Still Stumbling

Yes, this post is over two weeks old, but it's been in my head; there are things I wanted to talk about, so I'm playing catch up. It takes a while to catch up since I was "off the wagon" for a while longer!

So, today, my plan is to catch us all up and bring everyone up to speed on my journey. Like my exercise plan, it's time to just jump in and do it; quit planning, thinking about it, dreading it... just do it. Now that sounds like a hell of a slogan to me; someone should use that!

Lisa, Ethan and me

Last time we visited, I was uncovering my stumbling blocks as I traveled to Nashville. I had my whole "black and white" epiphany. After I had worked out that morning with Abby then sat in my car and drove five hours to Nashville, I was a little sore when I made it to Lisa's house. But, I tried to ignore it because I got to put my hands on her beautiful newborn grandson. All my aches and pains were gone as I smelled, touched and caressed new life. 

Saturday morning, I was "all stove up"... had to move very slowly and very carefully just to make it to the potty. Then, to sit. Oh heavens, my quads were screaming! "Four weeks without exercise? Don't do that to us again!" After I pottied, I realized I had to get up. Don't think my quads took it easy on me! Lisa lives in a split-level house. I had to go down 5 or 6 steps to get to the kitchen, then down another 5 or 6 steps to get to the family room... where the BABY was! I felt like an old, crippled, hungover woman trying to get to Ethan!

The reasons for my visit

Ethan was really the reason I was in town, although a huge bonus was, of course, to see my own daughter! Hanna and I were helping host a baby shower for Lisa's daughter, Ashley and her new son, Ethan. Ashley and Hanna grew up thinking they were twins... they were just born six days apart, in different states, to different parents.

Delicious spread of non-healthy food

We all got showered and spiffed up and headed over to where the shower was going to take place. My main responsibility was, as you might have guessed, bossing everyone... oh no, wait, that was already done. Food was my responsibility that day! Party Pizzas, Rosemary Cashews, Sausage Stars, Pigs in a Blanket, Rotel Squares... oh my! If it had cream cheese, crescent rolls or a pork product in it, my name was all over it! Yes, there were some healthy options too. There were fruits, there were vegetables. 

THE Cake

And... there was cake! Lori made the cake. Lori's cake was DELICIOUS! And it had everything in it I was NOT supposed to have at that time... sugar, gluten, eggs... and it was FABULOUS! I asked Lori her secrets and you would not believe how simple (but I won't share her secrets, so don't even ask!). However, I ate more cake that day (and that night and the next day, thanks to extra that we brought home with us). I was so sick; my blood sugar was completely out of whack, my head hurt, but I didn't care. I enjoyed every bite of that cake!

Loving on Ethan... ALL NIGHT LONG!

Saturday night, I got Ethan duty. We settled in the recliner after his bottle and diaper change and we snuggled. He was on my chest all night and I was in heaven! I wouldn't have traded that time for anything. But... I had forgotten about how physically exhausting a newborn can be! And, my aching back reminded me! So now, my body was sore from working out and my back was giving me fits for sleeping all wonky in the recliner. Great. The next few days were going to be fun!