Swimming with Paddles

Here is the latest belly picture. I'm now 29 weeks along which means I'm fully into the third trimester! Yay!

I have been having a really hard time sleeping lately. I really love sleeping on my side, but when I do, I wake up several times with sore hips, back and/or ribs. It's not really fun. My doctor has suggested sleeping on my back with a pillow under one side. I really don't feel as comfortable doing this, but it has helped. I haven't been nearly as sore when I wake up in the mornings if I can manage to do this.

If I am still a little sore when I wake up, swimming usually will fix that. I didn't swim on Monday because of my doctor's appointment, but I did go on Wednesday.

I did my usual warmup and workout, but this time I decided to push it a little on my 500 and see how long it would take me. To my great suprise and excitement, I was able to finish it (10 laps) in 9:52! I know that's not spectacular, but that's with belly drag and everything. :) It also wasn't all out, and I was so happy to be able to keep my laps under a minute. I felt really strong and like I could pull really hard.

After that set, I did another set of 500 yards with the pull buoy and paddles. I took it pretty easy and I did it in 9:48.

I've been trying to use my paddles a lot lately, and since I'm not really doing any speed work, I think it's helping. It improves my strength and technique, which in turn helps improve my speed. Sweetness!

Here's a little video of Elle demonstrating how to use the paddles. Notice how obvious it is when she's not doing it right. :) That's how it is in the water too - you can really tell when you're doing it right or not, and I love it! I also love how fast it makes me (see above time differences), and I think that's got to be helping my speed mentally.

Any other success stories or suggestions with using paddles?

Pumpkin Patch

On Monday, for family night, we decided to go up to the pumpkin patch in Farmington. Elle had gone earlier in the day with her preschool and had a lot of fun so we thought we'd give the other kids a chance to see it and to pick their own pumpkins.

It was really cool to see that huge field full of pumpkins, and it was fun for the kids to pick their own. Ethan, of course, picked one so big he could hardly carry it!

They also had a little hay maze that the kids had a blast running though several times. Elle knew her way around it really well from coming earlier, and took me right though it. It was really cold, and we didn't stay long, but it was place to go.

After we got our pumpkins, we decided to drive up Farmington Canyon to where the snow had fallen the night before. It was a beautiful drive and the kids had fun pretending they were scared that we would fall off the cliff.

Every time we go on little drives like this, or in any way get into the mountains, it always makes me feel very grateful to live here in Utah. It is such a beautiful state!




This is looking down on the Great Salt Lake.




THe next day, Elle had me help her decorate her little pumpkin like a kitten. Her name is Freckles, and I think she's just the cutest pumpkin in the patch!



Here's the back.

Whiskey Springs

Two weeks ago, Pete went to New York for 5 days and the kids had 3 of those days off school so we headed up to Heber to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the great company of my Dad and his sweet wife.

The kids had a great time playing with all their neighborhood friends while my dad was at work, and of course loved all the time they could spend with Grandpa when he was at home. On Saturday we took the kids on a little trip to Whiskey Springs. It's a little state park not far from town that I remember going to when I was a little kid, and we always loved it. There's a very short trail that just goes up the mountain a little then comes back down into the picnic area so we took the kids on that a couple times.



The sun was kind of in a bad place for taking pictures, and unfortunately, the leaves had already faded quite a bit, but it was still beautiful.



We also explored a rock-slide just above the trail where someone had built 2 little forts out of the rocks. It was pretty cool, and I really enjoyed just sitting up there soaking it all in!




Of course they HAD to get in the river while we were there.




Ethan found a piece of wood shaped like a crocodile head!

Both Mindy and Elle fell in and got all wet and cold. Luckily Mindy's casts are water-proof, and luckily I had extra clothes in the car. Miraculously, Ethan managed to stay pretty much dry.

Sometimes there are a lot of really friendly squirrels there, but we didn't see any this trip. Maybe they were just too busy getting ready for winter to entertain visitors. Mindy did leave a cookie for them, though.

While we were in Heber, I splurged and made these Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls:



If you're obsessed with pumpkin, like I am, at this time of year, you should give them a try. Mine turned out HUGE! I had to bake them in 2 pans, and they were really good the next morning for breakfast too. (I'm not saying that was a healthy breakfast...)

Quick, quick, quick!

Do you want to run a marathon? Well, why not make 2011 the year you do it? You don't run at all, you say? Well there is no time like the present to start! My sister started her official training today and this is what she did:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Pretty simple right? That is the first day from the Couch To 5k training plan. Even if you have never ran before, you can do this plan. It starts with the above and works you up to running for 30 minutes in 8 weeks. Then you can start training with us for the Utah Valley Marathon! You know you want to! :) We still have 8 months to get ready.

Or just pick a 5k to run. Races are fun!

Anyway.

Today is such a beautiful day! We had kind of a rushed morning and after dropping Elle off at preschool, I had to drop Pete off for a meeting that would take an hour. I told him I was planning on going swimming, but that I could make it quick so I'd be back to pick him up on time. He said, "swimming is always 2 hours." but I told him I'd make sure to get out by 10:15 even if it was a really short swim. It turned out that when I got into the pool I still had 35 minutes until my designated getting out time so I almost had time to do my usual workout since I've just been downing about 45 minutes in the pool anyway.

Swimming was great and I felt really good! In fact, for the last few days I've almost been able to forget I'm pregnant! Yay! I didn't think that would happen with this one! I was especially glad to get into the pool because my legs were really sore from sewing all day on Saturday while I watched the Ironman World Championships in Kona. It was a fun day and it sure flew by! George's quilt is turning out pretty cute too:


I got out, skipped the shower and picked Pete up right on time! Awesome!

Rain, rain, come whenever you want!

I'm almost too big for my BAM shirt, sad!

I did not want to go running this morning. I almost didn't go. Afterall, I'm pregnant, I can have two rest days in a row (uh, yeah, instead of swimming yesterday, I slept pretty much the whole time Elle was at preschool.). I was even going to just drive the kids to school, but then they begged to ride their bikes so I gave in and rode with them. This helped me realize that I really was feeling ok so I reconsidered the run. Pete was home so I was able to leave Elle with him and just go for a little run. I told myself I'd take it easy and it would be no big deal.

I almost said, "Never mind!" when I looked out the window and saw that it was raining, but instead I just grabbed a long sleeve shirt and a hat and headed out.

It's easy to let rain get in the way of a good run, but I actually like running in the rain (as long as it's not for 5 1/2 hours with no rain jacket), and felt happy as soon as I started! Running in the rain makes me feel awesome like, "Hey, I'm a runner! People who aren't runners wouldn't be out in this!"

Ok, so there were some people out at the dog park, but that doesn't count.

After about 2 songs, I started getting a side ach so I reminded myself that it was totally ok to stop and walk. After a few minutes it went away and I was able to start running again. After that I just felt great! I ran onto the bike path that took me into the park and over the river where the rain was making a million ripples on the dark water. Then I rounded a corner and could see the cityscape through the trees. It was all so beautiful, and I was just so happy to be out there! I couldn't help but smile as I ran.

This was actually the first run I've done by myself for a while, and I guess I forgot how much I love getting out, having some alone time and just running without having to worry about anybody else on their bike or in the stroller. I need to do this more often!

I probably did about 2.5 miles, and I'm determined to do at least 3 next time. I was having so much fun at the end that I had to run around the block a couple times to finish Bohemian Rhapsody - always a fun song to run to!

I'm so grateful that I went even though I didn't really want to, and that I'm feeling well enough again to be able to run! What a blessing that is! I might just get through these 9 months yet!

Moving Along and Moving Up

Yesterday I got an email from Utah Valley Marathon telling me that I am registered for June! It was automatic because I had had them transfer this year's race registration to next year. I knew it was going to happen, but not it's official!

I also got a phone call from my sister at 11:30 last night so I was a little worried something was wrong. Why would she be calling me so late?! Turns out she got the same email and is also registered for the marathon! We weren't sure if hers would transfer over because they never emailed her back.

So, not only do I need to get myself into the marathon frame of mind, I also get to put my "coaching/encouraging" hat on for my sister. I'm so excited she's going to try again to do it with me! Last time I talked to her, she was totally against it so I'm happy she got that little bit of motivation in her email yesterday!

She hasn't been running at all so I told her to run 2-3 miles today and that I would do the same.

This morning, Pete took the kids to school since he was taking the car to get some work done on it. That was different! There have been very few days in their school career that I didn't take them in.

Anyway, this just gave Elle and I extra time to get ready and decide what we wanted to do about this run. I couldn't have her ride her bike with me because it has a flat tire and I can't even get the pump onto that little tiny (12 inch) tire to pump it up, so I gave her the option of riding in the stroller or going to the childcare at the gym. She chose the stroller, and I was kind of glad because I'd rather run outside for as long as I can. It was a really nice cool day today too!

I ran about 2 miles with her. I almost brought the Garmin with me to measure the distance, but then it was dead so I didn't. It probably would have made me cry to see how slow I actually go anyway. At one point, a guy passed us and Elle told me she wanted to go faster, and I just thought, "So do I!" I couldn't go faster, though. I just had to be content with the fact that I was running at all. It was pretty fun. Just like last time, it took me about half-way to really get into it and get past the side aches or whatever it is I've been getting. The end was great!

When we got home, we decided to try lowering the seat on Mindy's bike to see if Elle could ride it (since Mindy can't really ride it right now anyway), and she could! It's got 16-inch wheels, and it's a little tricky for her to get started and stop since her feet don't quite reach the ground, but it looks like it fits her really well while she's riding it. We went once around the block with it before finishing off the run.

After I stretched and showered, Elle was all excited to ride Mindy's bike some more, and we had a bunch of library books to take back so we rode our bikes to the library, about a mile away. Elle is super fast on that bike! The ride to the library used to be such a big deal, and she did it like it was nothing! She was just cruising along, and at a pretty comfortable pace for me. Not once did I have to slow down for her or look back to see if she was coming. She stayed ahead of me or right alongside me. I was super impressed! There really is something to having the right fit on your bike (even if you're 4).

Pete just asked me if 4 years old is too young to begin grooming for a career in pro cycling! Haha! She really is good, though!

Rockin' the Orange Casts

I'm 26 weeks along today, and my baby's the size of an eggplant! Wahoo!

Yesterday morning we took Mindy in to the Orthopedist to get her casts. I was kind of hoping she would end up not needing one, at least on her right arm, but she did. The doctor told us it was pretty much up to us, that we could just do a brace, but that if she's very active it would be safer to do a cast. Same with her left arm, the doctor told us we could just do the cast up to the elbow, but with both bones broken they could get end up turning funny. So, we just went with the safest possible solution of casts on both arms, and with the one on the left going above her elbow. Not so fun for her, but hopefully this way it will heal properly and we won't have to worry so much.

She chose orange for both. Perfect for Halloween. Also really good to hold up while crossing the street.

Being the resilient kid that she is, she's already adapting to the new casts. Here she is doing her best to play the drums for Beatles Rock Band last night for Family Night.

She gets them off November 1.

After the doctor, we dropped Elle off at preschool, then Mindy off at her school, and I had time to go swim! I did a total of 1950 yards as:

200 kickboard with fins

200 swim

200 pull buoy with paddles

200 swim

500 swim

500 pull buoy with paddles

100 backstroke to cool-down

25 to take the kickboard and flippers back across the pool, then dive back in and 25 backstroke to my stuff and get out. That's pretty much what I've been doing every time I go to the pool. Nothing major, but a nice little workout.

It was fun, and I got done just in time to go pick Elle up from preschool. Whew!

Being a Mom and General Conference

Today is one of those days where I really am not loving being pregnant. (So far I would count the days that I have loved it at around 1 or 2) It seems like some days I'm more uncomfortable than others, and today it feels like my ribs are going to get pushed right out of my skin.

But, having another sweet little person in our family is going to be awesome. This weekend was Conference weekend for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It takes place at the Conference Center here in Salt Lake City, but it is broadcast and streamed on the internet all over the world. We're lucky enough to live in Utah where it is also broadcast on the local TV channels and the radio so it is very easy for us to see and listen to the Prophet and Apostles speak. We watched it at home on our new TV so that was really nice. At one point I wasn't feeling very good so I laid down, and Elle came and laid down with me. She fell asleep for the rest of the session, and it was so sweet!

(I only closed my eyes for a minute during one of the songs)

Moments like those don't happen much anymore. She's only going to be my baby for a few more months. Then I will have a new baby to snuggle with. It's kind of bittersweet that it won't be Elle anymore, but at the same time I love watching her grow up.

When Pete saw us laying there, he told me that I was lucky, and I am! I feel so incredibly blessed to be a mother and to have such beautiful children. Taking care of them, teaching them, and nurturing them is the most important responsibility I have, and I'm so grateful for it. I love being a mom. My family is so important, and it doesn't matter if I have to put a few of my wants (like races) on hold for a little while for them. I'm excited to meet our new little one in 3 months!

I just have to keep reminding myself that this belly isn't permanent. :)

Click here to view General Conference.

Sugar Free Banana Muffins

It's recipe time!

On Thursday I had to do my blood glucose test. The instructions the doctor gave me were to not eat "any sugars" before the test, just eat proteins, drink this really sugary drink in 5 minutes, exactly 1 hour before my doctor appointment, then not eat anything else.

I had already planned on making banana muffins for breakfast, though, so I just made them anyway and just didn't have one until I got home from the doctor. Technically, these muffins don't have any sugar in them, but I figured the "no sugars" meant no sugars of any kind, including fruit sugars. Too be safe, I just ate eggs and sausage for breakfast (which is good too).

They were hard to resist though.

Sugar Free Banana Muffins

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large ripe bananas, mashed
1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup apple sauce

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.

2. Combine bananas, egg and apple sauce; mix well.

3. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

4. Fill greased muffin cups three-fourths full. (I sliced up another half a banana and put a piece on top of each muffin, but I'd only do this if you're going to eat them right away because the banana will turn black and get slimy if you save them for later.)

5. Bake at 375 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until muffins test done.

6. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

I wish I could have tasted these when they were still warm, but the kids seemed to enjoy them.

I was a little nervous about the glucose test, but not much. I was also worried that I would fail the iron test again like I did last month. I decided against taking supplements and just tried to eat more healthy, iron-rich foods like spinach, green beans, meat, and malt-o-meal. Well, it worked! Not only did I pass my glucose test, but I also passed the iron test! Yeah!

When I got home, I was already starving, so the first thing I did was try those muffins. Mmmm. They were good. They were really moist and delicious. They totally don't need the sugar with that many bananas and applesauce! They probably would have been even better warm.