Double Digits!

I was pretty excited about this weeks workouts for a couple of reasons:

Mon. - 4 mile run with sprints
Tues. - Taught boot camp class at lunch and commuted 10 miles home on my bike
Wed. - 4 mile easy run
Thurs. - 1.5 mile run and weight & abs workout
Fri. - Rest Day
Sat. 10 mile run
Sun. - Unplanned rest day

So a couple of things happened that hadn't happened in a REALLY long time.  I got on a bike other than a spin bike for the first time since pre pregnancy!  I caught a ride to work with hubs and rode my commuter bike home which was about 10 miles uphill and it felt way better than I expected.  Maybe because the heat hasn't hit yet so riding in cooler temps didn't feel as deadly but I swear the hills didn't feel so bad.  That bike is kind of heavy but I was happy that I was able to stay upright and my legs still worked when I got off.  Next I will try riding a little bit longer and on my race bike.  Oh how I've missed that bike!  I'm not going to lie I've had this fear that somehow the bike isn't going to have the same fit but I hope I'm just being ridiculous.  Like as if pregnancy morphed my body so much that I won't be in love with my race bike anymore!! Ahhhh the horror!  We'll find out next weekend!

Then I did my first double digit run post pregnancy!  My head thought 10 miles no prob!  I've done this a million times before and it was hubs turn with the stroller and we are running it on the bosque which is flat this will be a breeze.  Well, there was a strong breeze but that's about the only thing I got right!  My body was like whoa wait you haven't done this in over a year and half what are you thinking!?!!  I felt awesome on the first 5 miles out but then on the way back I could tell I should have had more than a sip of water when I passed hubs because I started getting some serious cotton mouth.  At mile 7 I stopped for a minute and man my legs were so tight.  Then I told myself just run until you hear the next mile buzz and then you can walk for a minute.  By mile 8 my legs were actually in spasms and my miles were at 11 min.  But I finished!! And as hurt, tired, and hungry as I was I was so happy to say I'm back in the double digits!  The rain just barely missed us and hubs said pushing the stroller with the wind was hard.  We stopped at Chipotle and devoured a burrito so fast the lil' man didn't have a chance to get cranky! :-) 

Yes our house cleaning requires a water bottle!  No really I just was putting it away.

The lil' man didn't mind being strapped to my back while I was cleaning he liked the view from higher up!

The only bad thing was that I took an extra day off this week so Sunday I decided to do another rest day due to still recovering and to finding my husband awake and preparing to help me clean the house and making me breakfast.  Yes, I have to brag I actually got to sleep in for once because he took "A" when he woke up and started getting stuff done!  Now he got me use to this and I will hope for this treatment every Sunday! :-)  No?  I shouldn't get my hopes up?  Come on I have faith!  Maybe next week I won't be on strike anymore for cooking! 

Life is good can't complain when my weekend ends with this!

We had a great weekend and feel good to be back to some serious training.  Can't wait to keep building on this base!

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'

It has been unseasonably warm in these parts lately which means we have been taking full advantage of the outdoors.  It does worry me for the summer but I'm going to just think about today and enjoy it while I can hopefully we can keep the fires at bay this summer!

Aiden has been a good sport so far on all his Rolling adventures!  He sleeps through most of them and so far has not tired of the stroller.  When he's at home he takes full advantage of the freedom and rolls all over our living room!  It's pretty funny his dad was blocking his path and he tried to roll over him but couldn't so he got really frustrated and attempted to scooch around him but got tired about half way and stopped to take a break and suck his thumb! :-)

I went to REI this weekend to buy a sunscreen for the stroller and they didn't have what I needed so we put an order in.  Hopefully it blocks the wind a little also because spring in NM can be a doozy!  Right now it is just a nice breeze the lulls the lil' man to sleep.

Saturday we went for what was supposed to be an 8 mile run but I ended up doing about 7.2  It was my turn with the stroller and it kept pulling to the right which meant I had to keep correcting the front wheel and my shoulders and arms got soooo tired.  The whole right side of my body was pretty messed up by the end of the run.  Turns out hubs says it was probably just the front wheel needed to be adjusted after he had taken it off to put in the slime.  I turned around early because as hubs ran past me on his way back he yelled where he turned around and that it was the 4 mile mark, well my Garmin said otherwise but I was too tired already to argue so I just turned around.  He finished before me and I guess realized it and ran a little more.  "A" slept for about 5 miles of the run.  It's also a good leg workout pushing that stroller.

Sunday I woke up and did my last spin class and surprised myself by being able to really push it and get a hard workout in!  I was hurting so bad from the day before but I somehow still felt really good during the work out.  We have given up our gym membership due to rising membership fees and the fact that during the week I have to squeeze my workouts in during my lunch in order to be home in time after work to feed "A".  We then did a family 3 mile hike in the foothills and I was beyond exhausted at this point but was so happy we got to do this!!!!  It was an awesome day for a hike and everyone was so happy.  Lexi was super happy because we even got to let her off leash for a tiny bit.  Don't think the thunder buddy is working for her judging by her behavior in the car but that's a story for another day.  I have no idea how "A" slept through some of that off roading that

dad did with him but he did!

I managed to prep a weeks worth of meals, pull some weeds, do more laundry than I've ever had to do in my entire life ("A" peed and pooped on just about everything due to us having to leave him diaper less to collect some stool samples!!) and still watch a movie and hang out with my brother and SIL to play Taboo!  Needless to say I slept very well both nights!!!

My first half marathon post baby is coming up quick!

Happy Training!

Handicap Run and Pinterest Fail!

This last week I put in about 17 miles of running and I did some weight lifting as well.  I'm happy with slowly building up my miles and I pushed the stroller for the Saturday 4 mile run which means my legs were a little sore which means they are getting stronger!  I just need to try and start fitting in some swimming and cycling now!  Easier said than done.

Our Saturday run was the part of the Handicap run series we do with our running club and I always have fun at these.  Unfortunately we had to run and go we didn't get to stay and chat.  This was a tribute run for an active running club member that recently passed away suddenly.  That makes two in the running community this last month, both seemed to be sudden and way too young.  Makes me sad to hear and really makes you stop and pause for a moment.  Our thoughts go out to their families. 

I had already told the run coordinator that I would be running with the stroller so she was going to start me a little bit before the others.  But then hubs comes in and tells her that I can run a 9:30 pace with the stroller which I knew was going to be a struggle.  So as I wanted to walk up the hills but didn't and cursed the unseasonably warm weather I didn't stop because I knew he was somewhere close behind me and he had also done himself in saying he could do a faster pace than his usual also.  I pushed myself really hard to keep that pace pretty much got it right on the dot but felt like I was going to puke when I finished.  He just said "you're welcome for making you push yourself!" :-)  Yes we love each other lots and lots believe it or not!

Our Sunday run was a quick 3 miler around the neighborhood and it was hubs turn with the stroller so I took the dog.  Well, we both decided from now on whoever has the stroller will be taking the dog.  He may have been pushing 35 pounds up the hills but I was pulling 35 pounds of stubborn dog up those hills!!!  She doesn't like it when we get separated and as I tried to run at my normal pace she kept pulling behind me trying to get back to hubs and baby and kept looking back.  I mean I was leaning forward and encouraging her that they were ok but nothing worked.  So this run was slower than it should have been for me especially without a stroller I think it ended up being a 10:20 pace!  Oh well that's life!  It makes me stronger right!


So for Valentine's Day hubs and I had agreed not to get each other anything.  He didn't listen.  I thought I could at least do a heartfelt homemade card.  So I went on Pinterest, got a cute idea, then this happened:

Doesn't he look just ecstatic!

needless to say I didn't use my version and I put the lil' man in something he was much happier in:

Grandpa took this pic of him!

Happy Monday and Happy Training!

Cupid's Chase

Doesn't the lil' man look amused!

Another busy weekend in the books!  One of the highlights of the weekend was the Cupids Chase 5k that I did with hubs, Aiden and a group of wonderful ladies Sole Sisters which is another running group I belong to.  I pushed the stroller for this race so that we could do this race together.  It was our valentine's gift to each other!  I thought wow I did really well especially with the stroller then I was quickly brought back down to reality when I was told we had all cut the course a little short!  So we ended up running about 2.9 instead of 3.1 I finished it in about 26 minutes. But I still had a blast and I'm pretty sure Aiden slept through at least part of the run while I did wheelies to get the stroller to go around the turns since the front wheel doesn't turn. I also either gave some a heart attack or made others laugh as I ran to get into the group picture because I took the stroller for a really fast turn to swing him around and get in the shot, but he was strapped in and like I said that stroller's front wheel doesn't turn.  :-)      There were only about 70 people at this race which made me sad just because I know how much goes into putting on a race and the fact that it all went to charity but the good news is the people that went had fun.  I wore my "unavailable" shirt with hubs even though I'm pretty sure Aiden kind of gave that away. :-)

These lovely ladies were there being rambunctious and having fun!  This is different than the running club that I belong to because it is all women and it is more of a friendly competition between the two teams we're split up into instead of a club with meetings and set runs.  I enjoy both groups!  I'm not able to participate in as many of the social aspects of this group due to the little one but it sure has motivated me to make sure to sign up for races and always have something I'm training for.  Aiden might not think it's as cool because it means he gets strapped into the stroller for runs but he gets a pretty view every time right?

s motivated me to make sure to sign up for races and always have something I'm training for. 

Sunday I didn't get to go for a run because the little guy wasn't feeling well and hubs needed to cook dinner for us so I just took him for a short walk with the dog instead because this way I could

carry him instead and he didn't cry this way.  He wasn't happy the for the photo shoot we tried to do that morning either which means most of the photos are of him sucking his thumb! :-)  Don't worry son, soon enough you will understand that running is my version of sucking my thumb.  Ha!

Make it work

Life lately has been all about balance and making it work!  Instead of spending my time lamenting the things I use to do I've been finding ways to make it work and make it happen!  Somehow we need to make sure the dog, the baby and each adult in the house gets in their workouts!  Some days one of us gets neglected but never forgotten!  You know how they say it takes a village to raise a child?  It's true and we are so thankful that we have such a supportive community of friends and family around us. 

You want examples?  Ok.  In order for me to get my weekday workouts in I have to do it at lunch.  I am also back to teaching my 1 time a week lunch boot camp (oh except this year they decided to call it total body conditioning so to not scare away anyone)  Well I was in an important meeting with the director of my department right before I had to teach this class and was about 6 minutes late as I ran like a mad woman down to the class.  I had to teach the class in my regular work clothes and just took my shoes off.  Making it work!  Sure I may be a little stinky on some days after my lunch time workout but it's better than me being grumpy trust me!  That's what wipes, deodorant and body spray are for right?

In order to do my favorite group runs with my local running group I get my parents to come along and help us with the little man and we both get to run it.  For Valentine's Day I told hubs all I wanted was to run a 5k race so we are doing our first family race we are both running it together and I'm going to try running it with the stroller (gramps and grandma aren't always able to be there they need a break too)!  So can I do a separate category of Stroller PR runs or do I have to count those along with my regular races, they should create a stroller age group, right?  No?  Ok fine!

On the weekends we trade off who runs with the dog, with the stroller or both and if it's a bike ride we have to trade off who gets to go first or second.  My dad and mom help us take care of the little guy so that we don't have to put him in day care and guess what?  They both like to work out too!  Wooo Hoo! So last night when I got home from work I took over and got to hang out with the little guy while hubs and gramps got to go swim some laps.

Not to mention that in order to be able to eat home cooked meals every day of the week I have to shop and do ALL of the food prep on Sunday!  Did I mention we still try to have a little bit of a social life?  Ha! :-)  Oh and hubs needs time to study for all his classes so we schedule around that too. That still means that I'm usually in bed by 8:30pm because I'm up at 4 am.  So you just make it work, no excuses right!?!?!!  But we also have to be very flexible and stuff our Type A personalities WAY down sometime and be ok
when something doesn't get done.  Usually it's the cleaning! :-)

See how this can get complicated quickly?  The trick is having everyone on a shared calendar!! 

Very exciting news we took Aiden to the pool and he was a little confused at first but then he started splashing around and figured out to close his eyes and mouth when under water!! We might have a little swimmer on our hands soon!  I'll try and post a video if I find time! :-)

HAPPY TRAINING!

Patience, Persistence, and dedication is key...

I know you are sitting on the edge of your seat asking yourself "Natasha, what is patience, persistence, and dedication key to?"  Not so much?  Ok well I'm gonna tell you anyway!  It's key to my life and everything in it.  Yes, this is a DUH statement and kind of like the V8 commercials where the personal trainer hits the guy on the forehead for not eating his veggies it is kind of common sense.  But what I've come to realize is that even though this statement may be obvious it is during times of panic or stress that I forget it and it's when it would be the most useful.

With a baby I am reminded of this constantly.  For example, when I was so sleep deprived and delirious that I thought there is no way I could take one more day of this yet I dig in and I do just that take one more day of it and then one more and then one more and then viola he's sleeping through the night in his own crib!  I was ridiculed at times because even though I knew good and well that he wasn't going to fall asleep on his own and definitely not in his crib I'd still try every night!!  And when it didn't work I would move to something that we knew worked.  But if I hadn't patiently tried the crib every night before the scream fest ensued there never would have been that one night where I put him down in the crib and I held my breathe as I sat by the radio waiting for the whaling to start.. wait for it.. wait for it... then wait no crying, wake up a couple of hours later and realize he's still asleep, PRICELESS!!

Patience - Is what you need in order to teach or learn something knew and buys you the time it takes for something to click -

Persistence - Is what gives you the tenacity to keep trying something over and over and actually expect a different result (no that is not insanity - always)

Dedication - Is what makes you stick to a plan once you've set the path for yourself and not allow yourself to stray from that path no matter what obstacles get thrown in your way

If it wasn't for PPD I would have never been able to teach a 4 year old to ski when all he wanted to do was throw snowballs therefor earning me the biggest tip ever, is why I learned Spanish as a kid even though we fought my mom on it every step of the way, is why when I want a job I go out and get it, it's why I have accomplished athletic feats that I once thought were impossible, it's why instead of falling prey to the incessant stream of information on what is right for your baby I just go with my gut after doing all my research and patiently wait for him to be ready for the next step!

When I'm training for an endurance event and I'm called crazy and people say I don't know how you do it!  Well once I've set my mind that I'm going to do it (this usually happens once I've plopped down a way too hefty entrance fee) then I use PPD to get me to the finish line!  So where ever life takes you make sure you pack some PPD!

Happy Training!

One of these is not like the others...

One of these is not like the others:

Here let me give you a close up in case you missed it:

It wasn't that long ago that I was an adrenaline junkie always on the search for the next big rush!  And never in a million years did I think I'd be where I am today in my life, but I'm happy it all worked out the way it did!  I consider myself a very lucky person and am so thankful for all that I have.  Let me tell you though I'm glad I went sky diving when I did because having a child kind of changes your perspective on certain things and I might not have been as eager to try it.  But I know I will still find adventures to conquer, now I'm taking on the biggest one yet:

Love these guys!

I have been managing to work out but not as much as I had envisioned.  My weekday workouts have to be accomplished during my lunch which can be a challenge sometimes.  So I've been getting anywhere from 2-4 workouts during the week.  Then on the weekends I've been getting a family run in where we take turns pushing the stroller (man that's hard) for about a 2 - 4 mile run on Saturdays and Sundays I escape for an early spin class.  The nice thing is that with breastfeeding my growing boy I can still eat what ever I want and lose weight, I'm about 7 lbs. away from pre pregnancy weight which is very exciting.  I am fitting in most of my pre pregnancy pants but it does change your shape for ever.  I'm ok with that and eventually I will go buy some new clothes. 

I have come to terms with the fact that I won't get to do any skiing this season.  It's just too hard with a little one I'd have to leave at home and where the heck do you pump?  It's more like a milkshake up there in the cold mountains! :-)  But I'm ok with that too I can miss a season knowing that soon enough we'll get to take the little man with us and the look on his face when he gets to go down the bunny slope for the first time will be priceless!

So as my year starts to wind down and I look back to what got me here and where I am now, I'm happy!  Do I sometimes miss picking up on a moments notice for the next adventure?  Sure!!  Do I wake up after a sleepless night and look forward to that precious smile on my little guys face?  You bet!  Everything has a time and a place and I'm so glad I've gotten to experience so much in my life!

This one's for Mark!

Brrrrr.....  This weekend was just a little bit chilly but the kicker was the ridiculous gusts of wind that accompanied it.  As I was feeling a little sad that my first week back at work was a little less than stellar as far as work outs went I REALLY didn't want to miss another workout.  But I was coming up with every excuse you could think of, I shouldn't take the little guy out in this wind, I'm really busy getting stuff done around the house and tomorrow we're having guests, I'm tired, blah, blah, blah.  Then when hubs got home from an errand we both said to each other "We're going for that run!"  He had seen what he thought was one of our friends running in this weather and was motivated and I heard from another one of our friends that a mutual running buddy of ours was going through some pretty intense physical therapy.  So we got out there and did 3 miles in the windy chill and we were so happy we did it!  We may have looked a little silly and sealed our fate as the crazy ones on the block but as the dog chased leaves, the little guy took a nap snugly protected in his covered stroller, and hubs and I took turns pushing the stroller I had the biggest smile hidden under my face mask!!

Mark you are an awesome running buddy and we have had some really fun runs together, beer run, midnight relay, long marathon training runs, and I know you will be back at it soon!  You are one tough guy and relentless I have faith that you will have a SUPER Speedy recovery!  You are in our thoughts and even though you don't live in this lovely city with us anymore we still think about you and can't wait to see you on DM again!

Doggie Dash My first 5k back

What a great weekend!!  I had my first night out since A was born went to see Pacific Mambo Orchestra Friday night with my brother while hubs stayed home with A.  It was great although it felt kind of weird and I was tired since my bed time lately has been 9pm and I didn't get in bed until 11pm!!! :-)

Saturday we went to the doggie dash and hubs and Aiden were cheering me on while I ran with our crazy dog!  Got to see lots of my running friends, it was good to be back on the scene!  I ran it in 27:31 which I am SOOOOO happy with considering I had only put in 3 weeks of training and it's been 2 months since A was born.  We had to make two stops because my poor little dog got some stickers in her paw.  She was pulling me as usual and getting a little distracted when I couldn't keep up but we did great.  As I was nearing the finish someone was yelling great job Aiden!  I thought how do they know my sons name and I don't have him with me.  Turns out the little guy that just passed me (about 8-10 years old) was named Aiden too!  I thought is this a sign of things to come!!! :-) 

Another thing that happened there was we saw another heeler mix that looked exactly like our dog and had the same mannerisms and was just as fast of a runner.  So we started talking to the owners and they adopted their dog the same month from the same Animal Humane shelter and their dog was part of a litter too and was about 2 months old when they adopted him!!  So long lost brother and sister reunited!!  Unfortunately they didn't get along very well :-( we had to hold them to take this pic or they would have gone after each other snarled teeth and all!  Maybe that's how Lexi got the little nick in her ear she's had since we adopted her, a rough litter!  Glad we got to meet them and if they got along we could have all gone on runs together!

Lastly I had to go shopping, I say HAD to because with only 2 weeks left until I have to go back to work I figured I better go buy some work pants that actually fit comfortably until I get back to where I was.  :-)  I can't believe I only have 2 weeks left!!!!! It's going to be hard being away!

Happy Monday!

Look at his little belly!! :-)

I'm not shy anymore and more truths...

So let me tell you it already took a lot to embarrass me because I grew up with a mom that speaks her mind at any moment and doesn't apologize for it, she taught me to be unique, individual, and proud of who I am.  This is the same person who also told me not to point out what I think are my faults because people only notice them when you point them out!  But after giving birth to a room full of 10 people and having people around telling you how to breast feed and what feels like the whole world seeing your privates you lose ALL inhibitions.  My first clue of this was when someone would asked me how it went and I noticed I might have made a few of them squirm and realized it was TMI either that or birth control for some of my friends. :-)

Truth #1 I gained 40 lbs during my pregnancy not the 25 - 35 that they recommend.  But to be honest I'm not as freaked out about it as I thought I'd be.  I lost 10 lbs of that the day I gave birth and another 10 lbs in the week after that.  Now 6 weeks after I have about 16 lbs left to lose to get to my pre pregnancy weight and I am up for the challenge now that I can exercise!

Truth #2 it's not the weight gain you have to be worried about it's the fact that you have no ab muscles and there's all that extra flab around your belly.  So that's the number one goal during my workouts... Yup you heard it right I'm not concentrating on getting a PR any time soon or on speed work at the track or placing at my next triathlon, just on getting those ab muscles back and tight.  That's what will prevent me from getting into my pre pregnancy clothes even when I lose those last 16 lbs. 

Truth #3 I cheated a little and the week before I got the ok to work out I ran 1.5 miles almost every day just to start testing myself.  Now this week I'm doing some running and weight lifting and plan to start incorporating some spinning and swimming ASAP.

Sat. I went straight from my Dr. apt to the gym did 30 minutes on the elliptical and 45 minutes of lifting and ab work.  Sunday got to busy and I had to skip my 1st workout!!!  Today I got a 2 mile run in before hubs had to head to campus so hopefully when he gets home at 7 tonight I can run to the gym to do some weights.  Yes, having a baby makes some of the simple things in life seem a lot more difficult to do, like sleep but it's true what they say it is so worth it.  Just watching him smile or stretch as he's waking up makes me forget about everything I just mentioned above!!  Yes, I've now become one of those moms.

Things I never thought I'd have to worry about when I worked out:

• Leaking, yes if you are breastfeeding you do have to worry about this when you work out
• Feeling like your insides might fall out at some point during your work out!
• Deciding to wear your maternity bathing suit when getting in the hot tub and realizing now that it's lose on you the jets will blow air into the most awkward places so you just hope the jets don't turn off until after you get out
• Having to wear 2-3 sports bras when you work out so it doesn't hurt
• Getting home in time to feed your baby

My dog is happy we are training for the 5k doggie dash and doesn't feel quite as neglected anymore.  Ok she is pretty jealous that she doesn't get to come jump on our bed in the mornings anymore or sit on the couch between us if the little guy has her spot, but she's doing ok considering.

Happy Training Everyone!!!

Countdown to comeback and training plan

Four more days and counting!  Now that my foot is feeling better and the midwife is about to give me the ok to start regular exercise I am excited and nervous!!!  But first a farewell to walking...

Dear Walking,

I hope these two become best friends and I'll have 2 running partners!

You have been there for me the past few months and I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate that.  You helped me get through the worst of it and keep my anxiety at bay.  As much as I wanted to pick up that foot just a little bit quicker I knew that you were there to keep me safe and healthy.  I might have lost any semblance of sanity and muscle if it wasn't for you.  But alas, it is time to part ways.  Don't worry I won't forget about you completely I still need to walk my dog and my son every day and when I go back to work you are there for me on my breaks and lunch to help me relieve stress and get some vitamin D.  Thank you!

Now the question is what will my first workout be?!??  I know it will include a 1 mile jog for sure so I plan on that being my warm up!  Then do I want to work on endurance and maybe do some spin or do I want to try and get some of my muscle tone back and do some weight lifting and or plyos?  Or do I take advantage of not being back at work yet and try out one of the aerobics classes at the gym that I never get to do?  I'm so excited to plan out my upcoming workouts that I don't even know where to start!  What is your favorite workout?  If you have to take a break how do you ease yourself back into exercise?

I'm also a little bit nervous thinking what if I never get back into the shape I was in?  What if I can't run the 5k I signed up for just 3 weeks after getting back to exercise?  Yes, I signed up for the Doggie Dash that benefits Animal Humane as my first race and hope that my dog will pull me most of the way because I want to try and not have to walk any of it!  But coming from only walking for the last 2 1/2 months and only having 3 weeks to train for it might be too much to ask of my body?  What if the extra flab around the belly never fully goes away no matter how many sit-ups I do?  Ok in reality I will put all these nervous thoughts at the back of my head and run them all away!  I'm super excited to get that first endorphin rush that I haven't had in a while.  I can't wait until little A can hold his own head up and I can take him with me in the jogging stroller!  It will be a new world of working out for me and I can't wait to see what my future holds!

P.S. I might have gotten a sneak peek, I mean I can't help it if my dog wants to run on our walks....

Race Recap

No I didn't go do a triathlon the day after giving birth!  Sorry to burst your bubble but it does take some pregnant woman a little time to recover.... I mean you saw the pics even the Princess had a post pregnancy pooch :-)  So why did I title this race recap?  Because pregnancy, labor, delivery, and bringing baby home has felt like a grueling quadruple Ironman race.  It took dedication,
perseverance, nutrition periodization, pain management, and in the end I got the ultimate reward.  It has been a hard and trying time I'm not going to sugar coat it, it's not always rainbows and unicorns pooping glitter but when he smiles or makes a cute face it reminds me why I did all this!

Pregnancy - This was like the months leading up to an IM.  It's lots and lots of training with some peak periods and some recovery weeks and you have to behave the whole time.  Watching what you eat, no drinking, keep up the exercises, and wait in anticipation for the big day.  For me this pregnancy pretty much followed the norm I experienced the normal aches and pains most people do and didn't love it or hate it (ok maybe parts of it).  I was nauseous for all of the first 3 months ok maybe 2 months because I didn't realize I was pregnant until about a month into it.  I only actually threw up once but the rest of the time both in the morning and evenings I felt like I was going to puke!  Then the 2nd trimester truly was bliss!  I felt awesome a new surge of energy and was still teaching my boot camp and 5k class!  I thought I can handle this!  Then the 3rd trimester I started to feel really HUGE and thought this will never end!  I couldn't workout as much the last month before the due date and I was crawling in my own skin waiting for the big day.  Luckily for hubs I never got any cravings and didn't send him out for food runs like pickles and ice cream.  He was the one that seemed to get cravings for ice cream a lot yet he was losing weight the whole time I was gaining it.  I gained a whopping 40 lbs but I came to terms with that because I knew I was eating healthy and my baby was a big boy! :-)   The biggest advice I could give is to not read everything under the sun about pregnancy unless you want to constantly be freaking out about what might or might not happen.  Save the what to expect when you're expecting specifically for when you have a question and just look up that one topic.  Also don't try to clean the tile in your kitchen on your hands and knees with a scrub brush in your 9th month of pregnancy or your husband will come home to find you crying covered in sweat, tears and cleaning products!  Ask for help when you need it and know it's ok to feel scared.  Lucky for me hubs gave me hugs even when I told him I didn't want them and no matter how much I didn't believe him he still kept telling me I was beautiful.  Pregnancy was pretty much what I had expected with it's ups and downs.

Labor and Delivery -  WOW!!!!  This part was not anywhere close to what I expected!!  I know they tell you to be ready for pain but I didn't expect to be so scared!  I was so worried about the well being of my child and I know I must have looked at my husband with my eyes bulging out of my head pleading that everything will be ok.  I was at 41 weeks when my midwife recommended I induce so we scheduled it for a Friday.  I went in and they gave me my first dose of medication at 9 am and then hubs and I went for a long walk outside and up and down the stairs.  I really didn't feel anything.  So around noon they gave me the second dose and around 4 pm hard labor started.  He was born at 1:51 am after 1 1/2 hours of pushing.  I was in lots of pain of course and I tried breathing but definitely could not stay calm and relaxed like they recommend.  My muscles tensed up every time a contraction came.  The music wasn't helping and I didn't want anyone touching me or talking to me.  Poor hubs!!  I also had told him not to let me change my mind about not having drugs.  But when he took a bathroom break and the nurse came in to see me she said something that changed it all for me.  "It only gets worse from here! and then you may not have time to change your mind about drugs."  I thought there is no way I can survive if the pain gets worse than this.  So when hubs came back in I demanded drugs.  He didn't know where it came from and he kept telling me no and telling me how I'd be disappointed if I did it.  I kept saying I'm so sorry to disappoint you and don't be angry with me!  All the nurses etc kept looking at him like he was evil but he was just doing what I had asked him to.  So I got drugs but by then the

First bath, not too happy...

worst was really already over and I had made it through most of it!  I am a little disappointed in myself but life moves on.  The scariest part was when A's heartbeat was too fast and at one point there were like 10 people in the room waiting for him to come.  The plan was that hubs would stay by my head and not witness any of it but when it all started there were only 2 other people in the room so they made him hold one of my legs!!!  So much for that plan he had to witness it all!!  Including the stitches.  So in the end at least I didn't have to have a C-section but I did have to be induced, cut and took drugs! :-(  The good news is that even though little A had to spend a week in the hospital because of some fluids in his lungs that caused an infection he is now as healthy as can be and thriving!!  They took him off oxygen a week after we got to come home.  After this experience you lose all inhibitions and don't worry about being embarrassed by anything ever again!

Postpartum - The first couple of weeks were the hardest because I was trying to recover and was spending day and night at the hospital with my son in the NICU.  It was nerve racking and my heart goes out to all the parents that had to spend months on end there luckily A just had a week to finish getting his antibiotics for 1 week.  I was sleep deprived and hurting and a nervous wreck.  But now it's only a month later and it's already starting to get better!!!  A is 10lbs already and such a big and healthy boy!  He is fussy at times and I may only get 2-3 hours of sleep but then other nights we get some awesome sleep in 4 hour stretches!  I'm so happy I'm able to spend the first 3 months with him before having to go back to work it makes such a huge difference!  I do go stir crazy and get major cabin fever day after day in the house with only A but the few days I get to go out and talk to adults it's pretty nice so make sure you keep your lines of communication open!  I still get nervous and wake up just to check that he's still breathing but those smiles he gives me now are awesome!  It also seems like you never get anything done during the day but you know what the house will just have to wait to be cleaned!  Being a parent is such hard work and I'm so lucky to have such a supportive family and that my mom will be coming here to help once I go back to work!  I know once I'm able to work out again it will help with any of the stress and anxiety I have left.  I am thankful to having a healthy boy and can't wait to see what life has in store for him!