Dear Lufflump

Dear Lufflump,

You turned three on Saturday, happy birthday! All day I was thinking back to that day three years ago when you entered the world at 7:33pm. Everything was worth it the first moment I held you. You taught me what love really is and for that I thank you everyday.

Your third birthday

It's been another big year for you. The biggest change has been your status as a big brother. What a wonderful big brother you are too. You love your sister and from the way she watches everything you do I can see she loves you too. When she cries you hug her, kiss her, hold her hand or play cars on her and she loves it! You couldn't make me more prouder.

Such a good brother

You've begun speech therapy and we can all see a huge difference. You pick up on things so easily. You've already started signing 'more', 'finish' and 'pop'. In fact you're even talking a lot more. 'Daycare' is your new favourite word and at times you say it perfectly. While we regret not taking you to speech therapy sooner we are so happy you're getting the help now.

You also love to count. Noni's stairs are perfect for counting on, you count each step all the way to fifteen. For the last few weeks we've been asking you how old you are, instead of three you say you're five. Every single time. I think five may be your favourite number. Or eleven. You love to say them.

You love daycare still. In fact this week you've started going three days a week instead of two. Mummy and daddy miss you so much when you're gone but we know how much fun you have there. You bound out the door and run straight in to play every day you go. You excitedly tell us about your day, usually showing us what animal you played with or were.

This year your obsession with dinosaurs has expanded. You own so many dinosaur toys that I've lost count. Your favourite dinosaur movies are still the Jurassic Park ones and Godzilla. You've also really gotten into the BBC Dinosaur specials, your favourite dinosaurs are, of course, T-Rex and Spinosaurus. The killers. Dinosaur Train, Dinosaurs TV show and a handful of other dinosaur movies and TV specials are also watched frequently.

Easter

Along with dinosaurs you also still love cars and animals. Sea creatures are some of your favourites too. Sharks especially. Anything big, scary and dangerous. Sharks, elephants, rhinos, lions and tigers are your favourites. Usually your animal toys battle cars or dinosaurs. It's a mixture of scary, loud love. Helicopters are another favourite of yours. You spin your arms in circles to say helicopter and you love to draw them in big circles. In fact I'd say that dinosaurs in a helicopter would be your dream event.

Photo by Zoe from Little Swallow

Another big change is your hair. You rocked your long hair until you decided you wanted daddy's haircut. Daddy did such a good job cutting your hair and you now rock your short hair. Who knows what other hairstyles you'll rock over the next year.

Hair rocker

You my son are the light of my life. Always have and will be. This blog is as much for you and your sister as it is for me, a record of your young lives. I hope you enjoy reading it in the future and seeing what your life was like.

I love you.

Getting Fit Week Seven

Last week was a real write off. I started Zoloft again which messed up my stomach and made me really lethargic. If that wasn't enough I was then hit with the flu. The couch and bed were my best friends and I went through two boxes of tissues. Lovely.

Last week's goals;

- Do Wii Fit Plus at least twice Nope

- Skate Sunday Done and it was fantastic!

- Put skates on four days I only managed two days

- Skate outside at least once Nope

- Do 50 squats, 50 crunches, 50 jumping jacks, 10 burps, 10 jack knives and 10 knee push ups every day I didn't even do it one day instead when I hung the washing out I squatted instead of leaning over

- Minimum 1.5L water every day Nope

- At least five shakes Yes

- At least one Ease into 5k work outs I did one, a shitty one with mum on Monday. Our walking speed was quicker than our 'running' speed.

- Two workout videos this week Didn't even manage one

Total write off.

The only exercise I managed to do was skate Sunday, the pitiful Ease into 5k work out and climb the awesome spiderweb thing at New Farm playground three times. That thing is fun! I did have an eight year old bully the first time I went up but his mum told him off.

Being awesome at New Farm Park playground

As for diet? Well yesterday alone I managed to consume half a packet of chips, two pieces of Black Forest Cake, a piece of Carrot Cake, hot dog with onion and cheese, three pieces of chicken nibbles, soft drink and a banana. Real healthy.

Skating was awesome. Possibly the best week yet. We learned how to start (running on toe stops, duck run and pushing off), 180 knee stops and we even got to do our first 25 in 5 (25 laps in 5 minutes). I managed to get just shy of 23. Not too bad seeing as I was dehydrated and didn't exercise or skate all week. I've decided that I'll be doing this phase (phase one) again so I have the basics really down. So in seven weeks time I'll have the chance to do 25 in 5 again and I plan to smash it. 

I'm giving up the Ease into 5k too. I'm not a runner. I don't enjoy running and never have. Hell if zombies attack I'll chuck on my skates and skate from them. Running sucks. I don't need to be a runner to be a skater and I'm more than fine with that. 

This week I'm back on track. Definitely skating yesterday has given me the motivation I need. I may still be in bed but I'm having a healthy shake and plan on going for a nice long skate on the River Walk today. 

This week's goals;

- Do Wii Fit Plus at least twice

- Skate Sunday

- Put skates on four days

- Skate outside at least once

- Do 500 squats, 250 crunches, 250 jumping jacks, 50 burpees, 50 jack knives and 50 knee push ups

- Minimum 1.5L water every day

- At least five shakes

- One workout video this week

Boys Will Be Boys

Yep that's the mister under there

Muscles!

Backwards To Go Forwards

I'm back on Zoloft.

I tried to conquer my anxiety naturally but rather than get better it got worse. Add hot flushes and dizzy spells to an upset stomach and bam that's what I was trying to live with.

I lasted five outings, one we drove to but turned around before we got there as I was too sick, before I conceded and began the medication.

Cutting out caffeine, being on a low sugar diet and exercising daily disappointedly hasn't made a difference. I wanted to do it naturally but I can't live on the wrong side of the edge again, it's detrimental
to myself and my relationships.

Anxiety and me are strange. When I'm pregnant I don't get anxious. It's wonderful and I love it so much that I'd constantly be pregnant if it didn't have so many side effects like having a baby. Sesame turned two months old, I got my first period and BAM anxiety returned. The thought of leaving the house scared, and still does scare, me. I pushed through it, especially for training, but certain locations scare me. If I've been sick or anxious there before my anxiety now triples.

There are times I wish I hadn't gotten this haircut so I could still twirl. My trich always goes into full swing when I'm anxious. Ultimately I am glad I can't pull anymore and I love my haircut.

I don't want to be scared. I don't want to miss out on living. I don't want my children to miss out. It's not fair living with anxiety to anyone, especially my children.

I'm on day three of taking Zoloft again. It's horrible. My stomach hates me, my balance is off and my brain feels jumbled. I can't seem to focus on more than one thing at a time. I'm constantly tired and
exercising hurts. I feel like I've got a constant stitch just from sitting on the couch breathing.

I know it'll get better. I don't know how long it will take. I thought the only reason I was sick last time was because I was coming off Aropax giving me the Aropax Flu. Now I'm not so sure, maybe it was a
mixture of both medications.

I hope tomorrow I'll feel well enough to go for a skate or at least do a workout. I can't and won't let this impact my ambitions, motivation or dedication to getting fit and playing roller derby.

Anxiety has taken so much of my life I'm not going to allow it take anymore.

Getting Fit Week Six

Last week was a really good fitness week. I would have liked to have skated more though but I can definitely see and feel an improvement. My biggest downfall was eating 500g of Pistachio nuts in a day. Could be worse.

Last week's goals;

- Do Wii Fit Plus at least once I actually did Wii Fit Plus four times for at least half an hour.

- Skate Sunday Loved it!

- Put skates on four days I put them on five days.

- Skate outside at least once I skated inside twice and once outside. I wanted to skate more but can't skate in the wet.

- Do 50 squats, 50 crunches, 50 jumping jacks, 10 burpees and 10 knee push ups every day Done.

- Minimum 1.5L water every day I didn't drink enough everyday and woke up a few days dehydrated.

- At least three shakes I had three shakes on Monday alone. Loving my shakes!

- At least one Ease into 5k work outs Done. Really should have done three to make it one week but I didn't.

- One workout video this week I did Jillian's 30 Day Shred. She's a bitch.

The Wii Fit Plus definitely had a work out last week. I did a lot of ten minute boxing, half hour cycling, and muscle moves. It's so much fun and I can see myself improving each time. I love seeing progress, it's very motivating.

I have to do a blog post on what we're learning in the rec league, I'm learning so much. I am loving it still. I can't see a time when I don't love it. I'm so amazed at how much I love learning skating techniques. Anything else I would have been frustrated and given up, but with roller derby I become even more determined to get the technique and want to skate more.

My indoor skate set up

The squats, burpees, jumping jacks, knee push ups and crunches are getting easier. In fact I'm going to add in ten jack knife workouts. I feel so much better after it and during it I push myself to do them as fast as possible. It's hard but getting easier which is my motivation.

I only failed one this week which was drinking water. A couple of times this week I've felt sick and I think it's from being dehydrated. Also caffeine isn't agreeing with me so coffee and coke is out of the picture. It's good as it means I'm not tempted.

Running is hard. Not only physically but also time wise. It's easy exercising at home, I can stop and help out if need be. Exercising outside running is difficult as I can't help out at home. The mister needs sleep so early mornings are out. Night time is out too as the mister works. During the day I could depending on how the kids are, what else we have to do and the weather. If it's too hot I'll have a bad experience and not want to continue. As it gets colder during the day I'm more inclined to go out running. I hope it gets colder quickly!

Jillian is a bitch. Her 30 Day Shred is tough! I did week one and was a mess afterwards. I'll be doing it as many times as I can next week. I'll try to throw in Bob's Boot Camp too as I enjoy that one. Crazy as it sounds I'm looking forward to them kicking my ass again, well the feeling afterwards anyway.

I'm keeping the goals similar to last weeks. Simple and easy. Of course I plan on doing more as well but these are the basics.

This week's goals;

- Do Wii Fit Plus at least twice

- Skate Sunday

- Put skates on four days

- Skate outside at least once

- Do 50 squats, 50 crunches, 50 jumping jacks, 10 burps, 10 jack knives and 10 knee push ups every day

- Minimum 1.5L water every day

- At least five shakes

- At least one Ease into 5k work outs

- Two workout videos this week

I Like To Shake It #2

The second shake I am loving at the moment is so healthy and has my favourite ingredient, spinach!

This one is good if you like pulpy drinks. I love orange juice with extra pulp and this drink has good chunky bits like that.

Yummy!

1 egg

1 banana

Handful of baby spinach leaves

Teaspoon of Chia seeds

Milk (I fill it up to about 400mL which is perfect for our glasses but just fill to whatever you want)

Shot of shake mix (we use Herbalife Nutritional Shake Mix in French Vanilla)

Before milk

After milk

Blend it all together with a hand mixer and pour into desired glass. 

Easy as!

This is not a paid or sponsored post in any way. I like the product specified in this post and believe in sharing the word of good products.

New Hair Journey

Before 

Before

Getting shaved

Shaving

Perfecting the fringe

Finished product!

The back

I Like To Shake It #1

I'm loving shakes at the moment.

Delicious, scrumptious, healthy, filling shakes.

The first recipe I'm going to share with you is one I have most. It's quick, easy and delicious.

Yum!

1 banana
1 egg
Handful frozen berries
Couple of drops of vanilla essence
Milk (I fill it up to about 400mL which is perfect for our glasses but just fill to whatever you want)

Before milk

With milk

Blend it all together with a hand mixer and pour into desired glass.

Easy as!

After being mixed

I usually have powder in it too but I forgot with this batch. Without the vanilla essence it was surprisingly tasteless. Still healthy though!