!

til next week -
Mummy Q.

very hungry caterpillar

In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf one sunday morning the warm sun came up and-pop out of the egg came a tiny and VERY hungry caerpiller he started to look for some food on monday he ate through one apple but he was still hungry. on tuesday he ate through two pears. but he was still hungry on wensday he ate through three plums. but he was still hungry on thursday he ate through four starawberries but he was still hungry on friday he ate through five oranges but he was still hungry on saturday he ate through one piece of chocolate cake one ice-cream cone one pikle one slice of swiss cheese one slice of salami one lollipop one piece of cherry pie one sausage one cupcake and one slice of watermelon. that night he had a stomaceache the next day was sunday again the caterpiller ate through one nice green leaf and after that he felt MUCH better. now he wasent hungry any more-and he wasent little any more he was a big fat caterpiller. he built a small house called a cocoon around him self he stayed in sid for more than two weeks. then he nibbeled a hole in the cocoon pushed his way out and. he was a beautifel butterfly


Another book reproduction by my youngest!

drs appointment

Just got back from a rather uneventful drs appointment. My BP is great, I lost one pound, and all my other vitals were great. The doctor, who I love by the way, came in, asked a few questions and then we got to hear the heartbeat! Unlike last time she was able to find it right away. What a great sound. Makes it more real. Unfortunately the Doppler wasn't counting for her (I didn't know they did that!) so she tried to guesstimate the heart rate. She said it was fast and around 150. I tried, and am trying, not to get excited. BUT - the boys were both 144. Not that much different from 150 but even the doc said girls have faster HRs.

We scheduled our ultrasound for October 27 in the afternoon. I am going to be a bundle of nerves all day long!

Have a great weekend! It is beautiful up here in NE. Our town has an annual pumpkin lighting night for the town. It is a very New Englandy thing to do but the whole town comes out for it. Lots of fun and one of my favorite parts about living where I live!

til Wednesday -
Mummy Q.

Week 16...ps...

I forgot to mention that I got in two good walks this week. Both about a mile and a half with my field hockey team. If and when I start sleeping through the night again (before March) I may try going to the gym in the AM. I am also contemplating going in the afternoon. I coach every afternoon but rumor has it I may have the winter off. If I can't make it to my gym at least I can make it to the work-out room here on campus!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

Week Sixteen

Happy Hump Day - that will be even funnier when my mid-section looks like a big hump! haha!
Sixteen weeks down, twenty four to go. It still doesn't seem real to me. There are some obvious signs (big(ger) boobs, fatigue, food aversions) but other than that I am still in denial. I have an appointment tomorrow where we should hear the heartbeat. It will sink in a little more then.

A lot is riding on this visit. I am trying to keep my wits about me regarding the gender of this baby. I got a little teary eyed last week thinking that I may never have a daughter. But I also know I love my boys and will love this one too. David and I are big believers in the heartbeat theory for predicting the gender of babies. Everyone we know who had a girl had a high heartbeat, maybe 160ish. My two boys were both 144. On my very first visit for this baby I had an ultrasound and the woman said that the heartbeat was 144. I said "it's a boy!" But I am secretly holding out hope tomorrow that we will hear the heartbeat and the doctor will say "it's strong heartbeat is 160!"

Speaking of my boys I have had a lot of questions as to why I am calling them Holden and Scout on here. Orginally it was to protect their identity. I don't think anyone other than my friends and family read this blog but in case some creepy guy was reading it I didn't want him to have their names. That said I use their real names on my Facebook account so I don't know if I am doing such a good job on keeping them safe in cyber world!

I will write again tomorrow evening, after my appointment!
til then -
Mummy Q.

Week 15

Wednesday morning. Another week has gone by without a work-out. I swear it is all about getting some sleep. I am just not sleeping at night. So the thought of getting up at 4:30 AM to work-out sends shivers up my spine. I know it is something I need to do. All my pre-weight loss clothes are still loose but I am going to feel badly when they get tight. I know, I know...I am pregnant and that happens when you are pregnant! But I am not going to like it. I just want my belly to get big, not the rest of me. However if I am not doing anything to help the rest of my body it will all get big again!

Today is week 15. Supposedly the bambino is the size of an apple. Four inches long and 2.5 ounces. I go back to the doctor next Thursday. I got a prescription for a prenat that does not make me sick. YEA! DQ thinks I have turned a corner but there are still a lot of foods that I just can't eat. BAKED potatoes are at the top of my list. Anything else potato based is OK (except french fries) but I just can't do baked potatoes. Or anything Italian. That makes living here at Fay a bit of a problem. Every Wednesday night is Italian night and I have dinner duty. I may try to switch to Monday nights!

Holden and Scout really seem to be warming up to the baby news (did I mention that before?). If it weren't for the fact that they will be on a field trip to the zoo next week they would come tot the doctor with me. How can I compete with the zoo??!! But Holden got a HUGE smile on his face at the thought of hearing the heartbeat.

til next week -
Mummy Q.

I'm pregnant - now what?

On Friday I was able to wear a pair of pants that I have worn since the fall of 2004. DQ looked at me and said "are you sure your pregnant?" I ask myself that question ALL the time. Even though I have seen the little sea monkey twice I still don't quite believe it. I think I feel it from time to time, even though as I type this I am only 14.5 weeks.

I have decided I will write in the blog once a week, on Wednesday's. That is the day that I move up a week so I can let you know what has been going on. Unless of course something happens and then I will write in it more.

I still haven't done any formal exercising since August. Perhaps if I get in bed at a decent time tonight I will go to the gym in the AM and see how I survive. I am just still so tired. Yesterday afternoon Holden and I were out and about for a few hours. By 6:00 PM I was exhausted. So tired. And I didn't sleep well last night. Scout and DQ were at a campout and Holden wanted to sleep with me. He moves a lot in his sleep. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep.

Have a good start to your week!
til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

ok...it's been a long time...

I didn't realize I hadn't written in a month. But I have a good reason, I swear!! I haven't written in here for almost a month because I haven't worked out since then. Not a good thing, I know. Like I said, though, I have a good reason. I AM PREGNANT!! yes, pregnant. I found out back on July 18. At first I felt OK, and thus worked out from time to time. But as August wore on, and school started, I really started feeling poorly. There wasn't much food I wanted to eat. I never got sick, but I just didn't feel well. Going back to work on top of being pregnant has certainly drained me. I now have duty two nights a week and that is killing me. I am so, so tired.

I went to the doctor on August 11 and September 11. Between the two appointments I actually lost 5 lbs according to my home scales. I wasn't expecting that at all. My Sept. appointment was in the afternoon and according to the doctors scales I had stayed exactly the same. In the twelve days since then I have been eating quite well. There are still a lot of foods that I do not like to eat, and I am not snacking much but I am feeling better. So much so that I am actually feeling bigger than I have been. So this morning I jumped on the scales this morning to face the awful truth. Somehow I have lost another five pounds but this time in only twelve days. Now, keep in mind my scales are not scientific but I think they are somewhat accurate. I am a little nervous that something is wrong but everything I read says that the baby is taking all it needs from me and my own body is getting what (little) is left.

I do want to work out throughout this pregnancy. My doctor even told me I could do sit-ups if I wanted to. I am hopeful to get back to the gym soon. But I don't really feel like eating much and don't want to expend too many calories if my intake isn't as high as it should be if I was working out. Does that make sense?

I will try to write once a week for now, until I get back to the gym!

til then -
Mummy Q.

Is it Friday yet??!!

I got up at 4:30 today, thinking I need to be back for DQ to go to work. It is 6:10 AM and he is still in bed! UGH! Tomorrow I will sleep until 5:00!

Good workout today, but my hip is hurting again. It started last night. I will call the PT today, although I am not sure how I will squeeze this in! Maybe the athletic trainer at my school can help me once school gets started. Hmmm...maybe I can tell her what the PT has been doing and she can do it!

I ate fairly well yesterday. I did have TWO things of trail mix. During teachers meetings we have food everywhere. It is a far healthier fare than in the past, and I am sure one bag of trail mix wouldn't be too bad, but two??!! They were good though!

I have pictures to post - just need to download them to the computer. It was the boys first day of school yesterday. I actually like how I look for once!

Til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

4:30 AM comes early!

It is the big joke in the Q family - Mr. Q, my father in law, always says "5:30 AM comes early" as he heads off to bed. So this morning, when I was up at 4:10 AM, I thought to myself "4:30 AM comes early!" I wasn't going to get up until 4:50 but I was tossing and turning since midnight so I thought I might as well get up. I have meeting all day today - back to work - let's hope I am able to stay up!

I have come up with every reason possible not to go to the gym for the last week or so. My main reason is that the show I am watching on my ipod hasn't been downloading properly. BUMMER! What did we do before ipods?!!! Heaven forbid I actually listen to music when I wake up!! So I finally picked a new show to download - Mad Men. Today I watched the first episode of Season One (season two started this week I think.) It is a good show! I biked for a little over 50 minutes. Went about 10 miles and burned over 250 calories. I am not burning as many calories as when I ran/walked, but my back is still bothering me. I finally went to the doctor last week and he is sending me to PT. I am SO excited. It is bad then you have to get off the treadmill because your back hurts.

I am back to work today and that should help my eating get back on track. I always do well with structure, and being back at work provides that structure. I eat breakfast at 6:30 AM, snack at 9:30ish, lunch after 12 noon, another snack at 2:30 PM and dinner at 6:00 PM. Works for me!

I hope you have a great day. My boys go back to school today too. I will try to post pics!

Til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

New school year, new goals

We still have two more weeks, maybe a little less, before teachers have to be back at school. I have started thinking about my physical goals and how to achieve these goals. I didn't do so well on my summer goals, but I am OK with that. I didn't gain any weight, even on my cruise. I may not be as thin as I had hoped to be but people at school are noticing and at least I didn't gain any back!

This is going to be a year of change for me. The first and most obvious change is my dorm duties. Over the past two years DQ and I have split the dorm duties; this year it will be just me! That means I will have to do put to bed for two nights, not just once. So I have decided that I am going to try to work out M,W,F,Sa,Su. I think I have duty Monday and Wednesday nights, so I will take the morning after off. I don't think I will be able to get up and out. I guess if my internal clock has me up on Tu and Th mornings I will go to the gym.

As I look to the start of the school year my new goals will be to workout five days a week, continue to eat well, and find a balance between personal, professional and academic lives. I start a new class on September 3. YIKES!

I have only worked out twice this week, Monday and today. If I work out tomorrow and then the weekend I will be back on track. I have been eating OK. DQ and I went out to lunch on Monday and I ordered a salad. But while I was waiting for the salad I inhaled bread and butter. I need to learn to ask them NOT to bring it to the table. But I LOVE butter!!!!!!!!! Today I am skipping breakfast (NOT good, I know) because at 9:30 AM I am going to a cake tasting with a friend. She is getting married in two months and I am doing wedding stuff with her all day. So cake for breakfast! Yum Yum! Then she is taking me to a Mexican restaurant for lunch. I LOVE Mexican. Bring on the chips and dip. LOVE IT! Wish me luck!

Til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

Getting back on the wagon.

Well, needless to say the last few weeks have not gone as well as I had plan. Someone once said “prior planning prevents poor performance” but I think that only works if you have the will power to make it work. I had a plan laid out but thing didn’t go according to my plan.

While I was in VA I didn’t work out once. Not once. Nobody’s fault but my own. I could have walked the neighborhood but I just didn’t. I ate OK. Breakfast was almost always good. Lunch was OK. Dinner was OK. Nobody made me eat the things I ate. My parents had I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, but I chose the real deal. One positive is that I only ate at Chik-Fil-A twice. Normally I am there almost everyday.

The following week, last week, I flip flopped from what I did in VA. I worked out everyday but Friday for 45 minutes. I guess I didn’t eat too badly, but I did enjoy cream based soups, Double-stuf Oreo’s and a dessert one night. I tried to eat well at lunch – it was provided at the conference I was at. Oh yea – did I mention I was at a conference all week? I was staying in a hotel and had to eat out all three meals. But did I mention I exercised Mon – Thur?

I was back in MA Friday night and went to the gym, my gym, on Saturday. I didn’t go today, Sunday. We were part of a multi-family yard sale from early in the morning until lunch-time. Once we got back to the house Holden and I had a nice long nap.

Now that I am home for the duration of the summer it is time to really get back on track. I didn’t lose nearly as much weight as I had hoped this summer, but I am OK with that. Well, kind of OK with that. What can I do at this point but move forward. DQ is back at work so I need to figure out a work out plan, but I will be getting up early in the AM again. My biggest challenge will be that I am at home all day. All day – for the next three weeks. Food everywhere. I just need to get my head back in the game.

Wish me luck –
Til tomorrow –
Mummy Q.

Sorry for the delay!

Hello! So many times over the last week I have jumped on the computer to write here and I got distracted. But I am now in VA - everyone is asleep, including the dog, so I think I can type uninterrupted.

The race - ahh, the race. Well, the night before I did not sleep a wink. I tossed and turned and had bad dreams about coming in last. So Saturday morning I got dressed and told my aunt that I was going to do the walk with her. I figured there would be lots of people walking. WRONG! There were only 25 people doing the walk. I was bummed. About a mile into it I was wishing I was doing the run. My aunt was SMOKING me, and she wasn't breaking a sweat. So I started to run very, very slowly. I didn't want to be accused of cheating if there were any medals to be handed out. I think I ran over a mile, until about 1/4 from the finish. I finally caught up to AC and we crossed the finish line together. The amazing part was the 5K run hadn't started yet, so all the runners were at the start/finish line cheering us on. When I saw how many people were running I was a little bummed that I didn't run - I don't think I would have been last - but there is always next year. That and another 5K in the fall. Franciscan Hospital for Children, a place near and dear to my heart, is having a road race in the fall. I think the whole family will be involved somehow, but I would like to run it.

The rest of the week was OK. My dad and his golfing buddy arrived on Saturday afternoon. I was hoping that my mum would come up and surprise me but she couldn't. DQ left on Sunday. I was committed to eating well, despite not having him there for support. I made a healthy menu for the week, but did buy some chips at the grocery store. On Monday AC and I walked three miles (up and down our driveway) but that was the only exercise that we ended up getting all week. On Wednesday, as I was lacing up my shoes to go for a walk, my dad had to go to the ER. He has a myriad of medical issues and was having problems breathing. He ended up being in the hospital until Saturday AM. I am prone to emotional eating but think I did OK. I did enjoy Sun Chips all week long but in moderation.

Friday - weigh in day - my favorite! I lost one pound. I know I say this all the time, but I don't know how I lost the weight. Now that I am at my parents house I am hoping to join my mum at the gym starting Tuesday. Tomorrow (Monday) I will go for a walk around their neighborhood. I should have no problem eating well here. I have scoured the house and there isn't an ounce of junk food to be had!

We left Michigan Saturday, after my dad was discharged from the hospital. We drove a little more than halfway, and then drove the rest of the way home today. That meant three meals on the road. I didn't do so well. We have/had the dog with us so a sit down restaurant was out of the question. Lunch yesterday was a roast beef sandwich and dinner was Chik-Fil-A nuggets - I could eat those every day of my life if I had the means. Breakfast today was a cinnamon bun from McDs. I was going to get the apple/yogurt salad but I had an upset stomach and the thought of yogurt, and driving, didn't sit well. I picked at the cinnamon bun and had Sprite. A few hours later I had a Luna Bar in the car. By lunch and dinner I was back on track!

I should be able to blog more frequently now I am here.
Til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

And their off!

This week has been a bad one as far as eating well and working out. On Sunday or Monday I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies – mmm – mmm good. Helped myself to many of them. I didn’t work out Mon – Wednesday. Thursday morning I had a huge breakfast- bacon, eggs, one pancake, and a scone with butter. Amazing. Then somehow, when I got on the scale this morning, I had lost one pound. I don’t know how I did it. The only thing I can think of is that I barely ate at all on Monday (waiting around for my MIL most of the day) and have been trying to eat better at breakfast and lunch.

Tomorrow, Saturday, I am running a 5K and I am a nervous wreck. I run that distance almost every time I am at the gym, but I am all on my own there. Tomorrow I will be surrounded by people much faster than me. This is all part of Gaylord’s annual Alpenfest, which ends tomorrow. There is a 5K walk, a 5K fun, a 12K walk and a 12K run. All total there are about 500 people competing. I used to be in a 5K a month, back in CA, and never ran without less than 3000 people around me. I was never last – there was always someone slower than me. Tomorrow I could just be the last one coming in. My only saving grace is if the 12K walk ends the same place I do…then there may be people behind me.

Wish me luck!
Til tomorrow –
Mummy Q.

Oh happy day...

I thoroughly enjoyed my cheat day yesterday. Breakfast was late - almost 11:00 AM. I enjoyed a very fresh bagel with a smattering of cream cheese. I am not a fan of cream cheese but do like some to taste. Lunch was a hamburger. Hmm, mmm good. It was a little over five ounces and I loved every bit of it. No french fries...the burger was enough. Then I headed to the Aplen Haus of Chocolate and got some chocolate covered coconut. I LOVE IT! Dinner was tortellini with garlic bread and a salad. Dessert was something that I had been waiting for since Wednesday. Up here in Northern. MI it is cherry country. Cherries everywhere. There is a great bakery in Traverse City, MI that makes cherry crumbles. My aunt picked one up for me on Wednesday and I have been drooling ever since. We got some low fat vanilla ice cream and at about 9:30 PM last night, fresh out of the oven, I loved every bite of my crumble. I am not a huge cherry fan but something about this crumble is delicious.

I did a little shopping yesterday. I ended up in Traverse City with my aunt. She had to take care of some things so I wandered around. I saw that Talbots was having a 60% off sale. In I went. Once inside a very cheery sales person told me that everything on sale was an additional 25% off. I was browsing and ran across some size 16 jeans. I haven't bought jeans since 2004. I think I stopped wearing them about two years ago. But I thought "what the heck!" and went to try them on. They fit!!! Of course they are way too long but they fit. A little snug but I could pull it off with a sweatshirt or something. I was so excited I bought two pair. At only $16.50 each I could afford to get two pair!

Today I went to the gym. Ran walked for an hour. I am pooped!

Off to take the boys swimming -
til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

Shoot me now

Last night I decided to try on some one the clothes I brought up with me but can't quite wear yet. I figure it has been three weeks since I last tried, why not give it a go. It ended up being a major bummer. I went to bed depressed, wondering why the weight isn't falling off of me. I haven't used real butter in almost two weeks and I am working out. I did take Wednesday off but I was working on that project for me class (BTW - I am all done with the class now. Just waiting for my grade.) I went in yesterday, walk/ran for 55 minutes.

I was lamenting to DQ about this, and he said just wait until morning...see how you do on the scales.

This morning I jump on the scales and see that I have a half pound weight loss. I know, I know...it is better than nothing, better than a gain. But still. The only thing I can think of is that at dinner I have not been watching my portions as well. I caught myself the other day wolfing down a second fajita like it was no one business. Night before last we had ka-bobs and I probably had too much meat. So...while I will still enjoy eating whatever I want today (there is a cherry crumble waiting for me!) I will start being more careful about what I am eating at dinner.

Speaking of dinner, last night was grilled chicken, salad and corn. I made a big grilled chicken salad and my mother-in-law said to me "are you on a diet or something?!" I just shrugged my shoulders. UGH. I don't want her knowing. I don't know why...I just don't.

I'll let you know how the Cherry Crumble is. I am headed to the cherry capital of the world today. Maybe I will get another one!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

Little Slice of Heaven

I wanted to share a few pictures of where I am at right now. The first one, below, is a picture taken at sunrise our second morning here.


I think I mentioned we are on a point, with an east side beach and a north side beach. The picture below is taken near the tip of the point looking down the north side of the beach.



This picture, below, is taken on the tip of the point looking down the east side of the point, on the east beach.


This is what we call the "big cottage." The large window in the middle is the kitchen/dining room window where the dining room table is. I am sitting at that table right now while I am writing!

My in-laws arrive today, Thursday. Wish me luck!

til tomorrow (or later today!)
Mummy Q.

Plugging away

hello. It is a chilly Wednesday morning here in Northern Michigan. It is 10:00 AM and only 63 degrees. Nice and sunny though!

Being up here and eating well has been a struggle. We don't have a lot of junk in the house, with the exception of the kids snacks. Even they aren't really junk - rice krispie treat and goldfish. I have been chewing gum to try and stay away from the food! I have been drinking alcohol up here. margarita's and strawberry daiquiri's. Not every day. In fact only twice since I have been here.

Since my last post I have been working out. I worked out on July 4th, but not the 5th, and have worked out the past three days. I am hoping to get a work out in today but I have my final project due for the class I am taking. I have waited until the last possible moment to get it done, and will be spending the bulk of today working on it. It is due Friday but I want it done today. Most people in my class have turned it in. The class average for the project right now is a 98.7. I am hoping for a 95.

Anyway, my aunt can't go to the gym today and I don't find myself as motivated when it is just me. Not going first thing in the morning is a challenge. My aunt works out for a solid hour so when I am with her the challenge is on to keep going. She has the treadmill at 3.8 for forty minutes and then up to 4.0 for the last twenty minutes. So I need to keep going. When she is NOT with me, well, I don't feel as pressured. Although right now I do have a goal in mind. I am going to be in 5K in less than two weeks. I haven't been in a race in four years. I don't enter to win...I will never be that fast. I just do it for fun. Anyway - I don't want to come in last so I need to keep my endurance up. I will lay out my work out clothes and hope for the best today. Did I mention I have a nasty blister on my left foot? I don't know why - I have worn these shoes for two months, and have had the socks I had on for a while. It's weird.

til tomorrow -
Mummy Qua

Changing the Way I Do Things on Vacay

I have been coming up here to Otsego Lake since 1997. This is my 11th summer. DQ has been coming since the summer of 1971. The only summer he ever missed, we missed together, was the summer of 2001. Eric was an infant, we lived in CA and we had too much going on and not enough money to make it out here.

So for the past eleven or so summers we have come to the lake and done one thing REALLY well – EAT! Our mornings were lazy with breakfast of French toast or pancakes, bacon, eggs and the like. Very rarely was it just cereal. One summer I made sure I had an English muffin every morning, with lots of butter, on top of everything else.

If lunch was a sandwich it included chips and soda. In the hours between lunch and dinner, if we weren’t on the lake we were inside playing games while eating chips and dip. Homemade French onion dip. French Onion dip is a staple here at the lake.

Dinner was a grand affair. Depending on who was here there may be appetizers. Dinner was large, and while we did have a salad that was probably the healthiest thing on the table. It was followed with a dessert. My aunt, the one I have been going to the gym with, is known for buying great desserts just because. She is skinny as a rail!

From dinner until bedtime, especially once the kids were in bed, the time was spent playing cards games, drinking and eating cookies or candy. If the kids were up, and it was chilly enough we would make S’mores in the fireplace. I would certainly have more than one.

FAST FORWARD to the summer of 2008 – now! Our first trip to the grocery store was decidedly different. NO soda, no cookies (OK – one bag of vanilla crème wafers for Fridays!) Lots of fruit, nuts, and whole grain this and whole grain that. I was proud (and poor!) of our choices as we left the store.

As I have gone through the last ten days though, it has been a constant struggle to get used to my “new way” of life. Gone are the chips with lunch. In its place are veggies and fruit. Gone are the cookies at night. I did get a box of Mike and Ike’s the other day, but it wasn’t the same. Card games are played with no accoutrements, just the game itself and maybe some carrot sticks. I am chewing gum like crazy to keep myself from eating all the kids’ stuff. Their available choices are OK, if you eat just one. But I doubt I could stop at just one!

So this trip to the lake, while not over yet (I still have seventeen days left here!) has been all about changing my mindset while here at the lake. Did I tell you I went to the movies and didn’t even get popcorn? No soda, candy, nothing! UGH!!!!

Til next time (which might be in a few minutes!)
Mummy Qua

I'm baaaaack!

Hello from brrr chill northern Michigan. It is 8:40 AM and only 58 degrees. I am not complaining at all. I love it up here and one thing I love so much is the weather! While I am losing my Caribbean tan, it is OK. I am sitting in our kitchen and the lake is literally 60 feet away. DQ’s family has had this land, these cottages, a mini-compound almost, for almost a century. It is our heaven on earth. Today, Friday, while chilly, the lake is placid and it is sunny. I wish you all could come up here and experience this beauty!

We arrived here Sunday evening. It was sad to say good bye to the cruise but I was so ready to see the boys! Saturday we drove from NJ to OH and spent the night with my in-laws. That was a good time – NOT!!! Sunday we drove from OH to MI. We are in a little town called Gaylord. It is in the middle of the state, in the middle of no-where. I have to go an entire month without a Target! We did get a Starbucks up here two years ago but I would much rather have a Target.

DQ’s uncle and his wife spend their entire summer up here in what we call the “little cottage” while we move into the “big cottage.” Little and big are relative terms but either way we are just happy to be here. As I was talking to Aunt Charlotte Sunday evening I discovered that she belongs to the gym that I wanted to join. I was so excited to hear that – a workout buddy! So Monday afternoon, after DQ, the boys and I went grocery shopping (more on that later) AC (Aunt Charlotte) and I went to the Powerhouse Gym. I have to say there isn’t anything too “powery” about it. They only have six treadmills! So that was Monday. I set out to walk run for an hour. I only ran twice and walked the rest. Then I jumped over to a bike and forced myself to do ten minutes. Tuesday was a disaster. I went alone, as AC was playing golf. I was going to walk/run for thirty minutes and then ride the bike for another thirty. I jumped on the bike after the treadmill. Even though it was level one I could barely move. AC had warned me that the equipment wasn’t well maintained, so I am not sure if I was struggling due to my in activeness of the last two weeks or the fact that the bike wasn’t maintained very well. I left there very deflated. In the meantime I was/am eating OK. I will tell you about the mind-set change I am having up here in my next post, but that said I am/was eating fairly well. I am having my eggs for breakfast, or a bowl of Kashi cereal. I have been only drinking water and I have been trying to snack on fruit and protein.

Wednesday AC and I hit the gym again. We are both going to participate in a 5K in two weeks so in my head I am telling myself that I need to get back on track. I had a GREAT workout that day. I walk/ran for 45 minutes and then walked the final fifteen minutes. I was sweating like crazy, and you know how I like to sweat! I felt so good. I came home and told DQ I had turned the corner and was back on track! As the afternoon progressed I had a pain down the side of my left foot. I live in flip flops in the summer and I think the lack of support hurts me. So I wore tennis shoes around the house (I HATE wearing shoes!!) to try to ward off the pain.

When I woke up Thursday morning I was limping. We spent the day in town and I wore tennis shoes again (even though my flip flops would have looked cuter!) AC wasn’t going to the gym since she was playing golf again and I figured my foot needed the day off. By the end of the day I was pain free and probably should have just walked for thirty minutes, but I didn’t. The gym is closed Friday and Saturday for the holiday, so I am going to walk here. Our driveway is half a mile long (no lie!) so I will walk that for a while on Friday and Saturday, and then hopefully back to the gym on Sunday.

So…it is Friday now and LUCKY ME!!! AC and Uncle Steve have a scale up here that is the same brand as my scale at home. So I took a deep breath and jumped on. I have been telling myself that I had probably gained six pounds. With all the bread, butter and soda I had on the cruise I was certain that I had gained weight. But my clothes weren’t tight at all, but they weren’t any looser. Drum roll please...I am the exact same weight I was when I left! YEA ME! I am so excited. And it is Friday, July 4, so I am truly going to enjoy the holiday! DQ is making bacon, eggs and pancakes as we speak!! Mmmm, mmm good!

My next post will be about how I have really had to change my mind set and eating habits here on vacay!

Til then –
Mummy Qua

greetings from the Carribean!

Hello from St. Thomas! Well, I am sitting in my room and the ship is docked at St. Thomas. DQ and I are hanging out until we have to be outside for our excursion.

It is so, so hard to try and eat well on a cruise! I wanted to highlight things I have done well, and things I have not done so well.

Things done well:

1) worked out four times. Not as long as I do at home, but I did it. Although one day was a stretching class.
2) Taking the stairs, a lot!
3) Salad for lunch with turkey on top.
4) Drinking water before soda.

Things done NOT so well:
1) bread and butter at EVERY meal (croissant with breakfast, and a roll with lunch and dinner.)
2) dessert and cookies every day.
3) Alcohol in the form of mixed drinks and wine.
4) Diet coke – at least two or three a day.

That said, I am looking stunning in all my outfits!!!! Haha…I don’t know about stunning but I am still getting my size 16 skirts.

Today we are going Snuba’ing. I am not too sure what it is but I am actually getting in the ocean today! In Bermuda we toured around and yesterday in St. Maarten we sailed the actual Stars and Stripes sail boat. But if you know me you know I am a sun and fun girl who loves the ocean so I am oh-so excited about beach and ocean today!

I am not sure when I will write again before we get to MI.
Til then –
Mummy Qua

I need a kick in the pants

seriously. I have fallen off the wagon big time. I have the hungry horrors and they just won't go away. And I am NOT craving apples and carrots. AND...I have prided myself on NOT emotionally eating the last two months. That has all gone out the window today. Let me back track. As you know I am leaving for a cruise on Thursday. This past weekend my husband went to find his passport and guess what...HE CAN'T FIND IT!! He used it to go to Japan back in March and thought he put it away but he can't find it anywhere. No worries...no need to fret...we called Royal Carribbean and as long as he has a certified birth certificate he doesn't need one. He called his parents and had them express mail his birth certificate to his office. That was Saturday. It is now Tuesday and there is still no birth certificate. I am now officially freaked out. Not to mention that I slept in today and haven't made it to the gym. I had a good breakfast and lunch but not I am enjoying a mint mocha frappe from S'bucks (we call it Four'Bucks in our house cause everything costs four dollars!) Not exactly on the program I have developed for myself! I will just have a good dinner and hope it all balances out. The last thing I need is to get on the cruise and not be able to fit into any of my clothes!

So as I type this I have clothes to pack, an assignment to complete and cooking to do. Oh yea...and trying to remain calm about the birth certificate. And I want to eat everything in the house. Ugh...Ugh...Ugh...any words of wisdom out there?????!!!!!!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

Not doing too well!

UGH - I just can't seem to get myself motivated on the weekends. It would have been OK if I had been going every day of the school week, but I am not. Last week I think I went four times. I did go this morning but I hadn't been since Thursday. UGH. Also when I went today I only did cardio. No weights. But I did an hour of cardio - thirty minutes on the bike, 30 minutes on the treadmill.

I do have a mini-victory to share. Lands End is having a big sale right now; on line and in their stores (Sears). They have this great denim skirt. Long enough to be age appropriate but still super cute. It was 30% off so I got it. They only had a size 16 and I thought "well, I should be there soon enough!" I went to try it on and guess what...IT FITS!!!! Still a teeny weeny bit snug around my mother's belly (GUT!) but not obscene and I am going to wear it today. I am headed into Boston with a friend for the morning and can't wait to debut the skirt!

I ate OK over the weekend. It dawned on me yesterday that we ate out Friday, Sat, and Sun. Friday I didn't do too well but did make good choices at PF Changs. Yesterday we went to Outback (it was Father's Day after all). I ate way too much Bloomin' Onion and then a Queensland salad (dressing on the side). We went for an early lunch and that is basically all I ate all day. I hadn't had breakfast and was too busy packing for dinner. I snacked on grapes all evening.

Did I mention that I won't be checking in too much over the next two weeks? On Thursday DQ and I leave for our cruise. I am not sure how much I will be able to post because we will have to pay for our computer use.

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

weird morning

hello. As I got up this morning it was a struggle. But I said I would go to the gym everyday, so I knew I needed to go.

As I do every Friday I jumped on the scales, fully bracing myself for a gain. I look down and see that the scale says I lost 2.6 pounds. I was floored. This can't be true!! NO WAY. So I decided to go back to bed. But I couldn't sleep, trying to figure it all out. I am STILL trying to figure it out. I think, and I will have to check, that I didn't save my weight loss from last week. My scale is digital and it keeps your info, your history for you. I tried scrolling through it all, figuring it out. The part that strikes me is that according to this, my blog, if I did indeed lost 2.6 pounds then my total weight lose would be over 16 pounds. But according to my scales I have lost a total of 14.8. So I really think I did not save my lose from last week which would mean I really lost one pound. WHEW! I don't know how. I almost wanted to gain, or at least stay the same. That way I would know I can't eat like I did and get away with it.

As I type this now I am kicking myself for not going to the gym. I may go later in the day. I was supposed to get a massage today but I can't find the gift certificate I had, so I need to cancel. By canceling same day I still have to pay half. So I am wrestling with weather or not I should just go and pay for it, or cancel. I just don't know. I am going to continue to look until the boys get on the bus.

Happy Friday -
til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

I told you...

I couldn't keep up with the journal thing! UGH! So much has happened..and I am not doing well in the diet and exercise land.

Let's back track to Saturday June 7. Graduation day. I wore a Lilly Pulitzer dress. Loved it. I felt very pretty. Then I saw pictures of myself. UGH. My face is so round! Double UGH! Post graduation I skipped lunch and went right to the dorms. DQ brought me some lunch from the dining hall which ended up being mozzarella and a piece of meat of some kind. Tasty treat. Once the boarders were gone we went to a pool party. I didn't go nuts but I certainly didn't refrain from eating. I had chips, veggies with dip, chicken, salad, half a hamburger and some of an ice cream sandwich. THEN we came home to another party and I had two pieces of pizza.

I don't even remember Sunday. What I do remember is that I didn't make it to the gym. Didn't even try. Can't remember how I ate. I think dinner went well - pork and rice.

Monday - ah Monday - don't remember breakfast. Lunch was a chicken salad sandwich. UGH. I did go to the gym that morning, and drank LOTS of water. OH yea - and I had lots of chocolate. LOTS. Little bit size pieces.

Tuesday - back at the gym - I ran hard. don't remember what I ate all day. But I went and got ice cream - TWICE!! First time with a friend and the second time was a fruity shake with Holden and a friend. I only had half the shake but still. UGH. I know what I had for dinner! It was our end of the year dinner at school. I enjoyed the tossed salad, a glass of wine, an entire slab of steak, two little potatoes and an ear of corn with butter. It was a delicous!

Wednesday I got up and had a great breakfast. Skipped working out because I was headed to the Cape! YEA! But...while I was there with a friend we went out to lunch. This friend and I always get grilled cheese sandwiches when we go out, and since this was our farewell lunch we had grilled cheese AND french fries. The only snack I had all day were some mixed nuts on the way home. Dinner was chicken and a potato.
This picture was taken on the beach in Falmouth, MA (a town in Cape Cod.)

That brings me to today - I did work out, and I have decided to work out everyday between now and when I get on the cruise ship. I am going to try to get my eating back on track but today I have already had about four Munchkins. Then I had my egg combo. No toast since I already had the 'kins. I am hoping that being back in my office will help keep me on track.

I am getting all my hair chopped off today. I can't wait!!!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

dodged a bullet again!

Somehow I have dodged the weight bullet again. I lost this week - 1.6 pounds!! I was quite pleased given everything that has gone on this week.

I worked out this morning. When I got to the gym I had the attitude that hey, it's Friday, my day off, I will take it easy. Then I reminded myself that the whole reason I am working out today is that I CAN'T work out tomorrow, and if I did work out tomorrow I wouldn't be taking it easy, so I kicked it up a notch. Kind of. I ended up walking the entire time, and only for 40 minutes. Since then I have been on an eating rampage. Everything in sight - gone. Lots of chocolate. Early this afternoon I had an "a-ha" moment that I am eating and I am not really hungry! As much as I am loving all this fatty food (it is a Friday!) why am I shoveling it in if I am not hungry. So...I am slowing down. Although I just made some brownies for the boarders and they are DELICIOUS!!!

Sorry this is so short...I am on duty for like, forever, and need to get back to helping the boys pack.

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

scared for tomorrow

I know I say this every week, but I am worried about tomorrow (weigh in day!). I haven't had nearly as much water as I normally have. I ate out twice. I have had five pieces of chocolate in the last two days and several candied almonds. UGH. I tried to go to the gym today with the "last chance workout mentality" but my hip was hurting again so I biked and then went on the elliptical.

Aside from the chocolate I have been eating fairly well. Really trying to keep the carbs at bay and focus on other things.

Today was the last day of school but the boarders are still here. As I type this I am on duty with my hair in rollers while I am trying to get ready for an awards ceremony tonight. I should be out there, my door is open and they can see me, I can see them, but there are parents out there!!! I will go sit at the table right now. My hair only needs nine more minutes anyway!

I will wake up, weigh in and then head to the gym. I am in meetings all day, then on duty from 1:15 PM - 11:00 PM but will grab a computer when I get a chance!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

ps...two of "my boys" just came down the hall to talk to me and didn't seem phased (fazed?) in the slightest that my hair is in rollers! :)

I can wear it!

so...as I type this I am STARVING with a capital "S." This week it is going to be very hard to stay on track. Well, what's left of this week. My lovely students are bringing in gifts - today I got candied almonds. HELLO!! I didn't open them but my office-mate opened her can. I had two and they were YUMMY. Then one of my teacher friends got a bag on Lindt Chocolate. Ate one of those without thinking. OH YEA - and I had a mini Reese's Cup and a bite size Dove bar. Those little squares. But the little adds up to a lot!!!

That said...I came home and tried on my clothes for the next three days. Tomorrow night I am debuting the SIZE 16 vineyard vines dress that has been hanging in my closet for two years! YEA! It is a little snug through the hips but not stuffed-sausage-snug, if you know what I mean! I was going to wear it for graduation but I don't think it is formal enough. However on Saturday I am wearing a Lilly Pulitzer dress, SIZE 16!!! YEA! It's weird though...I can't wear size 16 in other brands. But I will take it! I am so excited.

As predicted it was hard to get up this morning. As drained as I was last night it was hard falling asleep. When the alarm went off all I wanted to do was sleep. ZZzzzzzz. But I was at the gym by 4:45 AM! Five minute cardio warm-up, then my arms, then the treadmill. I only did the treadmill for 30 minutes and then biked for 15 minutes.

Except for all the junk I mentioned earlier I have eaten well today. I had a Carnation Instant Breakfast for breakfast, a salad and half a PB sandwich for lunch. Dinner is going to be a grilled chicken salad. Hmm, hmm good!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

I am so glad today is almost over

It has been a long, frustrating, stressful day. I had a meeting in the AM that I thought was just going to be a short wrap-up from an incident a few weeks ago and it turned into a forty minute bitch session. Needless to say it wreaked havoc on my day. BUT - I am proud to say that I did not resort to eating as a way to cure my pain and frustration. In fact, given how I felt today, I ate very well.

Maybe that was because I had such a good workout this morning. I can actually move with ease today which is a relief. I also set my alarm five minutes earlier so I could stretch a bit. I am not one who normally stretches but I guess I need to. So I stretched, cranked on my five minute cardio warm up and then went and worked on my legs. Upped the weights on some, felt the pain, and then decided to run/walk today. I did my first three minute walk and then started the two minute run. I felt so good at the end of two minutes I decided for three, then four, then before I knew it I had been running for seven minutes! I only stopped because I didn't want to injure myself. For the next twenty minutes or so I walk/ran but then with seven minutes to go I ran five and walked the last two. I felt so good!

I ate really well today. As I mentioned before I went to PF Changs with my advisees. I had one chicken lettuce wrap and then ordered myself a chopped chicken salad. Dressing on the side. It was actually really, really tasty. Then we went to a chocolate bar. Mmmm, Mmmm, good! I purchased one little square of chocolate and inhaled it right there at the cash register. Then I bought a bigger piece for Friday. It is on my dresser now. I can't wait to eat it!

Let's hope tomorrow is a better day.
Tonight is my last night of duty!!
til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

40th post - WOW!

this is my 40th post. I haven't kept a journal this long since 1991. I was a nanny in England and I think for the first three months there I journaled almost everyday. But not since.

made it to the gym A-OK today. It is weird going on Mondays. As you know I skip Friday's and then work out at home on Saturday and Sunday. By the time I get there on Monday I feel like I have been gone forever.

I worked my arms and then biked for thirty minutes while watching more "Everest" shows. Then I did the last fifteen minutes of cardio on the treadmill. Walked three, ran two. My legs did not feel like they were attached to my body. Seriously. They are still really sore from my work-out Saturday. When I was running, though, it felt good but I felt like they were someone else's legs!

The school year is winding down and I fear it is going to get harder and harder to eat well. Tomorrow night I have an advisory dinner at PF Changs. Thursday night is dinner duty. Friday night is the 9th grade banquet and Saturday night is a party. I will try to stay close to the veggie platter at all times.

I don't think I am going to skip working out this Friday. I can't workout at all on Saturday so I think I will go on Friday, after weighing in, and then again on Sunday. I was looking at the class schedule for the gym and I think I am going to try a class or two next week. The 6:00 AM class that is. I don't know...I fear if I make any changes then I won't have as good results as I have been having. That said I think I heard somewhere that you need to change up your work-out every now and again to keep your body from becoming complacent.

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

ouch - I am sore today!

ok - something I did yesterday has made me sore, sore, sore. I did lunges and squats yesterday and ended with my biking and walk/run. So I am not sure what exactly did it. But it is 7:45 PM now and I can barely move. The weird thing is it is just my lower body. My upper body isn't sore at all. I even did bench presses...I don't think I have ever done those before. OUCH!

Today has been a so-so day. Pre-church breakfast was a yogurt. Brunch was half a Belgium waffle and some bacon. Every Sunday my school has make your own Belgium waffles and bacon. They aren't huge waffles, and I only had half. I did use two pats of butter but just sprinkled on the syrup. I didn't have lunch and my afternoon snack was baby carrots and grape tomatoes.

I did a pseudo-workout today. I call it pseudo because I only did 35 minutes of cardio and it was biking around here. I did a rezzy but it KILLED. My quads were screaming with each hill. The rezzy only took about 15 minutes so I did laps around a cemetery. Yes, cemetery. It is within walking distance of here and is great to ride through. I actually know of some people buried there and it is certainly a place for quiet reflection.

Post workout the family went to PF Changs. Yummy! I had one Thai lettuce wrap, one Peking dumpling and I ordered salmon as my entree. It was a big piece but it wasn't cooked enough for me so I didn't eat it all. The glaze was delicious. It sat on a bed of brown rice and asparagus. I tried to eat the rice with chop sticks so I wouldn't eat so much. Came home and had a Skinny Cow.

I am headed into the last week of school - who-hoo!! It is going to be a long hard week!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

I am sweating today!

I have to keep this short as DQ has had the boys for a while and I need to get home (I am at work.)

(FYI - I saw the "Sex and the City" movie last night and LOVED IT! Even though it was my cheat day I did not get popcorn. I went to the grocery store and got some Skittle and water.)

I worked out with my boss today at school. She has her CSCS and was also a division one athlete in college. She still holds some NCAA records in field hockey! Needless to say she knows her stuff. She is trying to help me do some different exercises that are more efficient that just the machines. She did strength training with me and then is going to print a variety of work outs for me that I can take everywhere I go this summer.

After the strength stuff I ran/walked for 20 minutes and then biked for 20 minutes. I just couldn't do another five.

Have a great weekend!
til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

whew!!

yesterday afternoon I pulled on a pair of shorts, ones that I bragged about last week, and they were tight. Granted they were fresh from the dryer but they were tight. I was so so bummed. DQ and I talked and I said I would be happy if I had a one pound loss this week. That would be one less pound on my body, four sticks of butter gone.

I slept in this morning as late as I could but I was up at 5:30 AM. I am going to shoot myself if I don't sleep more this weekend! Anyway I stripped down to my skivvies and hopped on to the scale. Wait for it...wait for it...YES! the down arrow again! And not only the down arrow but the down arrow with a 2.2 next to it!!! yea me!!! I was so so excited. That makes a total of 12.2 lbs gone. ya-hoo!

I have been thinking about what I am doing differently these past two weeks. I have really really tried to cut out anything white opting for whole grains instead. I am also doing cardio for 45 minutes. On most days I drink a gallon of water. That's fun!!!

gotta run to class.

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

Last chance workout!

Dinner out last night, eating wise, was relatively succesful. I ordered something called the homewrecker. It is a giant burrito. I usually get it with beef, lots of cheese and sour cream. Last night I got it with grilled chicken, a sprinkle of cheese and just a tiny bit of sour cream. I got water instead of soda. When I sat down I immediatley cut the homewrecker in half and only ate half. I did have several chips but left some on my plate.

My friend and I ended up staying at the restaurant until about 9:20 PM. Moe's is a solid 15 - 20 minute ride to my house so I didn't get nearly as much sleep as I had hoped.

Gym time was good today but painful. I did legs and then decided to run/walk. I called today my last chance workout. If any of you watch the Biggest Loser you know that the last work out before the weigh-in is called the last chance workout. So I tried to crank it but my left hip was really bothering me. I must have looked funny to other people as I was almost moaning out loud towards the end. If it didn't hurt so much I would have done more. Maybe I will do more this weekend. By the end of next week I will be able to have more time at the gym so maybe I can do longer cardio or sleep in a little.

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

Maybe it's that time of the year

I am a teacher and the school year is winding down. This time next week I will be looking at my final full school day. YEA! But with the end of the year comes a lot of work. My school, like many schools, has teachers write comments about their students. "Johnny was a delight to have in class this term. He really worked hard at strengthening his batting skills. Blah, blah, blah." Don't get me wrong. I find value in writing these comments. They just take so long to write. I have to write 137 of them and I am DYING over here. I have about 15 left so I am WAY ahead of the game - oh wait - 19 left.

All that said I am in just a blah blah mood. I think it is the food issue. Maybe I need to re-evaluate what I am eating. Maybe I am PMSn except I can't really be as I just finished my period about ten days ago. Either way I want to eat everything. Someone once told me that it takes six weeks of doing something for it to become a habit. Well I am exactly five weeks in and can't wait for the "habit" way of thinking to kick it. I still want to reach for the bad stuff. I have a jar of Fruity Cheerio's on my desk and am ready to dive in. How bad can they be??!! They are whole grain!

Speaking of whole grain I have been all over the place with my breakfast this week. I had the egg breakfast yesterday but Monday and today it was cereal. ONLY cereal - no yogurt. But I hope it isn't too many carbs. Today I had one of my favorite Kashi cereals - Cinna Raisin Crunch. http://www.kashi.com/products/good_friends_cereal_cinna_raisin_crunch hmm mmm good. Lunch was a small salad - no dressing as the tomatos and cucumbers were covered in some dressing. I also had half a PB sandwich as there was no real protein to be had. The bread was 12 grain. I didn't look to see if it was whole grain. The PB wasn't all natural or low fat but I used it minimally. I will just have a cheese stick or almonds - not both - for my afternoon snack as I am going out to dinner tonight.

Tomorrow is my last workout before my next weigh in. I haven't worked on my abs nearly as much as I had hoped. Bummer. I keep forgetting. I told myself I would do them at night but that hasn't happened. Anywho I will have to make the most of the work out. Maybe I will run again. Haven't really done that since Sunday.

off to write more comments -
til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

how many days until summer vacay???!!!

It is about 9:30 PM Tuesday night. It has been a long, long day. I hate complaining because I feel like everyone has long days. I don’t have too much room to complain. I have a job I enjoy, I get to live in a fantastic town in MA and in a week I will be done with work for the summer (OK, maybe two weeks.) That said – it was a long day and I can’t wait to crawl into bed.

My work out today was so-so. I cranked on my five minute cardio warm up. It took me forever to get through my leg work-out but I didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry. I decided to do the elliptical today. But after about ten minutes I had had enough. I stayed on for fifteen minutes and then moved over to the bike. DQ had downloaded some shows about Mt. Everest and I watched one of those. It helped pass the time.

I don’t think I mentioned that my left hip has been bothering me. Whenever I get up from sitting down I look like a little old woman trying to stand up straight. OUCH! Sometimes when I run, and I have been doing it for a long time, my toes go numb on that side. Today I spoke to our athletic trainer and she mentioned sciatica. She told me to lay off the running. She told me to jump on the bike. I just don’t feel like I am working as hard. I know I am not burning as many calories. I may try running tomorrow…I just don’t know.

I have eaten very well today but it is getting harder and harder to say no to the bad stuff. I really, really want all the bad stuff right now – cookies, brownies, the works. But I keep telling myself to wait until Friday! Tomorrow night I am going to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. I am hoping to just pick at my meals during the day so I can enjoy myself! I have already decided to replace the ground beef with grilled chicken and no sour cream. I love sour cream!

til tomorrow –
Mummy Q.

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope it is a gorgeous where you live as it is here in MA today. Gorgeous weather - no need for A/C. The boys and I spent some time at the pool this afternoon and I got fried. I put on the SPF 50 too late and now I am paying the price. Use sunscreen people! I don't have a favorite brand - Target brand works fine for me!

I woke up at 5:30 AM and went straight to the gym. At first I thought it was closed because there were only two other cars there. But I peered through the window and I saw the TVs on. Sure enough that was June at the front desk. There was one other person in there. A man I see there every morning.

I did my five minute cardio warm up and then worked my arms. I was only going to bike today but I felt like I was on such a roll with my walk/jogging. I started to walk/run again but today I was changing it to two and two - two minutes walking two minutes jogging. I decreased my running speed in the hopes that I could go the entire 45 minutes. After twelve minutes I had to excuse myself to the restroom. When I cam back I did about three more minutes and I was done. Just couldn't do it anymore no matter how much I bullied myself into staying put. I hopped on the bike and did thirty minutes and then went to the elleptical and did twenty more minutes. I sweat like crazy but felt like I let myself down. I will try to better tomorrow!

til then -
Mummy Q.

The Devil Made Me Do It

I know it seems like a running theme here, but I didn't sleep so well last night. Holden and I had a campout in my room as DQ and Scout were at a Cub Scout Campout Holden moves a lot in his sleep and snores as loud as his father. And again I was up at 5:30ish. I snoozed on and off again for another two hours.

I ended up going to church without going to breakfast. I know, I know...it is the most important meal of the day. But I had to do a bunch of stuff before we left. So when I came home I made myself a huge lunch. Two eggs, two egg whites and a slice of plain toast. I meant to buy some "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" yesterday but I forgot. It was a HUGE meal though and held me for most of the day.

I decided to make brownies today. I must tell you that I love brownies. Love them. I made them for DQ and his friend who were doing a bunch of manly men work to our windows to prepare them (the windows) for our AC units. The brownies came out of the over looking devine. I was going to step away. Even as I was cutting them I was determined to ignore them. Then...well...I thought "I will have half a piece." That half turned into many whole pieces and before I knew it I had put away four or five. Seriously. I couldn't stop. They were so good. The Hershey kind with chunks of chocolate inside. Hmmm Hmmm good!! I felt terrible afterward. Absolutely terrible.

5:00 PM comes around and I head to the fitness room on campus. I was supposed to be meeting a friend there. She was super late but another one of my co-workers was there. Just so happened to be one of the most attractive men on campus. I was so intimidated. This man has so much discipline when it comes to taking care of himself. He works out every single day. Every day. Amazing. I hope to have that dedication one day. Anyway - it was nice having him there as we chatted and it made the running portion of my treadmill experience go a little faster.

Towards the end of my run/walk I started to lose steam. I am definitley someone who has to work out first thing in the AM. I was on my second to the last running interval and I lost it. Stopped running to walk. As the "time remaining" was winding down and I was was psyching myself up for the last two minutes of running I remembered the brownies. So when the treadmill cranked up again for the final running interval I chanted to myself "BROWNIES! HOLDEN!! LILLY!! FITNESS!!!" over and over again. Brownies to remind myself of the slip I had today. Holden to remind myself that if he can do it I can do it. Lilly to remind myself of the Lilly Pulitzer pants on the way and Fitness to remind myself I want to be fit!

Dinner was whole wheat pasta and some sauce with frozen veggies. Bleh...but I didn't cook it.

Tomorrow - Memorial Day. The gym is open normal hours. So if I wake up early I am going to hit the gym. Well, no matter when I wake up I headed there. At least I know that if I wake up at 5:30 AM I will have somewhere to go! Speaking of the gym I Googled Gaylord, MI, the town I will be in for a month this summer. There are two gyms there. I have a call in to both of them to see what they can do for me while I am there!

til tomorow -
Mummy Q.

oh so tired.

I finally made it to bed around 12:20 last night and for some reason was up at 5:22 AM. Needless to say it was a long, long day and I am oh so tired right now!

I managed to squeeze in a run today but it was pitiful. I skipped the gym and ran what's called a rezzy. The school we live at backs up to a resevoir. If you run the streets around it is called a rezzy. I ran a rezzy and then some and it was only 3.1 miles. I thought for sure I had gone farther. I was slightly bummed. And I didn't think I was working as hard because I wasn't sweating as much. That said it was about 62 degrees outside with a nice breeze but still. I like it when I sweat bullets.

I have eaten next to nothing to day. Literally nothing. Breakfast was a Luna Bar. Lunch was one ounce of almonds and the a cheese stick. Dinner was a spinach chicken apple walnut salad from Uno's. I picked off most of the cheese and didn't use the salad dressing. I did have some of Holden's crust from his pizza. For dessert I had a skinny cow ice cream sandwich. I tried the mint - holy moley was that tasty!!!!!

Lets see if I can insert some pictures - hold please!

(five minutes later!) I did it! YEA! These are pictures of the resevoir, taken while I was running. Well, I stopped to take the picture with my phone. The first picture is with the rezzy on my left while I was running. I had just missed having a huron in the picture.


The second picture is taken on the opposite side. I am almost done running at this point!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.