Yawn

Things are so boring around my neck of the woods these days. Don't get me wrong, though, boring is good.

So, what's new you ask? Actually, there are several "new" things that I'm very happy about lately:

The lovely Toffee is pregnant with #2 from, ahem, good old fashioned lurving; who knew that still happened in this day and age?! (Sorry T, just had to share!).
Sweet Sarah has also found herself to be with child #2, also conceived the good old-fashioned way--and she has her first doctor visit today :-)
The wonderful Mean Mama had her meanbabyboy earlier this week. He came into this world at a little over 31 weeks along and is doing well. A-d-o-r-a-b-l-e.
The beautiful April should be welcoming Julian any day now. She had her membranes stripped the other day and is looking forward to his arrival!
And last, but in no way least, the beautiful and talented Shaken Mama welcomed gorgeous daughter #2 earlier this month. Go check out the lusciousness that is Baby V--aye, the head o'hair and general yummy-ness of that lass! Nom, nom Shaken Mama.

What else, hmmm, let's see. Ah, yes. I'm down 13 pounds since April 1st. My body seems to remember and like being without carbs and sugar :-) but there are still more pounds to come off, and definitely before our primo beach vacation in late June. Plus, well, you know, it's all about setting a healthier example for my shorties and loving myself/my appearance. If mama ain't happy....

Holding out

Okay, internets, I'm coming clean. I've been holding out on you (and no, not with a surprise pregnancy announcement--I'm done 'birthin' babies' over here)...remember back when D had the febrile seizure/911/PICU pneumonia thing at the end of December? Yeah, back then. She was discharged on January 1st (happy new year!).

Remember how A and I were supposed to go to NYC in early January for a little adult R&R? I dropped the subject after that so that y'all wouldn't flame me for still going despite the recent drama at hand. So, two days after my wee one was discharged home, A and I were on a plane northward bound, sans kiddos.

Now before you go nominating me for mother of the year, let me just say that I spoke with D's attending physician upon learning she was going to be discharged and asked what his opinion was about the trip. He was all for us taking it, said that he didn't anticipate that she would have any more problems (if so, he said, they wouldn't have been discharging her)...and so, we went, leaving the girls in the very competent (and CPR/first aid-certified) care of my MIL for four glorious days.

The doctor was right, we needed that trip to regroup and reconnect, not to mention get our fill of delicious food (BG--Osso Buco was the best Italian meal I've had outside of those in Italy, and Orchard Corset? boobs up to proper position once again) and such.

Now, you may be asking yourselves why I'm bringing this up now. Well, here's the thing: on our last night in NY, we stopped for a few quick drinks at M!ckey M@ntle's on Central Park South before heading back to our hotel. When I went to use the restroom, the door slammed shut much harder than I intended and I attempted to stop it. And stop it I did...with my left middle finger. As in smushed, completely, in the door jamb. As in instantly black and blue fingernail. As in, now, almost three months later, that nail is finally falling off.

My final 'souvenir' of our NYC trip, gone.

Scaling back

Back in the day, aka before kids, I took it upon myself to finally lose the excess weight that had been piling on since I graduated from college. So five years ago, aka two years into the TTC struggle, I went low-carb (and stepped up my exercise) on my-then RE's recommendation and shed 60 pounds in 10 months. I felt great. I was no longer tired, irritable, had more energy, yada yada yada.

Fast forward to now. 5 years and 2 kids later. Life gets in the way, demands on my time are all-consuming, exercise and low-carb have taken a back seat to convenience and speed. 50 of those pounds have since come back after two pregnancies and eating just about anything with no limits...eek. I've only myself to blame.

Anyhoo, as of April 1st, I have returned to my low-carb lifestyle, and on Monday, I'll start a new exercise regimen. So far, in four days' time, I have lost 5 pounds, most of it likely water weight...but still, it's a start and I'll take it.

I'm determined (and looking forward to three really kick ass vacations this year--in June, August, and October, all of which will require a bathing suit and/or skimpies--which for me is just about anything besides capris and a t-shirt). I've done it before, I hope I can do it again, under a new set of variables--kids, time constraints, what not.

Wish me luck. I think I'm gonna need it.