Weight Loss Denial

Dear Friends and Family,

Discipline. It's not fun. It's not easy. It's something we all struggle with.

Sometimes it's just easier to be an ostrich and stick your head in the sand and hope against hope that things will resolve themselves. Denial.

Yes. I'm talking about my postpartum weight loss journey. Or rather my weight loss journey. With P closing in on her second birthday, this is something that's transitioning from a postpartum thing to a plain old thing.

Journaling is a hassle. But, I know it works. So, I need to either sigh and accept my current weight or buck up and accept that the hassle is worth it.

I had a good weigh in yesterday. Let's see if I can continue the trend this week.


Cheers!
mouse

"Clean"

Dear Friends and Family,

There's nothing funnier than P's latest diaper changing routine.

If we ask her if she's wet, she clutches her diaper as if trying to protect it or hide it and says, "clean."

So, we cajole her by saying, "okay, let's go check just in case." And, we head down to the changing table and she lies down and giggles, "wet diaper."

Then, we let her pick her diaper. And, she points out the wipes. And, we change her. And, when we're done, we say, "nice and clean."


Cheers!
mouse

03.28.11: Typical Weekends

Dear Friends and Family,

Other than the start of the F1 season, it was a rather typical weekend.

We took P to the park on Saturday to run around and enjoy the "spring" weather while Mr. mouse went a little crazy with the camera. Minus a couple of kids who came through the park for a couple of minutes, we had the whole place to ourselves. Usually, it's a zoo, so it was nice to be able to give P a chance to explore without being pushed around by a horde of kids.

We spent a little time at a school open house since it's never too soon to start looking. And, finished off the morning with pizza at our local pizza joint.

The afternoon? I guess we spent it at home playing and reading and cleaning and doing laundry and all of the typical weekend chores.

Sunday morning we headed out to the bar to watch the F1 race. Then, P slept while we ran a couple of errands. And, at home we did more of the same toddler play which is a mix of playing and teaching and avoiding meltdowns. Mr. mouse has been trying to teach P her next round of numbers (11 through 20) and I've been encouraging jumping. We need to find the next batch of puzzles (done!) because P's clearly mastered the two 12 piece puzzles she has.

And, it's Monday so time to get ready for work.


Cheers!
mouse

TGIF

Dear Friends and Family,

Sorry. Late start again.

See you Monday!


Cheers!
mouse

You Know You're Getting Old When...

Dear Friends and Family,

Time keeps going faster, and we keep getting older.

On a conscious level, I can do the math, but on a sub-conscious level, you don't feel old until things start changing on you.

Like the "are you having another" question. I don't think we are, but I don't know for sure. But, I realize that decision is being made for me because at some point in the near future, we won't be able to even if we wanted to.

Then, there's the retirement planning. If, knock on wood, all goes to plan, I probably have one more career move between now and retirement. And, I want it to be a big move to finish on a high note. So, if I do move, it won't be for any job, it'll be for a career defining job. How did I get that old?

Then, you realize instead of being the youngest person at work, you're one of the older people at work. I liked that about my last job, I was the same age as everyone. Now, I'm not.

And, there's things like losing your last grandparent. Now, my parents are grandparents and Mr. mouse and I are parents. And, you realize that the cycle of life is continuing whether you like it or not. Friends start coping with sick parents and you realize you could be next.

And, last but not least, you start coping with more tests and procedures and check-ups and exams, just in case. Fortunately, we have insurance and we can take advantage of the precautions. Nonetheless, they make you realize you're not as young as you used to be.

I'm optimistic that the best is yet to come. Still, I'm glad we've had some good years behind us because suddenly I'm feeling a little older than I felt a little bit ago.


Cheers!
mouse

Late Start

Dear Friends and Family,

Sorry. Waiting for inspiration and now realized I need to get going for the day. See you tomorrow!


Cheers!
mouse

Car Seats

Dear Friends and Family,

I admit it. P's safety is compromised. She rides forward facing and she's not yet 22 pounds.

I'm torn with what to do based on yesterday's update to the car seat recommendations. The new recommendations have her rear facing until two or longer.

I like being able to see P. P likes being able to see the cars and trains and airplanes.

I feel like a bad parent either way. She has two hours in the car each day.

Perhaps the right answer is, P shouldn't be in the car for two hours each day.


Cheers!
mouse

03.21.11: Lake Wobegon Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

I know everyone thinks their child is <fill in the blank>, so I think I'm in comfortable company in thinking the same of P.

We went to the park on Saturday and she was just darling as we played in the park - running from one area in the park to another, her eyes wide and bright with excitement.

And, there was the moment when she learned gentle touches after swiping at my face. And, the rest of the weekend was filled with the softest touches to my cheeks. Granted, at dinner it was when she had her socks on her hands, but I'll take it just the same.

Speaking of dinner, P survived a two hour plus dinner with us on Sunday night. She danced, she looked around, she ate, she read, she played with her socks. She did good.

What else made this weekend toddler-centric? Well, she learned how to put on a hat, and wore one of the infant hats she never wore as an infant all day Saturday. It looked like a toddler hipster skull cap - lavender with white bunnies isn't a look we can all carry.

And, there is the continuing ant saga. P is petrified of ants. And, Saturday evening, she shrieked and came running to me. I asked what was wrong as I picked her up. Her heart was racing. She looked at me with a look of betrayal on her face like I had let something horrible happen. I asked if she had seen an ant. And, she answered with an angry yes.


Cheers!
mouse

Day to Dig In

Dear Friends and Family,

I have the whole day, yes, the whole day, to dive into my new job and see what I see. I had a talk with my new boss yesterday and I think I could get excited by some aspects of my new job.

I'm excited to capture some of my thoughts on paper.


Cheers!
mouse

Sigh

Dear Friends and Family,

It's Thursday. Only Thursday. This week has been going at a crawl.

I wonder if this is a sign of things to come with the new job. Sigh.


Cheers!
mouse

Riveted

Dear Friends and Family,

I can't stop checking the news for updates on the situation in Japan. First, there was the earthquake. Then, then there was the tsunami. Now, there are the nuclear reactors. Each alone is an emergency. Combined, it seems more than the mind can process.

I wish there was something I could do to help. Riveted, but at the same time powerless.


mouse

Continued Progress

Dear Friends and Family,

P continues to make good progress on the weight front. She drank a full cup of milk on her way home from school. And, she ate a good sized portion of pizza for dinner before asking for some nibbles of pasta.

We weighed her last night and she's still 6% down from a max weight which oddly enough was on 12/23. And, 5% down from when she got sick. As long as she makes good progress, I won't worry too much about the long term effects of her two week ordeal.

My mom leaves today so I get to play with P tonight. Selfishly, I'm super excited about it.


Cheers!
mouse

03.14.11: Healing Toddler Time

Dear Friends and Family,

My mom got back from the funeral and the house fight worn and out of sorts. So, I offered up a weekend with P to try to cheer her up. Fortunately for all of us, P was gracious enough to want to play with my mom. Mr. mouse and I even had a little bit of alone time to look at eyeglasses.

P is vaguely on the mend. She lost 10% of her body weight with her most recent cold. And, is on a daily weigh-in routine until she has some track record of regaining her lost weight. Mr. mouse was worried enough to buy chocolate soy milk to give her to get her to ingest some calories. I'm concerned about starting a bad habit, but not concerned enough to argue it for now.

On a semi-sad front, P seems to be done with nursing. She was still nursing in the morning and evenings. But, the past couple of days have not been successful. I guess she's moved on which she's allowed to do. And, I'm sure I'll adjust. It's just a little sad.

Well, I need to get going to allow a little extra time to get ready.


Cheers!
mouse

A New Plan

Dear Friends and Family,

Well, I've had some marginal success with my post-baby Weight Watchers plan. But, I haven't been as dedicated to it as I was on my first Weight Watchers journey. There's just too much going on and not enough time to do it the way I did it the first time around.

So, I have a new plan.

5AM: breakfast | cereal with milk
8AM: snack | coffee with milk and sugar
11AM: lunch | TBD: 8 points, should include a serving of vegetables
1:30PM: snack | fruit (2 servings) and nuts (14 almonds)
2:30PM: snack | carrots
4:30PM: snack | cheese and crackers
7:30PM: dinner | TBD: 8 points, should include a serving of vegetables
8:30PM: snack | TBD: 3 points, treat

Time to plan out my day.


Cheers!
mouse

The Talk

Dear Friends and Family,

I hit the breaking point yesterday and sat down my employee for the talk.

I told him he seemed preoccupied. I told him he seemed disengaged. I told him he needed to step up or this was going to become a problem I would need to involve HR in.

It was a rough conversation, but one I'm glad we had. I feel better walking in to work today. And, although I'm not sure he feels better, I'm sure he'd rather know and improve than be in the dark and be surprised one day in the future with a meeting with human resources and a performance improvement plan.

Adult conversations - not easy and one a lot of managers dodge.


Cheers!
mouse

Transitioning

Dear Friends and Family,

Continuing to wrap up my old job and contemplating the start of my new job.

I'm concerned about one of my employees. The one with a million and one things going on in his life? Well, on top of everything else, his furnace has been on the fritz.

Honestly, if it were me, I would take the acceptance to the graduate school I got into even if it wasn't my first choice. After all, why apply if you have no intention of going to that school?

That would 1. get me out of a job I dislike 2. make the I don't know who my boss will be a moot issue 3. get me out of a city I dislike 4. make the furnace a moot issue and last but not least 5. make the I don't want to have a million kids before going to school a moot issue.

I don't know. I think this is like when my sister was first diagnosed with endometriosis and decided to complicate her life with all of the treatment she's been getting.

My life was SO complicated for awhile and I realized how much happier I've been since simplifying my life. I refuse to ever let it get that complicated again. Perhaps that's one of life's lessons they will some day learn. Or, perhaps, I'm missing out on some of life's joys by foregoing the complicated mess involved.

Either way, I'm happy. And, if ignorance is bliss, I'm okay with it.


Cheers!
mouse

Transition Planning

Dear Friends and Family,

This week begins the transition from my old job to my new job.

I'm not sure where all of this will go, but it is what it is and I'm not sure I have a bunch of options if I decide to stay where I am.

It's a J-O-B and for that I am grateful.


Cheers!
mouse

03.07.11: Sick Day | Well Day

Dear Friends and Family,

After a week of misery, P slept in on Sunday until 8-something in the morning and emerged her usual, happy self. I noticed four prominent eye teeth that had been slowly poking through and a stunning leap in her ability to memorize her books. It's making it tough to know which words she's learned and which ones she's memorized. Oh, the problems we deal with.

On the gross motor front, she loves to run, she still likes to dance, and she's been trying to jump lately - getting no vertical, but putting a lot of effort into it all.

P lost 7.5% of her body weight last week and now fits into her 9 month old clothing again. Let me clarify - it's 9 month sized clothing which she probably wore when she was over a year old. But, either way, it's coming in handy because we need the onesies for an altogether different reason. P picked up butt scratching from a friend at school and has several scratch marks on her cheek. The onesies keep her from being able to scratch. Excellent. Nothing more attractive than a girl with her hand stuck in her pants scratching at her butt.

Oh, and we made some capital improvements this weekend. I bought a toy organizer on Friday and assembled it on Saturday. It keeps the floor clear, but does seem to compartmentalize the toys which may discourage P from throwing it all on the floor and letting her creative juices flow. We'll see how next weekend's play goes.


Cheers!
mouse

Sick Day II

Dear Friends and Family,

Nothing like five days of low grade and not so low grade fever to get a doctor's attention. After P was sent home from school on Thursday, we brought her in to see the doctor. First available appointment? 8:15 PM.

Then the doctor wanted a chest x-ray, just in case. And, although none of the lines were long, we got to the hospital a little after nine and got home a little before midnight.

And, now, P has another day at home with her favorite person, Daddy.


Cheers!
mouse

Sick School Day

Dear Friends and Family,

P was fine last night when we put her to bed - a little fussy, but fine. And, she had a perfectly fine day at school.

But...

She vomited this morning. I wonder if I should keep her home or send her in.

Choices, choices.


Cheers!
mouse

School Day

Dear Friends and Family,

P stayed home with Mr. mouse yesterday. She was feverish last night and we dosed her before putting her to bed. But, she seems better this morning so we're headed out to school and work.

She's still coughing and sneezing some nasty stuff, but I'm hoping she does okay at school.


Cheers!
mouse

Sick Day

Dear Friends and Family,

P should really stay home from school today. We dosed her twice yesterday with medicine and she's pretty congested on top of everything else.

And, now, she's up.

Have a nice day.


Cheers!
mouse