I'll Be Back...

Jet lagged.

For reals.

The Love Of My Life...

People, real quick, because it's almost time for me to go to bed... which reminded me of how much I wanted to share with you my insane love for the "Cat Purr" sound on my Relax Melodies app.

It's free and it has changed my life.

Or my sleep.  Which is just as important.

Facebook friends will recall that on New Years I was driving the kids through a blizzard on my way home from Pennsylvania.

And we had to make an emergency stop at a really bad motel.

I mean there was unidentified crust on the remote.  It was just gross.  Let's not talk about it.

But I digress...

I have had the Relax Melodies app on my phone for just such nights out when I need to block out sound and I don't have the high powered fan I use at home for that purpose.

(I think I've mentioned that I have troubling sleeping, yes?)

Well, on this particular night I scrolled past my usual "Oscillating Fan" and discovered "Cat Purr" and for a joke I turned it on.

And then I was out like a light.

God, I love it.  As soon as I turn it on, it is like I've been hit by a tranquilizer dart.

Seriously.  I think it hypnotizes me.  I fall right to sleep and sleep sounder than ever before.

Good night.

This Week The Plan

I'm exhausted today.  I'm now forced to kick ass all day Sunday to get everything ready in order to make it through the week.  I mean yesterday I went grocery shopping at two stores, did several loads of laundry, cut Kid's hair, made meals, etc, and  I feel like I have no downtime to recoup from what has become a pretty exhausting life. (Plus I watched Medium, and then Mr F was talking about The Mothman Prophesies in bed, and then the neighborhood dogs starting going ape-shit, plus I had read that Asheville has 2x the crime of the national average before bed.... so I did not sleep well) This week the baby that was a no show last week is coming EVERYDAY that the other baby is here.  My stress level (which last week was non existent) went through the roof when I found out.  This is the prime example of me making passive choices that don't make me happy... or don't contribute to my families ultimate happiness.  One baby is doable... adds important income... and doesn't take away from my ability to meet Baby's needs. Two babies changes the dynamic considerably.  I need to put all my energy into the babies, and for the pay, the deficits... the energy drain, the diversion of energy from Baby... are just not worth it.  So I need to work toward being able to do something to change this... ie actually be upfront with people.

Menu:

Sunday - Salmon Noodle Casserole w/peas, sauteed mushrooms, salad

Monday - Hot dogs, homemade french fries, apple slices

Tuesday -   Beef Stroganoff w/ egg noodles, broccoli 

Wednesday - Chicken and Dumplings

Thursday - Honey Mustard Glazed Salmon, rice pilaf, zucchini beans & pepper saute

Friday - Pizza

Saturday - Cilantro Chicken Enchiladas (Cook's Country 30 minute)

Diet & Exercise:

Last week I started food journalling again.  I went all the way and measured and weighed everything.  I had burnt out by the weekend after a disappointing weigh-in (sound familiar anyone?).  So I gave myself the weekend to be disgruntled that my week's efforts didn't make me magically drop 10 pounds in five days.  I'm over it.  I'm back on board.  

Last week I did several different exercise dvds and TV shows since our treadmill is in the garage and with the frigid temps I just couldn't bear to put my snowpants on in order to get my workout in.  I also wanted to try something different and see how it went.  If things change around here I will need to focus on workouts I can do on the main floor of our house where I can still be present for the kids.  Anyone have the Wii Fit and actually use it?  We don't have a Wii and it would be a pretty big financial expenditure for us to get one but if people use it and feel that they are getting a good (hardcore even) workout from it please let me know.  If Mr F moves I might want to get one so I can keep a consistent exercise program going upstairs... the treadmill will be retired until we move (and then hopefully can move it INDOORS).  Oh plus I've decided to go for 15% body fat.... which is not a thinness thing but a optimum humanness thing... and maybe just a straight up motivational challenge... we'll see.  More on that later. First I have to finish these Candy Cane Hershey's Kisses... 

That's it.  No news yet.  

Now That Was Interesting

On top of everything else... birthday... family staying over... Halloween...

last night I agreed to babysit the little baby so his mother could go out.

He came over at 9 PM and was supposed to stay until 12 AM. I know a lot of you would not do that... but... what the heck I knew I'd be up anyway. Well, she called at 12 and asked if he could stay the night and if she could get him in the morning. I agreed to that too. If you are calling to ask that... I figure that is what is best for the baby. I don't want her driving, driving with him, or even taking care of him if she's wasted.

Well... long story short I got NO sleep. I slept on the couch with him in and out of his carseat trying to rock it with one hand like a cradle and wishing there was a way I could sleep while doing so.

There wasn't.

I'm freaking exhausted.

She better pay me extra.

Pass Me Some Tape

I need to tape my eyes open.

I've been really struggling to adjust to our new schedule. I know a lot of you are in this boat right now.... or about to get into it. It seems to take us about a full month to get into a good rhythm. It's especially hard on us because not one of us is a natural early riser. We're getting up about 2 hours before any of us consider "morning"... and we're all exhausted by the end of the day. Even with earlier bedtimes our bodies don't think we're getting enough sleep. And it feels like with the addition of school we can't fit everything we need to do into one day. I know it doesn't make sense... but I also know you know what I mean. It's just a huge schedule adjustment and I feel frazzled and stressed and pulled in 1000 directions. I need coffee to wake up and Unisom to go to sleep. My body is just fighting this time change with everything it has.

Add to that the fact that it's 12:45 and this is the first time I've sat down since I woke up this morning.

Which is made worse by the fact that I was already tired yesterday... and so was Baby... which is why she collapsed into a deep dark coma at 5:50PM last night only to get up 2 hours later... and then stayed up until 11:45PM.

I don't love when that kind of thing happens but it's a heck of a lot easier on me when I don't have to get up early the next morning to meet my new charge:
He wasn't scheduled to come today but yesterday afternoon his mother called to ask if he might not come over at the crack of dawn for a little warm up session before being dropped off for a full day tomorrow. I thought that that was a good idea... for him... and for Baby. So I got up extra early. I even showered and put on 50% clean clothing.

Things went very well. He didn't want to leave. His dad was a bit surprised... I guess my awesomeness is a bit unassuming at times.

We'll see how it goes tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be working off more than 6 hours of sleep.

Things On My Mind

#1 Wondering when I'm ever going to pick up where I left off with "The Love Story" saga?... soon, very, very, soon. You can look for Chapter 3 sometime this weekend.

#2 Yes I'm still really, really, tired. Baby is still very sick and even with my special friend, Unisom, I still feel like I'm about to hit a wall.

#3 Purging continues. My goal is to get rid of at least one thing a day. So far so good.

#4 I have been up late reading this blog. I cannot stop. This ongoing retirement home saga is strangely fascinating... and addictive. I've gotten through February and I won't rest until I'm up to date. I've actually had dreams starring this motley crew of retirees. For real.

#5 I've fallen off the diet and exercise wagon... again. I'm hoping to pull it back together as soon as we work through this "no sleeping" glitch. I think I've got to go back to square one. I felt better feeling in control than I do eating muffins. I may have more to say on this front tomorrow. Stay tuned.