Find my strong

I am working on my 31st week of pregnancy.  Only 9 more to go!!  The countdown has finally reached single digits and I honestly could not be more happy about that.  I went for a 2 mile run/walk this morning before it got really hot and I was mulling over what I wanted to write in this blog post.

As some of you know who read my blog from time to time I am a nurse in a Surgical ICU in a level 1 Trauma Center.  So we get the worst of the worst when it comes to car accidents, shootings, etc.  This past work week has been very hard for myself and the other nurses I work with.  We work hard every day to save lives.  Your faced with your own mortality, and are called upon to not only do all you can medically to save someones life, but also to be a shoulder to lean on for the families that are grieving for there loved one.  Hospitals are largely where people only come when the worst of the worst is happening.  It is an emotional roller coaster that can bring out the best and worst of people.  This week we had a large amount of patients die in our ICU.  Unfortunantly, when you work in a Level 1 Trauma Center patients come to you when they have already died or almost died and many we can save, but its also a common occurance to lose lives.  We all deal with it differently.  I run. 

At this point in my pregnancy it is starting to get hard to run, and I often walk more than run.  I am happy to still get back out there, but I am sometimes suffering emotionally and need to run more than I am able.  I have cried this week, and suffered with these families.  Its hard not to bring it home with you. 

Running brings me peace and emotional strength.  I am happy to still be out there working out, to maintain a fit pregnancy, and a healthy lifestyle.  I am also glad I am still out there because I need it to deal with the loss that sometimes surrounds me on a daily basis.  Sweat is cleansing, running is peace.  I am so grateful for that.  I am grateful that I can FIND MY STRONG is running.

Does running bring you peace? 

 

Week of Workouts 31 weeks pregnant!

The countdown has moved to single digits! I am 31 weeks pregnant! 9 weeks left.  It feels like so long to go but really I'm In the home stretch!

My workouts have slowed down this week.  It's my work week and work has been especially grueling.  There really hasn't been much sitting during my 10 hour shifts at all which has also brought on the good ol Braxton hicks contractions.  Those I have not missed.  This is also the week that my sweet son had decided to start getting up at 6am, which gives me about 5.5/6 hours sleep. I am one of those people who very much need, especially while pregnant, at least 7 but really 8-9 hours of sleep.

Monday: Best Body Bootcamp interval cardio workout on the elliptical and strength workout A

Tuesday: 40 min stroller walk

Wednesday rest

Thursday: 2 mi run/walk

Friday: rest

I'm hoping to get my weight workout in this morning before work.  2 more days of work before off week.  Next week is County Fair and I can't wait to take my Little to the Fair. 

Hope you all have a great weekend! 

Rockin my #sweatpink tank!

Week of workouts

It's been a pretty non restful week at my house.  It's my off week from work so I should be getting more sleep and actually cleaning something, but that really hasn't happened.

 

Sweet baby has been getting up super early and then today he woke up with a high fever.  It breaks my heart to see him sick.  I've also been basically a single mom all week since my husband works nights and has been gone.  Single parenting is no joke! So between caring for my baby, attempting to cook (oh wait that requires having food in the house to cook) going to the grocery store, and has anyone found a maid that will work for free to do my laundry?? Lets just say this week hasn't been restful.  Thank God for coffee and that my baby sick or not will happily go on stroller run/walks with me.

Workouts for the week:

Tuesday: Best body Bootcamp cardio and weight routine A

Wednesday was a stroller walk and then 3.5 hours of stroller walking in the mall

Friday was a 50 min walk/run 

Today was a 45 min walk

Not bad but I missed out on my second strength workout.  With my little not feeling well I've been to busy snuggling.  

I also have been listening to my body and its started to say "less running" I'm listening.  My runs have become much more walking.  I'm happy to still be getting some running in, but my round ligaments and pelvis have been very sore the last few runs and it's then lingered all day.  Not good.  I'm not saying no running but ill be slowing down further for the last 10 weeks of this pregnancy.  

My view on my last run/walk.  Country roads make me happy.

A few things about me

A. Single or attached? Ive been married for almost 5 years now and we are currently expecting our second baby!

B. Best Friend? Well I have a lot of great friends, but my dear friend Amanda would have to be my best.  She has a couple of kids and is my go to for mom advice.  She also is so fun to hang out with and our kids get along.

C. Cake or pie? I don't really like either, but I'm more likely to eat pie.  I'd be ok with pumpkin pie and whip cream :-)

D. Day of the week? I like any day that is not spent at work and that I get to hang with loved ones.  

E. essential item? Hm yea I don't go anywhere without my phone.  That chap stick and my son are my main items

F. Favorite color? I am a blue girl I own so much blue stuff sometimes I put multiple blues Together and look like a giant blueberry.

G. Gummy bears or gummy worms? I love gummy bears.  I take them on long runs.

H. Hometown? I'm a Wisconsin girl all the way:  love my Packers, beer, brats, and cheese :-) I'm also a dairy farmers daughter!

I. Favorite Indulgance? Wine and right now that I'm pregnant and can't have it I'm indulging in a lot of ice cream.

J. January or June? I prefer January I can always put on more clothes but I can't take off my skin in the heat.  I love snow to.

K. Kids? Yup my son who's 1 1/2 and a daughter on the way.

L. Life isn't complete without? My family love them so much!

M. Marriage date? October 4, 2008

N. number of siblings? 3 little brothers my other best friends 

O. Oranges or apples? I have a weird pregnancy craving for apples all the time.  Braeburn or pink lady are my favorites 

P. phobias? None the fears I have I fight all the time nothing stops me.

Q. Favorite Quote? What doesn't kill me makes me stronger. ~unknown 

R. Reason to smile? My sweet son I love him and he makes me laugh every day more than once :-)

S. season of choice? Fall is by far my favorite season.  The weather is cooler I love wearing capris.  I love the leaves changing and the crisp coolness in the air.  

T. Tag 5 people Emma from http://amomrunsthistown.com/ Abby from http://runstrongereveryday.com/  Karen from http://karenlovestorun.com/ Janae from http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/ @cldiem from http://runstretchgo.com/

U. Unknown fact about me? I was in 4h for 13 years I showed beef cattle, hogs, and dairy at the county fair and state fair.

V. Favorite vegetable? I'd eat green peppers any time.

W.worst habit? I try to control everything and get very anxious if I can't.  I hate the anxiety 

X. X-ray or ultrasound? Hm ultrasound I spose.

Y. Your favorite food? Pizza :-) and chipotle burrito bowl.  Yummy 

Z. Zodiac sign? Virgo.  Many things about that fit and some don't.  

That was fun for me hopefully it was for you.  If you have a chance feel free to leave a fact about yourself.

Week 4 Best Body Bootcamp

I can't believe I'm at the halfway point of the summer session of BBB! It's been enjoyable and I'm really learning to enjoy lifting weights so much more than I have in the past.  It helps that there's some awesome ladies doing it as well so i can watch and share the journey with others.  

Monday was supposed to be a weight/cardio day,but work really beat me down this past week.  It's taking alot out of me to run for 10 hours straight 7 days in a row at 29 weeks pregnant. So rest day it was.  If you call sweeping and mopping all the floors in the house and doing 6 loads of laundry resting. :-)

Tuesday I woke up ready to go.  I've had to modify alot this week with the weights because alot of it is balancing prone on a stability ball.  Being that I am carrying my own stability ball in front of me there is no way I'm able to do that.  I've still been able to get a good workout in and then I ran/walked 2 miles.

Today was straight cardio.  I walked 50 minutes pushing my kid in the BOB.  I then went to the mall to get some much needed shopping done with a dear friend of mine and her two little boys.  So 2 moms and 3 boys.  It actually was so fun and they were so well behaved.  That was 3.5 hours of walking with the stroller.  I'm counting that towards my cardio!

Tomorrow I head to the Dr for a checkup for me and the jellybean.  I'm 29 weeks 3 days so I'm going to say 10 weeks left! The countdown begins!

Hope you all are getting great workouts in in this muggy hot weather!

Friday Five

1. Best Body Bootcamp week 3 is coming to a close.  I'm loving lifting weights.  Ive never enjoyed lifting weights but I very much enjoy it now.  I'm feeling stronger.

2. Tuesday I ran the Stars and Sparks v5k thrown by HuffnPuff it was awesome.  I felt good and the medal waiting for me at the end was super cool!

Rocked the 4th of July red white and blue sparkly soul band my FAV hair band and USA procompression socks.  

3. I enjoyed a family walk today.  Work has been really stressful and I've been on my feet alot.  At 28 weeks almost 29 weeks I'm hurtin.  Walking is becoming more comfortable all the time.

4. I am really loving my new stick. I love foam rolling its so dang painful, but now that I'm getting bigger its harder to do.  The stick is pretty amazing.  Until I'm able to use the foam roller again it'll do.

5. I'm still enjoying baked strawberry oatmeal.  It's almost gone but I can't believe how good it is.  It's going to be a staple in our house.

Workouts this week: 

Monday BBB weights and elliptical

Tuesday v5k

Wednesday BBB weights no time for cardio 

Thursday rest day if you want to call a crazy 8 hour shift where I didn't rly even eat rest.  

Friday 40 min stroller walk 

Sunday FunDay

My last day of off week before I go back to my 7 days of 10 hour shifts.  I am exhausted just thinking about it.  :)  Gotta make the $$ especially since I can't seem to quit buying new running clothes and shoes.  Even funnier I am buying most of them for the size I will be post pregnancy.  Soooo I can't even wear them for another 12 weeks minimum lol.  I'm a weirdo I know.

Today was supposed to be a rest day from BestBodyBootCamp however, I woke up just wanting to run.  I've been wanting to badly to go for a long run, but I know my body and at this stage of pregnancy, good 'ol 3rd trimester my body isn't prepared for that pounding.  My dear husband, son, and I went for a 3 mile run walk instead.  Mile 1 was quicker than I've ran in a while 11:52 probably because I ran the majority of it.  Mile 2 contained a little more walking, but I still held my pace to a 12 minute mile.  The third mile however, baby was starting to pound on my dear bladder which required some extra walking, and then we ran past a few friends so we had to stop and talk.  I forgot to pause the garmin.  Oh well.  It was a great run.

 

 

I've been trying to make healthier dishes lately as well.  I always like to make healthy meals, but for a while now I feel like I've been making the same things.  I found a recipe on Madelines blog Foodfamilyandfitnessblog.com for baked oatmeal.  It makes a whole dish that you can warm up piece by piece for breakfast throughout the week.

 





It's delicious we had a little as a desert after my taco bake and corn on the cob dinner.  Greatest success my toddler loved it!!!  Made my day!