My Happy Day

Today is good. Today I ran four miles in my best time yet...44 minutes. That is an 11 minute mile. Usually I run at least 11:28 per mile. Thank goodness for my iFit from my hubby. Oh, how I love him and the support he gives me in all this! It was a beautiful day today. Not too hot, just 70 degrees and a small wind blowing. The sun is shining, and there are people out doing yardwork, there were even some nice sprinklers to run through. Now, I am home, feeling good about myself, looking around at a nice, clean kitchen, again, thanks to my awesome hubby. All I have to do is make the bed, straighten up a few little things and vacuum. Then, I can rest and start in on my homework. Of course, there's always time in between those things to do a little update on my blog. Priorities, ya know! =) I hope you have as happy of a day as I am having, people!

My Misery

Honestly, I think today's run was my most painful. Before I elaborate, I have to brag a little and tell you all that on Saturday night, I ran eight miles without stopping to walk. Ran the whole thing. So, I know that I can easily do six miles on flat terrain, especially considering the first three miles of the Saturday run were almost straight uphill!! So, today after the kids were all at school, I got my little water pack on and my iPod in and I was ready and rarin to go. I had had some allergies for a few days, but nothing horrible so far. Boy, did that change.

I went out into the cool morning air, and started going. The wind was blowing in my face which didn't bother me at first, but then I got to about a third of a mile and it really started picking up. The air here is extremely dry, not to mention all the smoke smell in the air from Herriman. (I love you, Becky.) I was running, and my eyes were pouring out water. My nose was on fire, literally, or at least that's how it felt. I have never wanted to cry so badly during a run as I did today. People driving by must have thought I WAS crying because my face was all scrunched up, tears were pouring out of my eyes and I was sniffeling so much. I would like to think that I am one tough cookie, but this run really tested that theory.

Against all odds, though, I kept going. Granted, I didn't run the whole thing, but it really wasn't a mental thing. I literally couldn't see, so I had to slow down. The wind was really blowing by about mile three. My cheeks under my eyes were completely raw by this time from me rubbing away the tears and the wind blowing against the wetness for so long. Oh, it was so miserable!!!! I can't put enough exclamation points to emphasize how miserable it was. But, I did it. All six miles, albeit slowly, but done just the same. I AM one tough cookie after all.

My Accomplishment

You know, there are a thousand reasons not to reach goals you have set for yourself. For me, there are about 10,000. Or, at least four very obvious ones in the form of pesky (but wonderful) children. There is always the husband who cooks delectable meals in quantities rightly fit for about 15 people, no exaggeration. That could derail any of the best-laid plans. There is the severe lack of energy most young mothers have that would prevent one from running the seven miles that's on the training schedule for that day. There is the fact that there really are more important things to be doing other than writing down every little thing that you eat and keeping careful track of calories and fat and fiber. See, there are a lot of reasons not to reach my lofty goals!

On the other hand, there are about 10,000 reason TO meet those goals as well. There is the fact that I will be happy and have a sense of accomplishment and everyone knows that a happy mom means everyone else is happy, and vice versa. There is the fact that I am going to be in the best physical shape of my life. There is the fact that I am going to look GOOD in those jeans that have been sitting on my closet shelf for five years just waiting for me to be able to fit into them. The list goes on and on.

Well, yesterday I stepped on that old scale for my weekly weigh-in and I was finally below 200 pounds. Now, I am not brave enough to put this number on the Facebook page, but I figure anyone who reads my blog probably already knows my weight to begin with. If they don't, then I figure that if they love me enough to actually read my blog, then they will still love me just as much even if they know that I once topped well over 200 pounds. I could even get really brave and tell you my highest weight in Spring of 2003, but I figure, if you really want to know that one, you can give me a call. Let's just suffice it to say that since then, I have lost at least Claire and Emma combined. I feel like I have accomplished so much, and even though I have a lot longer to go, it's nice to have reached that milestone. I also promised myself a new outfit when I get below 195, and I only have 2 pounds to go until I reach that goal! Anyone wanna go shopping with me next Saturday? There's something else for me to shoot for!

My First Day of Preschool

I took a deep breath, then got out of bed. I had dreamed about it all night long. I had dreamed that I wouldn't be able to take the girls because I didn't have any money, I dreamed that I would get into a car accident on the way there. I had been looking forward to this day for a really long time. I started getting dressed, hearing the rustling downstairs and the hushed, yet excited, whispers of, "It's our first day of preschool today, Claire!! C'mon, let's get dressed!" I smiled to myself as I walked out into the kitchen to start getting ready for the biggest day in my youngest girls' lives. So far, at least.

They came up the stairs, as fast as their little legs could carry them. Ah, the excitement of one's first ever day of school. Along came Audrey and Dallin, already plodding toward impending doom and barely into the third week of their new school year. Another little laugh out of me while I poured the Trix into the bowl and slowly watched the milk change from white to orange to pink. Emma and Claire downed their cereal before I even had a chance to finish making the PB and J sandwiches for Audrey and Dallin's lunch and were already ready to take the next step. "Mom, we have to take baths, right? Don't we? Huh?" I had to shoosh them so I could finish the lunches, tucking my little 'Mommy loves you, have a good day' note into the lunchbag and setting them on the counter.

"All right, come on. Time for baths." I had set out some cute outfits for them before they had bounded up the stairs and so those were ready to go. I swear the first day or two of school is the only day besides picture day that my children look somewhat good for school. After that, all bets are off. Today was no exception. The girls were fresh and clean, hair smelling like Pantene shampoo, every little nook and cranny scrubbed to a fresh shine. After we did their hair with cute matching bows and we had read scriptures, I sent the older two off for school, then got myself dressed. I was wearing scrub bottoms and an old T-shirt and tennis shoes, knowing that I was going to celebrate my newfound freedom today with a nice run in the perfect weather after the preschool train left the station.

When the time finally came for the kids to go, they put on their backpacks, all grins and bouncing, and stood at the door to take pictures. I was starting to get just as excited as they were. We drove to Miss Nicole's Preschool, the minutes passing like molasses to all of us. Emma was an old pro, but Claire was so excited, she couldn't even stand it. We pulled in front of the house and climbed out. We walked up to the front where Miss Nicole was waiting, taking pictures of the kids. Claire started walking up the stairs without even a wave, and I got a little choked up, I'll admit it. I had had a year's worth of practice leaving Emma for 2 hours every Tuesday and Thursday for a while now, but not my little Claire Bear. This was the end of an era for me! First no more diapers, then preschool! Soon, she'd be dating, then out of the house for good! I gave them each a kiss goodbye and watched them walk away, a little bit older than they had been that morning. No mother is ever ready for this day, but don't worry. I survived. It was a great first day of preschool!

My Update

Hello all,
I don't want you to think I have forgotten about my blog. I haven't. I have just been very busy with school which started for me last Wednesday, and for the kids, last Monday. It has been nice to have a quiet house most of the day, except for the occasional outburst of arguing from Emma and Claire. They will start preschool on the 7th, so I am very much looking forward to that.

I am doing well on my contract journey with my friend. We have both done well these past two and a half weeks, neither of us faltering. I guess we care about each other more than we thought. Either that, or neither of us wants to be the dope who messes up first! Either way, I have lost six pounds so far in the last two weeks and on Saturday will be my weekly moment of truth to find out if I have lost any more. More importantly, I FEEL better and I feel like food doesn't control every thought I have during the day. That could also be owing to the fact that I am a lot more busy and boredom has a way of making me head for the cupboard. I hope you are all doing well. Saturday will hopefully be a record day for me, finally putting me under 200 for the first time in 12 years. At one point I was barely under 200 a few months ago, but I don't count that, since the next day I was back up above it and by three weeks later I was at 208. Yeah, that was when I decided I really needed to do something. I just didn't get my idea for the contract until way later. Anyway, I will post when I reach that amazing milestone. In the meantime, I gotta get back to my Spanish and Business Philosophy! Wish me luck! =)