Memorial Day

Today for memorial day we took all the ranch boys to a beautiful river to BBQ, swim, and tube some small rapids. Davey thought it would be fun to take Shane and Cody down some small rapids nears our camp set up. Well the first time was great, the boys loved it. The second time...Davey slipped and fell at the top of the rapids, and accidentally let go of the raft [which by the way, was a twin size blow up mattress!!]. So there go the boys, drifting down the rapids all alone. I started screaming, jumped off a rock I was on to take a picture, into the river (fully dressed) to rescue my babies. By the time I got to them, they were near the end of the rapids but I did manage to keep them from hitting a huge rock. The boys were a little scared during the ride because they saw their Daddy fall, then they heard me screaming. Once we were all safe, the boys were laughing and wanted to go again. We all went together the next time. It was fun.

That was the first time in a couple months since I've really swam!! Felt like my first triathlon, freezing water, where you can't breathe. Fun stuff!

Cody is the next Michael Phelps. He is. Barley two, and already learning to swim. You can't keep him out of the water!! That is one reason we ALWAYS keep a life jacket on him. Later on in the day, we were all playing and eating. I turn around for a second, turn back, and Cody is floating down the river. Yes. No lie. He is smirking and enjoying it. The current is strong and there were more rapids down a little ways, so again, I scream and a ranch boy grabs him. Can't you just picture Cody floating down the river in his huge yellow life jacket smiling?

When we were packing up to leave, I hear a ranch boy yell, "SNAKE!!!" and sure enough, a Copper Head (poisonous) snake was right on our camp, right by where the boys were playing earlier. They killed it. Feww. I am thankful for the Lord's protection. All this outdoors mountainious activities are dangerous. ;-)

On a sad note, our dogs got out about 5 days ago and we still can't find them. I've done everything I could. I think someone dogknapped them. :( I am depressed about it. But God knows where they are, and why they are not found..yet.

Happy Memorial Day!! I love our Troops!!

Love, The Curvy Housewife

Never Going Back

I was laying in bed last night, and had this Light Bulb moment.

I am never going back to the way I was. EVER!! I have changed my life already. Even though I am still not at my goal weight. Even if, God forbid, I gain ALL the weight back in the next 6 months of this pregnancy, I will lose it all, and get to goal. I will. Running the half marathon truly changed my life. All the triathlons, the bike races, everything, each one I proved to myself that I CAN do A N Y T H I N G. I am no longer scared of gaining weight or of the scale. Although I am still striving to, for once, have a healthy weight gain at the end of this pregnancy. This is the most awesome thing I have ever realized about this journey:
I AM CHANGED!! I AM NEVER GOING BACK! I won't be a couch potato (although this trimester has put me on the couch more than I would like) watching others go by doing great things, because I already know, I CAN DO THEM.

I've always been obsessed with my weight, even when I was 140 pounds. But.... I get it now!!! I can't tell you how good it feels to accept where I am, with confidence, knowing I can and will achieve any goal I desire to. Yup. I will run another half marathon, even if I have to start training from scratch. I will run a FULL marathon like I had planned. I WILL do a Half Ironman like I was training for. [Lord willing for all this of course].

These things changed my life.......

My first ever race. Avia Wildflower Triathlon a year ago this month. My first ever 5K. Santa Monica classic, a year ago this month.

My 2nd Triathlon, See Jane Run, Sep 2010
My first HALF MARATHON!! & my favorite race ever. Huntington Beach Ca Feb 6, 2011
Can't forget my third triathlon, my other 5K's, my 10K which was the first race I ever ran the whole thing, and my Oceanside 26.1 mile bike-a-thon. Yes I had to list them all. ;)
Since my very first race a year ago this month, I have lost about 30 more pounds. And 57 all together. There is NOTHING I can't do, and there is nothing you can't do.
I thank God for giving me the strength to finish all these goals, and for all the weight I lost, and that I know, HE will help me finish. I have had a changed mind, a brain change, a break through. I won't ever stop setting goals and striving to achieve them.......

I am never going back.

Love, The Curvy Housewife

Exercise

Or LACK thereof. I have been B U S Y. To say the least. My Mom visiting, trip to Alabama, finally home, trip to Georgia with the ranch, home again, busy day today working ALL day. Seesh. I am
T I R E D. My house is in shambles, and I have piles of laundry ceiling high in every room. So I am sitting on my couch right now writing this blog, and I am thankful for the rest.
Two weeks ago (? can't remember anything these days), I signed up for the Jogger Mom Marathon, to run 26.2 miles before May 31. I saw it on Turtles blog and thought it was great motivation. How far have I ran you might ask?? ZERO. That's right, big fat 0. Ugh. Sad, but it's okay, because I've been so busy. It's not that I didn't want to.
Visiting with my sis and her family, and my mom was so much fun. The boys had such a blast with their cousins. Davey was so busy last week, he didn't get a day off until we had left for AL, so we didn't have any time together last week, and none since we got home really. We are itching to get some family time.
I hope things will settle back down soon and I can get into a regular running routine again. I want to run the Country Music 1/2 marathon in April which is only 4 months after the baby is born, so I have to stay somewhat conditioned.
I am already showing. I tried to put it off as long as possible because you know, the phase. The phase where you look bigger, but it's not noticeable that you are pregnant. So I just look FAT. Apparently you can't put off showing when your pregnant. But it's okay. I'm actually really happy to be showing cause I can eat and get full, then not have to worry about sucking it in. You know? I just look 4 months pregnant after dinner instead of 3. And, of course I am thrilled the baby is growing and my body is taking care of him/her :)
Can't wait to find out the gender! 6 more weeks. Yay!!
Let's talk about the heat real quick. No no not that one, you silly. The heat outside!! Yuck. I miss the dry heat. The heat brings out bugs and SNAKES! I've already seen too many on the road while driving. Davey told me the other day he saw a snake crossing the road near our house and he tried to run it over but he missed. I said, "UGH!! Why do snakes even try to cross the road??" Davey says, "To get to the other side. Bahahaha!!!" and he cracked up for like 5 minuets. So not funny. I hate snakes.
So, I gotta get my run on. I HAVE to figure this out.

Love, The Curvy Housewife

Weigh in & doctor

I think I lost another pound. Think because I am super constipated... gross I know... and weigh the same as last weigh in, with clothes on. Then at the doctor I was the same, w shoes and after I ate. So anyways, I say I lost a pound.

So happy I was able to see the doctor!! Finally getting our insurance situated. Got to see our beautiful healthy baby on the screen and his/her strong heart beat. My appointment started with them taking like 7 vile of blood. Seeing white, head getting hot, going to pass out.... But I didn't. I'm pretty tough. Must be all my extra cushin. Then I had to get a whole body physical, thank God it was a woman, you know what I'm saying? It was actually a mid-wife. Pretty neat! Never seen one.

The nurse couldn't find the heart beat on the sound monitor, but she warned me it might be too early.. didn't comfort me. I was freaking inside. So the mid-wife ordered an ultra sound, where I saw our healthy bun. Praise the Lord! The lady that did the ultra sound randomly said, "so you have two boys?" and I said, "yes, we are hoping for a girl!" and she said, "Well it's really early, but I don't see any boy parts. But remember it's really early." How exciting!!! I can honestly say though, I would love another boy. Boys are easy and awesome and drama free. But I am not gonna lie, I really want a girl. PINK PLEASE!! As long as the baby is healthy, I am happy :) I feel so blessed. God is so good. Here is what the baby looks like right now at 11 weeks.
Tomorrow my Mom, the boys and I are going to my sisters in Alabama for two nights. My sisters baby shower and my nephews birthday. So excited!! But I will really miss my love. He's been working like crazy so I've barley seen him. Have a great weekend!!

Love, The Curvy Housewife

MOM

My Mom is here!! Yay! Picked her up from Atlanta Airport last night. So happy to have her. She made the boys each a cape, one Superman and one Batman. [my boys, not the teenage ranch boys. Although they would probably enjoy running around with capes on] They LOVE them. =)

She is making the ranch boys dinner tomorrow night, and I am excited. They always ask me why I cook so good, and I say, "My mom, and my Grandma taught me!". I also learned a lot from my Mother in law. But some of the things I've made for them has been my own learning. And that's the fun part of cooking. Cooking for 20 people is very time consuming and sensitive...I mean you can burn something so easy because you are busy doing the side, or main meal.

My Gallstones have been really bad. Lately I can't tolerate even 5-8 grams of fat. And do you know how hard it is to eat NO FAT all day everyday?? It's such a pain. Literally. Can't wait till this little baby is born so I can get it taken care of. I can feel stones in my back, and they hurt.

I have a feeling I have lost more weight. I'll weigh in soon.

Love, The Curvy Housewife

God, Life, Love, Marriage & Kids

Up & down. Up & down.

That's me.

I have not been like this, well in...ever. If you read my blog, please bare with me. I won't be like this forever. I promise. Blue sky is coming!

One day I am okay, getting things done, the next I am depressed and not getting ANYTHING done.

I know these emotions are caused by circumstances, and hormones. I totally sympathize with people who struggle with depression. You really don't understand it unless you've felt it. The only time I have really been depressed is when I had "Baby Blues". I was so sad and weepy even though I just had a baby! Made no sense, it was my hormones!! But reading God's word, and time healed that.

You know what is awesome though? Jesus knows how we feel. He was homesick and missed His Father. He was depressed, lonely, and cried a lot. Imagine the loneliness He felt when He took the whole worlds sin upon Him and His Father had to turn away from Him. He had it worse than any of us. He wants to comfort us and for us to tell Him how we feel. I am ashamed to say that a lot of the time I don't turn to Him, instead I yell at the boys, get mad at my husband for being so busy with work, then I sulk for hours.

I was reading a missionary wife's book, and boy did I feel like a brat after. I am thankful to be in the USA, to have a great house, job, and family. So thankful for my marriage, I love my husband so much and he puts up with all my ups & downs even though he is thoroughly confused by them. I am thankful my kids are healthy, happy, and that I get to be their Mommy. I am thankful my kids love me know matter what. Even if I don't get dressed all day or brush my hair.

I am thankful for God and His will for us!! I am thankful He loves me despite all my flaws. I am thankful for my life, and that this life doesn't have to be a sad, miserable life, that God can bring us out and show us true joy.

Cody turned two on the 9th! We went to Chuck E. Cheese just us four. It was awesome.

I love my God, my life, my marriage, and my kids!!

P.S. God is so good. Someone donated a ton of gym equipment to the boys ranch and guess where it's going to be stored?? mi casa. Si senorita. Yay!! Praying a nice treadmill and spin bike come. But I have NO idea, it could be all weight equipment, and old. We'll see :)

Love, The Curvy Housewife

Running Pregnant

Today, I ran a 5K.

That was a biggie for me. I've been worried/overly paranoid to a annoying point, about this pregnancy. I know all the books and doctors say, if you have been running, it should be okay to continue. But life was so busy with moving and all that I haven't ran at all in 6 weeks. We walked two miles last week, but that was mainly walking. Today, I ran a lot of the 3.1. I can't tell you exactly how much I ran. I ran unless the boys needed something, or unless I felt like I needed a break. I know I could have ran the whole thing.... but again, worried/overly paranoid, so I took it easy.
Okay this was so hilarious and totally out of character for me as a mom, but this really happened today....I normally always lock the boys up, buckle them up, make them ride in car seats (of course!!) and even in the stroller have their belts on. Well the jogger had been in the garage for a month getting spider webs all over it, so in my new country brave woman self, I faced those webs because, dang it, I was going to run. I got all the webs off and washed the stroller with water. So, it was wet on the boys seats. I brought towels. Obviously a little hard to get their seat belts on with the towels, so I let it go. I was running along at a good pace when all the sudden Cody just fell out of the stroller and I literally ran him over with the stroller. Yes. The wheels ran him over. Oh man. Of course there were people standing right there speculating this whole catastrophic event. Cody is so tough. He doesn't really cry unless he is really hurt, and thank God he didn't cry. This is what he did when I quickly picked him up off the concrete, "Ouch Mommy. Owie." In a clam voice. I can't stop laughing about it. Luckily his head didn't hit the ground, it stayed off to the side. He had a scrapped knee. Poor baby. What kind of mother am I?? I did buckle him in after that. Geeze.

Anyways.........

I am E X C I T E D. Because I know I haven't lost it. I felt good while running. And I know that I can continue to run while pregnant. I will listen to my body though. I think, 3-4 miles will be my max pregnant mileage at a time, unless I walk the whole thing, maybe 5.
2 miles may be what I do on most days, and I might walk one of them. Doesn't matter, no shame in walking. What does matter is that I keep it up, so when I deliver, I will be in shape physically, and when I am healed postpartum, I can begin training. Training for what you might say?? Oh I have a few ideas...here is a couple of them.
April, 28, 2012- 1/2 marathon. It's a huge one. People come from all over for this!! Excited!
Then, if it's in 2012& it's in July when we have our summer break, I will register for this one!! And it will be my first Full marathon!! We only have 10 days off so it would have to be during those 10 days, otherwise I'll have to find another one.
And there will hopefully be a few triathlons and road races.

Today was a better day. Happy mothers day to you all!! And a special mothers day to my Mom, Laurel, my Grandma Linda, Aunt Linda, and Mom in law, Vickie! Love you all.

Love, The Curvy Housewife

Hormones

Men are so lucky. They don't have to deal with hormones. Mine have been going crazy. One day I'm okay, then next (today) a mess. I still feel very homesick, and out of my element. I can't just get up and go to the gym or to town to walk (because it's 40 mins away). Today I have no energy at all. Can't even get dressed. Cody needs a diaper change, I need to clean up their room, do laundry, make my bed, clean the bathrooms, unload the dishwasher, make us lunch, put away laundry, and more. Making that list just made me so tired. I loved Totally the Turtle's post today. I think we are sisters.

I hate the way the first trimester makes me feel. I have nausea, constipation, fatigue, extreme thirst, excessive peeing, I smell everything, which then makes me sick, and oh, did I mention fatigue? I could honestly right now, lie my head down and be out cold. Even though I slept for 10 hours last night. yes. I did.

The fact that my house is a mess is making me more emotional. I miss California, I miss the beach, I miss my family, I miss my mom, I miss my church in Lancaster, I miss my friends, I miss my gym, I miss my schedule.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? This is an adventure. Right?? How many people ever move across the country whether it be for two years or ten? Who knows how long we will be here. I have to remind myself over and over, this is a blessing! Not only serving God here, but to expirience living in a different culture. (Really, southern living is a different culture from California living). I always thought, "I never want to stay in one place my whole life, I want to live in different places before we find where we want to live forever!" But now that we are in here, and doing that...all I want is to be here, or there. I don't know how many times I thought, "If only the boys ranch was in Oceanside Ca." You know what that is called....DISCONTENTMENT.

I know I would feel that way where ever we moved. Always wanting something I don't have. Isn't that how we are? It's a SIN issue. It really is. Paul said, "I have found that whatever state I am in there with to be content." and I know Paul had it really hard. I really think that these pregnancy hormones are making me even more depressed than just being homesick. I mean, move 2500 miles, new busy job for the hubs, lots of responsibility, unpacking, pregnant, morning sick, tornado, ect... yup it's a lot all at once.

Okay well, sorry for my whiny post. I desperatly need to pray and read my bible right now. Hopefully tomorrow will be a good day.

Love, The Curvy Housewife

Weighing In

This week has been rough, and with our power being out for 4 days, my food options were slim. But I stuck to eating non fat foods because I did not want to have to go to the hospital. Sometimes I just didn't eat because I didn't feel good, or didn't have any non fat option. I've been trying hard to eat what the baby needs and to not have an empty stomach, that makes me nauseous anyways.

Lately, I have been feeling like I lost weight..you know, slimmer, clothes baggy, hungry. So this morning I weighed myself and I lost 4 pounds since I went to the hospital a week from yesterday (I weighed myself on my own scale that morning)! Yikes! I am not too worried about it, but I want to make sure I give the baby proper nutrition. I was up a few pounds for a few weeks, so today I was back down to 189. Still 2 pounds up from my lowest on this journey, but I am not trying to lose weight. All I can do is try to eat a well balanced diet and drink plenty of water. I am going back to the grocery store today so I can get the food we lost when our power was out. Meat, veggies, fruit, ect.

I have been eating egg whites, prunes, cereal, pancakes mixed with water and blueberry syrup. Smart ones if I need a meal quick. And of course my Prenatal vitamins. I can't really think of anything else to make!! I need some ideas, and I have been searching the net. The other night we were so hungry after running errands, Davey and the boys got this delicious looking meal at Captain D's seafood, but everything there was fried, so we had to make a special trip to Hardee's (Carl's Jr) and I got the grilled Turkey Burger, no mayo or cheese. It was pretty good.

I just got all caught up on Biggest Loser yesterday while folding enormous amounts of laundry. Courtney is so inspiring. She lost over a hundred pounds before even coming to the ranch, then she lost 92 more while there, and still has at least 80 before she is done. BUT her attitude is amazing, no matter what she knows, she will finish, even though tough times come, and even though she hit a plateau for a few weeks, she says, "It's all part of the journey, I'm not done.. and I'll get there."

Before I even saw that, I have been thinking about how much my mental thinking has changed. I tell myself "Just because you are pregnant, doesn't mean your weight loss/healthy lifestyle journey is over. This is an exciting time and reason to continue with a healthy lifestyle. When the baby comes, you will reach goal weight and your fitness goals [full marathon, 1/2 Ironman], this is all apart of the journey."
The old Adrienne would take being pregnant as an excuse to eat a lot, not work out until the baby comes, and justify gaining 66 pounds. The reason I lost almost 60 pounds was because I kept falling, but getting back up. I can't tell you enough how KEY that is. Because I finally realized, even though I was in a slump for a week, two, a month, I would get back on track and lose some more. Sure enough another slump would come, but I wouldn't let it stop me. The old Adrienne, would give up until I had a "clean start". That was my thing... "I need a clean start"!! It has to be the first of the month, or a Monday, both is even better!! but eventually, I realized.. I am not "starting over" I am RESUMING. And that can be done any time, any day.

I want to know what you've learned on your wight loss/health journey? It will help me, so please share:)

Love, The Curvy Housewife

Moving Forward

I was going to title this post "Tornado" since that's what hit us here last Wednesday. I have not had any power or water since than. Thank God it's on now!! Anyways, I am really tired of dwelling on all the negative. I really want to move forward and get into a routine & accomplish some goals. But first, I have to share what happened to us on Wednesday.

I got up at 5:54 am on Wednesday morning to pee. I always have to pee. Anyways, as I laid back in bed I got a text from my sister, who lives in Alabama, her husband is stationed at Fort Benning. She said we were under a Tornado warning. I text my neighbor because we don't have cable (which will hopefully be changing soon because of this), and she turned on her radio and said we were okay. We went about our day, then around 3:00 pm my neighbor called and said we needed to get in our basement. So we did. We stayed there for about an hour. Our friend that lives in town was watching the news and he told us we were clear to come out, but that another was suppose to hit in a few hours. We called around and asked if we should go ahead and go to church and everyone said yes. Earlier that morning our dogs ran away when we tried to bring them inside. They were spooked or something. We couldn't find them, and we were so worried.

We just bought a new (used) washer & dryer a couple weeks ago and the dryer wasn't working, so we decided to bring it back before church. When we were just about done at these folks house, we saw a funnel cloud hit the ground not too far from us. They didn't have a basement, so we Californian's didn't know what to do. We weren't that far from church and we thought we would be safe there, so we decided to go. The storm looked as though it was going away from us, but as we were driving we must have been wrong, or it shifted, because we ended up in the side of this....
I am not sure where we were in it, obviously not in the funnel otherwise we would be dead, but I know we were hit hard by part of it as we were driving. Davey was driving, I was screaming. It was rain, hail, wind, such strong wind blowing our car, branches hitting the car, bushes, leaves, things flying. Davey pulled in a gas station and the owner ran outside and said, "Get inside! Take shelter!" I don't know why but Davey decided to try to hurry to church, we were so close. We got on the highway and we were out of it, but full, huge trees blocked the whole highway. We had to drive in the median. Finally, made it to church, where we could all see it moving away from town, towards our ranch.

Few people were at church. The power was out, so we lit candles and had prayer. When prayer was over Pastor announced that another was suppose to hit in 30 minuets, and since a lot of peoples family was at home, we would dismiss church. Well it takes us about 35 minuets to get home from church. On our way home we got to a huge tree that fell in the road blocking our way. All the guys tried to move it, as a home owner used his chain saw. About 20 mins into that, we could see two storms coming together, forming a V. The sky went BLACK. Thunder was sooo loud. There was no where for shelter there, and we could see a funnel begin to form. A fire truck came and said we had to get out of there, we turned around and went a long back way home. Near the ranch on the back way, we found Molly (our dog)!! She was all wet and terrified. Bell (the puppy) was no where. We had to go, it was coming!! We made it home, and Davey, our boys, and all the ranch boys got in our basement, and spent the night down there. Mean while, my sister, who is 4 hours away, their sirens went off and were in their bath tub praying because they don't have a basement. Thank God he protected us all.

Morning came and we were all safe, but our water and power were still off. We drove around and saw, a whole mobile home picked up, and thrown in the middle of the street. Totally destructed. That is maybe two miles from our home. Power lines were snapped in half and in the street. Whole houses were GONE. And this is all near our home. We saw one huge barn totally collasped, and on top of a beautiful Red convertible BMW. No one was in it.

We spent the next two days helping people. Davey and all the guys cut up trees that fell on peoples homes, than yesterday we brought bagged lunches to people who lost everything. Here is a picture, this house stands half, but we have seen some totally demolished. Many people died.
Another miracle. On Thursday evening, we were looking for Bell near where we found Molly. We couldn't find her. On our way out a different dog came and got in front of our car, and looked at us, than started running, like it wanted us to follow it. So we did, and it led us right to where Bell was!! No joke. It was crazy. She had found a family that morning, which meant she was in the storm all night, but she was okay!! Molly was so happy to see her.

Thank Jesus, our power came on this morning!! Hallelujah.

So, that is my last few days, and I am ready to move on from all these trials. Really really. I read Daniel 3 this morning. Shadrach, Meshach and Abendnego where about to be thrown in the fiery furnace if they didn't bow to the king and worship his idols, and here is what they said and it so spoke to me during this time.
"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace, and he will deliver us our of thine hand, O King. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." Daniel 3:17-18 Then I love this verse.... (the King speaking), "He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." Daniel 3:25
They said they will serve God whether God deliver them or not. But the awesome part, HE did!! And we moved here for God. I can't let my circumstances determine whether I stay, or my attitude about it. So, I'm done with trials. Booya, see ya later!! ;-)

Some new goals I am excited about.

Goal 1. Not to gain more than 35 pounds with this baby. I wasn't sure if I should really make it a goal, but if I have a number I can watch the scale more closely. With my boys, I wouldn't watch the scale, then I would realize I was gaining 10 pounds a month the last 6 months.

Goal 2. To Walk/Run 3 times a week for at least 30 minuets. (If I get a treadmill I will 4-5 days).

Goal 3. Do Yoga 2 times a week.

Goal 4....Really excited about this one.. Bluecross Riverbend 5K in Chattanooga June 18. Even though it's just a 5k, I think having something on the calendar will keep me walking/running.

Goal 5. Eat healthy! I've been doing well with this since I can't eat, fat, grease, fast food, ect.

Goal 6. This is the main thing... to LIVE LIKE I WANT TO LIVE FOREVER. EATING HEALTHY AND EXERCISING, so after the baby I don't have to start over.

Well thanks for reading my super long dramatic post.
Love, The Curvy Housewife