Getting Healthy Challenge

It's been a little over a week since I started the "Getting Healthy Challenge". Marci Fillmore in our ward had participated in the program with her sisters and sent out an email wondering if any of the women in the ward wanted to start a 'round'. We've been split up into teams and our program lasts 7 weeks. We receive points each day for the following categories:

2 pts: Contact with Teammate
5 pts: 64 oz Water
5 pts: Stop eating before 8:30 pm
5 pts: 5 fruits and vegetable Servings (1/2 cup per serving)
5 pts: No Sweets/Sugary Treats - Bonus 20 points if you go 6 days without
5 pts: 30 min. exercise OR 7 pts: 45 min. exercise (6 days)
5 pts: Healthy snacking (up to 2 snacks a day: morning and afternoon, healthy, at least 2 hours before meal)
3 pts: Not over eating all day (eat until you are 80-90% full)
3 pts: At least 7 hours of sleep from the night previous
2 pts: Flossing once a day
5 pts: Scripture reading (at least 15 min.)
5 pts: Journal
6 pts: Prayers (3 for morning, 3 for evening)

After the 1st week there is a rotating 'area of focus' that's worth double points. For this 2nd week (which started on Monday) we receive 10 pts for exercising 30 minutes or 14 pts for exercising 45 minutes. I am so excited about this program because it's helping me improve in areas of my life that should be high priorities but sometimes get shoved to the 'if I have time' category.

I'm proud of myself because the challenge started at a difficult time for me. We only received a couple of days notice that it would start on Memorial Day which was 2 days after Brooklyn was born. And of course I'm not at home. I could have made excuses about why I couldn't do it, but I just decided that it was too important not to start and give it 100%. Lindsey and Thomas have been very supportive while I've been here in Boise. Thomas was my exercise partner last week which gave me a great start.

We just got an email with our weekly totals. Although our team "Mission Slim-Possible" didn't do particularly well as a whole, two of the members of our team made the top two for points, me and Dadra Clement (go Clement women!!)! Both of us got 100% on our points plus lost weight. Dadra had 432 points and I had the top spot with 438 points because I lost 7 pounds. I know much of that may be water weight lost, but I'll take it! I also know that the weight loss from here on out will be much slower, but that's all right too. I'm trying to eat healthy, sensible portions and with the exercise each day I'm sure slowly but surely the weight will come off.

Being the oldest member of my team it's kind of thrilling to be setting the bar high for the rest of the ladies. I realize that their lives may be more complicated on a regular day to day basis (with young families), but this first week, my life was pretty complicated too. So, I'm just going to be prideful and bask in the limelight for a second here!

I'm still in the process of my Couch to 5k training program. These past weeks I'd been walking and running about 30-35 minutes three times a week, but with the Getting Healthy Challenge, I've increased my daily exercise time to 45 minutes six days a week. With the sidetracks I had coming to Boise for Brooklyn's birth it's taking me a little longer than the cookie cutter program, but I can't beat myself up too much about it. After all, 8 weeks ago I could barely alternate jogging 60 seconds and running 90 seconds for a total of 20 minutes. Now I'm running (at a snail's pace mind you, but still running) 28 minutes in a row. That's certainly progress and I will persevere! After I 'graduate' from the c25k program I'll have a couple of weeks that I'll work on increasing my distance and then I'll begin my 10 week half marathon training.

I still can't imagine running for a total of 13.1 miles. I'm committed to running the Indian Summer half marathon in tri-cities toward the end of September. I have two goals: finish the race and don't finish last! If I have to jog/walk then so be it, but I WILL finish!

I don't want to end up being one of those sedentary old people taking handfuls of medication and watching life pass them by. And "If it is to be, it's up to ME!" So, I'm going for it!

Waiting...

It's about 9 p.m. local time and I haven't gotten my 45 minute workout done yet. It was raining earlier and we had some running around to do. Got up relatively late this morning as usual. I'm not keeping too close of an eye on the clock these days but I think it was somewhere between 9 and 10 a.m. I read my scriptures first thing this morning. I'm going to try to start reading them in the morning rather than at night. I think I'm more focused when I read them in the morning.

After Thomas left for work I made me and Lindsey a brunch of scrambled egg omelet (all the fixings of an omelet, but scrambled). I added vegetables (including our leftover broiled broccoli), meat and cheese. It turned out pretty tasty if I do say so myself.

After a while we did some running around. It's amazing how much longer it takes to get ready to do anything when you have a newborn! Lindsey fed Brooklyn in the car while I picked up my Cabelas order of running shirts that were shipped to the store. I bought a couple of the head lamps like the kind Darvin had bought for me there for Lindsey to have for future emergencies. Then we headed to Target. Thomas's coworkers had given them a $165 gift card to Target to welcome baby Brooklyn. Lindsey found some cute newborn outfits for Brooklyn, a car seat cover and a few other things.

We headed to the mall to look for a sun hat for Brooklyn and some nursing bras for Lindsey. I can't believe Children's Place doesn't carry sun hats for newborns! They're all 0-6 months and she was swimming in them. A customer at Children's Place said she shopped at Build A Bear after she had a preemie. So we headed next door to Build A Bear. Unfortunately all they had was boy sun hats. They did have girls rain hats which were the perfect size, but would have been super sticky as they were made of plastic material. On the way out of the mall we stopped at Baby Gap. Surely THEY would have them. But nope. So instead we bought her a little cotton hat that had a little ruffle edge. Certainly better than nothing. As Lindsey was standing in line holding Brooklyn I noticed that Brooklyn had had a massive blow out up her back (maybe she's taking after her cousin Alex). As I waited in line Lindsey took Brooklyn to the bathroom to clean her up and change her. By this time Brooklyn was starving too. So we hot footed it home so Lindsey could feed her.

After we got home I headed back out to do some more running around. Got another bag of almonds from Costco (my new favorite healthy treat) and filled my gas tank. I'd purchased a new set of leather scriptures with a snap closure from the Church Distribution Center for $58. I had them shipped to Lindsey & Thomas's so I could get them personalized here in Boise. I took them tonight to Deseret Book and had them personalized. I then programmed the GPS to take me to Winco. Unfortunately unbeknownst to me the closest Winco was the corporate headquarters! So I got to 'tour' Winco's corporate headquarters parking lot this evening! As I was headed back the right direction Thomas called to tell me that they'd let him off work early, so I picked him up and then we stopped at Winco for a few more groceries.

When we got home we made some dinner and I started getting ready to go running. As I got my Garmin watch ready I noticed I only had 22% battery power life...GRRRR So now I'm waiting for the watch to charge so I can get out and get my run done!

On a sad note, Brooklyn sounds like she's catching a cold. At first it sounded like it could be allergies. She's been sneezing a lot and has a little bit of wheezing sound when she breaths. Hopefully it will resolve soon and won't get worse.

I guess that's the excitement for the day! Looks like the watch is up to 94% charged, so I guess I'll get running!

Monday, Monday

The day started out uneventfully and has ended with a little excitement. We got up and ready relatively early so we could take Brooklyn to her 10 day doctor's appointment.
She gained back the weight she'd lost plus more. She's up to 7 pounds 14 ounces and her head measured 35 cm. Dr Erwin said she looks great. She had her 2nd PKU test. Unless she gets sick in the meantime, she won't go back to the doctor until she starts getting immunizations at 2 months.
We went to Walmart afterward as Brooklyn was almost out of newborn diapers. Picked up a few other things including a few groceries. I've been trying to be consistent in eating healthy, so lots of fruits and vegetables and lean protein. I actually feel good when I eat right! And I lost 7 pounds last week by changing my eating and exercise habits. I'm sure some of that was water weight, but I'll take every pound of it!
We came home and had some leftovers for lunch and then Thomas left for work. Lindsey, Brooklyn and I took a nap. Later I vacuumed the apartment while Lindsey fed Brooklyn. Lindsey said Brooklyn liked the vacuum sound.
We heated up leftovers for dinner. I heated and ate mine first while Lindsey held Brooklyn, then when I was done we traded and I held Brooklyn while Lindsey heated hers and ate. Right after Lindsey finished heating her food in the microwave the power went out. The winds had really kicked up and apparently there are downed power lines all over the area. After Lindsey was done I told her I needed to get my run in. She discouraged me because the wind was so fierce, so we came up with an alternate plan. I climbed the stairs at the apartment complex for 15-20 minutes and then came in and did the Biggest Loser Cardio Max workout for another 30 minutes, playing the video on my laptop.
We've been making due the rest of the evening in the dark and with battery power. We're using the head light from my tool bag in the trunk of my car and the one here in the apartment that I use when I work out at night (that Darvin just bought me! THANKS HONEY!). The power's been out about 4 hours already. Thomas got on his Iphone and found some news that said about 50,000 people in the area are currently without power, so it might be a dark evening! Good thing we're prepared!

Some fun

This past week has been a lot of fun. Enjoying Brooklyn's first week and having some quality time with Emmett too. Nana HEAVEN! Here are some pictures from the past week:

Emmett enjoyed some male bonding time snacking with his Tio Thomas. A way to a man OR a boy's heart is through his stomach:

This past Thursday we took a family walk to a local specialty candy store "Powell's".

It was Brooklyn's first walk and Lindsey's first exercise since she delivered.

It was an enjoyable walk, but it was a little too much for Lindsey, so she's been taking it easier the past few days.

Happy Week!

Time is flying by. Baby Brooklyn is now 5 days old.

Darvin was able to travel over the day she was born and stayed until Tuesday, May 29th.

Briana and Emmett arrived on Sunday, May 27th the day after Brooklyn was born. Briana's been taking a zillion beautiful pictures of the baby and family. We're so lucky to have such a talented photographer in the family.

I'm still working on my Couch to 5k program and I missed my workout the day before Brooklyn was born as we were laboring all that day and then I was way too tired to makeup the workout the day she was born. So Monday I dragged Thomas out with me to the greenbelt to try to catch up on my training in. I'm on week 8 which is a 5 minute warm up walk and then 28 minutes of running. The longest I'd run to date was 25 minutes.

One Week Ago Today

One week ago today our sweet little Brooklyn Brielle Giles was born. She's already starting to change. All the puffiness in her face from the birthing process is gone. We're starting to see her personality. She's generally happy and quiet unless of course she's hungry, has gas or needs a diaper change.

Speaking of gas...this little girl came with the worst gas I've ever smelled in a baby! I never realized such a tiny little person could produce such a huge rotten eggs or sulfur smell. It's been kind of hilarious. It seems like now that she's worked through the meconium poops, she's getting less gassy, or at least the gas isn't as 'potent'! lol For being such a cute little tiny thing she can sure produce a great big stink!

Thomas's parents, Sandee and Harold Giles, arrived on Thursday and will be leaving for home tomorrow. Briana and Emmett will also be heading for home tomorrow. One of the little neighbor boys Adrian has been Emmett's surrogate Alex and I think they're going to miss each other!

Today Thomas took us to the local farmer's market. When we got done wandering around and buying the 'wares' we stopped at the splash park and gave Emmett the opportunity to play in the water. Briana had brought his swimming trunks and an extra diaper. He was pretty tentative about the whole thing. The water shot up pretty strong and I think that had him a little worried.

I enjoyed taking the time to get him acclimated to the water and the hub bub that was going on around him.

After a while he decided that he could 'test the waters'!

A little girl that was probably a few months older than Emmett took a liking to him.

It was so cute, she leaned over and gave him a little Eskimo kiss rubbing nose to nose with him. It was adorable! Emmett seemed to like it!

We finally got to the point that he enjoyed getting a little wet which was nice since it was hot out today!

With my healthy challenges program we're supposed to exercise 6 days a week. Three days each week I use my couch to 5k training and add additional walking or running time to reach the 45 minutes per day of exercise to get maximum points on my healthy challenges program. Then on the other 3 days I cross train. So far it's been biking or walking. Today was a cross training day and I took Emmett out in the baby jogger this evening for a walk. Emmett has been having an extremely difficult time sleeping since he's been in Boise. We've been taking him out for a walk or jog and it helps him relax and go to sleep.

Anyway, today I intended to take a walk with Emmett but once I got outside I couldn't stand just to walk the whole 45 minutes, so I did a walk/jog. It took 30 of the 45 minutes before Emmett finally gave up and fell asleep. Before that he was desperately trying to keep himself awake! He was talking and pointing at the trees and leaves, other joggers walkers, and dogs, he would even look back up at me pushing him. Silly little man. He finally gave up and had a nice evening nap in the jogger! He didn't even budge when we got home and rolled the stroller into the apartment. And it didn't phase him when Briana got him out of the jogger and put him in the crib. Hopefully he'll sleep all night long!

Brooklyn's Birth Story

It's been busy, busy these past few days. Lindsey was under strict instructions to let me know if there was any indication that she was going into labor. Her original due date was May 25th, but got moved back to May 22nd, so I'd been on pins and needles worrying about whether or not she was going into labor and if I'd make it to Boise in time to help her through the labor. Last Thursday afternoon, May 24th, I got a text from Lindsey around 2 p.m. indicating that she'd lost her mucous plug that morning. When she and I talked later (in the midst of a leaky bathtub plumbing repair at one of the rental units) we came to an agreement that I'd wait until she called to tell me she was having labor pains. After talking to her and Darvin I started worrying a bit about that decision as I had Erin the day I lost my mucous plug. I called Erin and Briana to help me remember their experience with the same. They'd both had the babies very soon after, so I changed my mind, called her back and told her I'd head to Boise on Thursday night. After going home, finishing some last minute chores, getting ahold of Gums, dropping Bear off at Gums, etc. it was about 6 p.m. before I was able to head out of town.

I arrived in Boise about 1 a.m. MST. Thomas let me in the apartment and we went to bed. Not long after I started hearing noises. I kept thinking Lindsey and Thomas would be coming in anytime to wake me up and tell me we were heading to the hospital. It turns out that Lindsey woke up around 3 a.m. having contractions that she couldn't sleep through. I was hearing her get up to go to the bathroom. She determined that she'd wait until 7 a.m. before waking us. We (Thomas and I) actually slept until around 8 a.m. Got ourselves up, showered and grabbed some breakfast and then headed to the hospital around 9 a.m.

We went to the maternity triage unit on the 2nd floor of St. Luke's Hospital. They took Lindsey and Thomas back to one of the exam rooms where they put her on the fetal monitor for about 1/2 hour before they'd check her. When they checked her she was still at 1 cm dilated (the same as her appointment the previous Tuesday), although she was 80% effaced with was progress from the 50% effaced on her appointment. So they sent us home! Lindsey was thoroughly disappointed and sure she should be further along for the amount of pain she was in!

We headed to IHOP for breakfast and then went to Michael's to pick up some Weathered Wood bulletin board paper for Briana to use as a 'floor' to take pictures of Brooklyn. Then we headed over to Cabela's to buy a few running t-shirts that were on the Memorial Day weekend sale & watched them feed the fish. We went to walk the mall, then headed to the church distribution center to check out their selection of scriptures. They were already closed, so then we went to Deseret Books. When we finished there we ate dinner at Subway and then headed back to the hospital.

We arrived at the hospital around 6:30 p.m. We went back to the triage labor area. They monitored Lindsey again for about 30 minutes and then checked her. This time they told her she was at 90% effaced but still dilated to 1 cm. They asked her if she wanted to spend some time in the jacuzzi tub for about an hour and then they could check her again. So we went to a room where Lindsey labored in the tub. After the hour was up they took us back to the exam room. When they checked her again. This time they said she was only 80% effaced and 1.5 cm dilated (different nurse checked her). She was frustrated and said she'd die if they sent her home.

They let her get back in the jacuzzi tub and when they re-checked her a little after 9 p.m. she was dilated to 2 cm. The nurse called the doctor who OK'd Lindsey staying another hour to see if she would dilate to 3 cm (the magic number to be admitted!). After a little more than an hour in the jacuzzi tub we went back to the exam room. At almost 11 p.m when the nurse checked her she asked Lindsey what her numbers were previously and then told Lindsey she was at 2.5 cm and then said, I'll give you 3 cm. HOORAY!! We were IN! I asked the nurse if it was possible to strip Lindsey's membranes and she said "Let me help you out" and proceeded to do so. The nurse asked Lindsey when she wanted the epidural and Lindsey said "Now"! So they started an IV, which they had to fully administer before they could give her the epidural, and started the admitting process. They took us to a labor room. Where we waited for a little while until Brock, the nurse anesthetist, arrived. He gave her the epidural around 12:15 a.m. Watching him give her the epidural was a little creepy! I admit, I decided to sit down after awhile as he was poking some wire like thing in and out of the 'hose' in her back! One of these days I'm going to watch a youtube video of someone receiving an epidural so I can get the commentary to understand exactly what he was doing in each step.

Amy, the labor and delivery nurse, checked her again around 12:50 a.m. and miraculously she was dilated to 5 cm! At 2:55 a.m. as we were all taking a little nap all of a sudden there was a swarm of nurses (3) rushing into our room. They'd turned down the fetal monitor in our room, but apparently the baby's heart rate had dropped. So they got Lindsey up on her rubbery/numb legs and onto all fours. They put an oxygen mask on her, gave her some ephedrine(?) in her iv to increase Lindsey's blood pressure. They left her there for a little while monitoring the baby. Everything went back to normal so they had Lindsey lay back down and the nurse checked her again and she was 9 1/2 cm dilated and told Lindsey that her 'water' was bulging and that if Amy pushed hard enough she'd break the water! At this point Amy said she was going to call the doctor. Thomas followed the nurse out of the room to refill Lindsey's water bottle.Lindsey and I heard this giant 'pop',Lindsey jumped and she felt a huge gush of amniotic fluid! She and I started laughing!! Amy checked her (3:20 a.m.) and noticed there was some meconium in the fluid so she told us that she'd have the NICU staff come down in case Brooklyn swallowed any of the meconium.

At 3:45 a.m. Amy had Lindsey start pushing. It was a bit of a slow go to begin with since Lindsey was numb from the epidural. Amy was an awesome coach in teaching Lindsey how to push correctly and Lindsey was a quick study. When the baby crowned you could see that she had a head of dark hair and it looked like she had a pointy cone head.

I'd never seen such a point on the crown of a baby's head! At 5:09 a.m. sweet little Brooklyn was born at St. Luke's hospital. She was 20 inches long, 7 pounds 8 ounces and her head circumference was 13 3/4 inches. We're so happy to welcome this beautiful little princess into our family!