The Power of Posture

It's amazing how life can get away from you. Granted, I do have two young kids, and it's been a crazy busy summer with 4 weddings to attend (plus 3 bachelorette and bachelor parties to go to/plan around) and two big parties held at my house between mid-May and second week of September, so...I guess busy was just to be accepted. Point being, I wrote half of this post in my head months ago, but never sat down to get it finished.

Rocking my new body

So, here goes. Back in February/March I was still having a somewhat rough time getting around. My pelvis was doing merely alright. I had been working on specific things that were supposed to help my abs heal from pregnancy and doing some light yoga regularly, trying to get my strength and stability back after rough SPD (symphysis pubis disfunction). That's basically a term that just refers to when your joints holding the several bones that make up your pelvis have loosened and become unstable. This can lead to lots of pain.

Some people (and I'm guessing these are the ones with only minor loosening) swear by a chiropractor to help them. Which, if you bones just end up a bit misaligned, makes sense. But, if you're overall plagued by constant shifting back and forth of your major stability center while walking, and getting up and down from chairs or floor, or going up and down stairs or any climbing...this really puts a damper on your mobility. And mine had improved after Jade's birth, much more and more quickly than after Legan, but not enough.

And, I didn't have consistent or very good insurance coverage, nor any real understanding of whether a pelvic Physical Therapist (PT) could even help me. I hear a lot about pelvic PT for incontinence or sexual issues after pregnancy and birth, but not much about healing up SPD, as most things I read suggested that it just magically goes away after birth. Yeah, no.

But, two things helped me to take a different approach, that seems to have finally worked, and helped me.

First, I have a friend with pretty severe Diastasis Recti (DR), which is a gap in your abdominal muscles in the front, it usually occurs during pregancy and can need help closing back up. I did have a slight bit of this with Jade. My friend had a huge amount of it after her fourth baby, and years later hasn't been able to close it up all the way. But, she has seen therapists for it and helped it some. While we were talking one day about how our pregnancies really made a mess of parts of our bodies, she brought up that she really needs to work on her DR more, and that she really does feel a lot better when she focuses on her posture.

Secondly, I read I think just ONE article that really tied in DR with overall pelvic issues. It got me thinking and wondering if I worked on my slight DR, if that would really help my SPD too. I figured at the very least, I would have one less thing really causing me problems.

I did some minor searching of things to do for DR, but found a ton of conflicting things. So I decided just to focus on one thing. Posture. Sitting, standing, and especially walking appropriately, with extra focus on using my transverse abdominus muscle to hold my lower belly in while moving. I started with just trying to focus on it when walking across a room or driving in my car, and gradually expanded it to the overwhelming majority of the time I am awake. Just trying to ask my body and muscles to put themselves in their correct places.

It really made a huge difference. Only 3 weeks after I started I could walk around my house and up and down the stairs and carry kids around for a long time without my pelvis aching. I think it was only 6-8 weeks after I started posture work I tried rock climbing again. I was able to get up walls. Still had a few moments where I was obviously asking my pelvis to work too hard (asking one foot to support too much weight when it was too far above or to the side of its normal alignment when standing still), but in general I could do it. After spending months trying other exercises, to have so much success in a few weeks of just moving mindfully and trying to stay aligned...I was over the moon.

I was able to start running.

And now it's been several months. Jade is a year old. And I am competing in a half marathon (ok, competing is almost a joke, I just want to finish without any injury) in two weeks.

I engage my core, I work on pulling my belly button towards my spine when moving around. I make sure it's not my oblique muscles doing it. I check that by swaying my shoulders and upper torso around a bit, side to side, while I'm holding my belly button in. The swaying shouldn't change up the transverse abdominus (TA) muscle, but it uses the obliques. If your obliques are holding it in and you try to use them to sway, it feels stiff and impossible to do both things at once. Also, your obliques exist from your shoulders down, whereas the TA is only waist down. I can mostly only feel mine engage below the belly button.

So, that was my secret. Standing with good posture.

It sounds so silly. But it really helped.

I'm not trying to tell anyone else NOT to see or listen to a doctor, but I'm offering something really easy you can try while you figure out who to see, or how to see them. I laughed at thinking of seeing a pelvic PT, because....they operate mostly during normal business hours, and I have two young kids and no childcare, and can't afford any, lol.

Posture to fix my "mommy belly." At least, mostly. The skin is still all stretched out scrotum style. I want to have a tummy tuck one day, even a mini tummy tuck even, to address that. But, for now I have not-sexy higher waisted underwear and pants to at least hold it still when I laugh or run so that it's not jiggling and irritating me.

***quick reminder/disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, physical therapist, or anyone accredited in solving birth or any other injuries. Just sharing the things that worked for me. ***

In the mean time, I've lost maybe only 4-6 lbs, but 2-3" around, and gotten stronger from our training runs and cross training.

I am strong again. Which is really what I care about.

Here's our stroller set up for running. I make my husband push, as it's 100 lbs altogether.

Sweet Jade being sweet

This summer has been a lot of weddings. Which not only

meant new heels for me when my trusty old ones died (spectacularly

I might add), but also Legan testing said heels out.

Fun at Illinois Railway Museum - kids love riding trains

Also first day of school (3 year old preschool)

Jade was excited for him too!

Preschool means bus stop, which means Jade's first babywearing umbrella experience.

Then Jade turned 1!!! Frosting goatee

She really thought this was all a good time

"Yay It's My Birthday" shirt with rainbow tutu. This girl is joy

Only Half-Crazy

So in the last few weeks, I have learned I can ride a bike, do some gentle indoor rock climbing, and run. My pelvis is at least somewhat more put together, finally.

I'm going to do a short post soon about what I think made the biggest difference there, but...this change brings us to a new thing.

I allowed myself to get talked into attempting another half marathon.

Now, the last one, I ended up with a partial tear to my plantar fascia (the band of tendon that runs from heel to ball of feet on the bottom), 3 months no weight bearing, months of PT and a whole year before I could run again. So, to say I'm a little nervous is an understatement.

Now, we're starting slower, increasing slower, I have different shoes and might get even slightly more supportive shoes soon, AND, and this is the biggest one, we're making a point to train on the same surface the run will be on. Last time we did our longest runs mostly on dirt, but the race was on asphalt and concrete. I'm hoping this makes a huge difference.

That all being said, we were training 6 years ago now and my body is not the same. And training is not the same. Either I have to wait to do my training runs until after the kids are in bed (or wake up to finish them before kids are awake, HAHAHAHAHA), or there's potential for Jade's second nap being cut short, running in the hottest part of the day, putting more stress into the already chaotic 5-8 pm chaos of Eric gets home, make dinner, do kid baths and bed rush, but get to run with Eric, and he pushes the stroller. I am too out of shape to run with the stroller at training level distances. Our huge double with kids loaded is 100 lbs. Our single which can hold both kids for me to run at least reduces that to 80 lbs and less ground resistance but...still. It's just not practical.

Running in hottest part of day and listening to Legan ask 1000 questions and argue all the answers as I struggle to keep my pace and breathe is...hard. Hard physically, hard mentally, hard emotionally. Just hard. Having to make sure I have dinner taken care of before Eric gets home (even if that just means making sure that we have leftovers ready, because cooking everyday is for OTHER people), kids prepped and ready to leaven upon his arrival (which varies by almost an hour, so that's fun), and missing out on the normal hour I have when he gets home that I like to spend dumping kids on him while I do some emergency house maintenance in somewhat quiet.....is hella hard. And so is running by myself in the dark, or by myself in the morning and losing sleep over it. So....idk. 

I'm trying, I'm really really really trying. But at this point in my life, running isn't mind therapeutic at all, because trying to eek out the time to do it, plus listening to even more of my kids' whining and questions is doubling stress. 

And bike riding as a form of fitness instead of either fun or occasional transport, that's new to me, and I don't think I like it. I have a super cheap mountain style bike, so lots of weight on my wrists and hands. Plus I'm just not great at it, so it's hard and stressful. Staying upright and in a straight line is work for me. Hills are bad all the way around - up is way too hard and down is way too fast and scary.

But cross training during run training is SO important to help avoid injury. So we're trying to get a family fitness bike ride in per week (kids in bike trailer behind Eric), and a yoga/strength training session in too for other muscle building, because you really want to put mulitple stresses on your body, so it adapts and gets stronger more evenly, which keeps you from having a strong muscle completing with a weak muscle, which pulls unevenly on joints and...causes injury.

So I'm trying. I really am. But I worry I may have bit off more than I can chew. 

Because I'm getting less kid free time and I'm adding more stress of all kids plus just being more tired. Hopefully it evens out as I'm only a week in. And hopefully my body reacts by getting stronger, and making it all feel easier. Hopefully Jade and Legan stop whining during training so much (hahaha). Hopefully I get better at time management or at least nap management to cut down on some of the feel of timing stress; or at least keep it from getting worse as workouts get longer.

Hopefully.

And hopefully, we can find people to hang out with the kids on the race route that morning, while we run. Because no strollers allowed in the race itself.

In the meantime....I'm just trying to keep it all together, somehow. 

More photos to come. I promise.

And the title...well, running a marathon is CRAZY. So running a half marathon? Only HALF-crazy!

So big

Eat the shower curtain!

Snacks at the pool

Couch selfie

The bike trailer, terrible photo

She just wants to go

another pose 

We're super classy, but, he has a helmet on!

Daily Grind

I'm not really sure why I'm typing this up. I feel like I should. So maybe it's helpful for me just to see it, or maybe it's helpful to someone else or read it. Or maybe I just get it out of my head and it stops asking to be written down.

They loved gyros, apparently

I wanted to just put a quick rundown of my basic routine with kids alone on my average weekday.

6:20 am, Jade wakes me up after probably getting me up 2-4 times the night before. Am tired. Nurse baby
6:30-6:45 Get dressed in clothes I laid out the night before, pee, have 5 min to chat with Eric while he chats with Jade too
6:45-7:30 ish. Go downstairs, get Jade into clean diaper, get my hair brushed. Get water. Try to have Jade entertain herself with toys while I spend a few minutes logging our night sleep, and take a couple to myself to stretch, grunt about tired. Touch base with on a mom forum or check Facebook notifications. Just waiting for Legan to get up
7:30-8 Legan is up. Fight with him for a diaper change, change Jade again, let dogs out, and try to get breakfast on table without stepping on anyone or Jade losing her crap
8-8:45 Eat real quick. Pick Jade's food up off floor a million times. Try to answer Legan's questions quickly and convince him to eat in less than an hour. Frequently, limited success. Then clean up both kiddos.
8:45-9, let them play for a smidge while I empty dishwasher, handwash the couple of things sitting from dinner, fill dishwasher, wipe down counter, table, and high chairs. Finish any coffee or Dr. Pepper of my own so I can brush my teeth. OR, if floors are critically dirty, make sure to vacuum in here.
9-9:25 Kid's teeth and hair get brushed, with only some help from them. Another round of diapers and frequently spraying out a Legan poop. 
9:25-9:45 Shuffle Legan and dogs into basement to play. Get Jade nursed, lay her in bed for nap 1. Lasts 35 min - 2.5 hours, lol. Usually about 90 minutes.
9:45-10:15 ish If I have clean diapers or clothes to put away, or didn't get to dishwasher or dishes earlier, now's the time. 
10:15-11:30 Legan time. Frequently this is when I start wash on a load of diapers. Very occasionally I have to fold a load real quick. If we're inside, play with him for a while in basement, let him play alone some too. If it's nice - GO OUTSIDE AND SCREW FOLDING DIAPERS. If basement floor is super gross, can sneak in vacuuming in basement while Jade naps.
11:30-12:30 Work on making lunch and inevitably Jade waking up in the middle of the process regardless of when I start it. Try to remember to change Legan, then get him seated and eating, change Jade, nurse her, throw her in high chair to pick at food while I scarf stuff down. Legan gets down first once I clean him. He gets 10-20 min to play while I clean up Jade and lunch remnants, plus make sure his room is set for nap-lay out naptime diaper, get white noise on, make sure his special blankie and froggy are in the room.
12:30-1:15 ish. Potentially change and spray out Jade poop. Get Legan changed again. Involves fighting and wrestling. Read 0-2 books depending on timing and amount of crazy that happens with diaper change. Jade joins us for book time. Then Jade and dogs go to basement to hang out while I nurse Legan and tuck him in. Should be out by 1:30, and sleep until 3:30/4. YAY. Get Jade's room set for nap (white noise and such) when I leave his room.
1:30 - 2 or 3. Play with Jade alone time. Right now we're practicing crawling or standing and holding onto stuff. If it's nice out, we can go outside for 30-60 min, or if I need to fold stuff by now, it's a great time. If her first nap was short though, she's usually down for nap 2 right after Legan goes down. That's a great day. If she woke up as lunch was finishing, then I play with her for a while, change her, try to get her entertained by herself so I can have some ALMOST kid-free time usually writing or just perusing Facebook or watching an episode of TV that she mostly ignores. 
2:30-4 Typically pretty alone here because usually both kids are asleep together for an hour. On bad days, Jade wakes up right before Legan goes down, and then is going down as Legan is waking up. Those days are hard.
4-5/5:30 Weird time of day. Eric is probably getting home soon. If cooking needs to be done, I'm rushing to do it while Legan is being obnoxious. Jade is likely waking up in the midst and gets a quick diaper and boob and rides on my back. If it's not a cooking day, we try to all go on a walk/play outside in nice weather. If it's crappy out, and I don't need to cook, I hide while Eric plays with kiddos and dogs. 


Here is where it gets really fun. Here's 2 different options depending upon naps. Sometimes kids are on different bed time schedules, in which case dinner is together and early, but 1 kid gets a long play time while the other kid and parent is starting bedtime. Generally Eric handles Legan (and I just have to nurse him at the end) and I handle Jade. I'm quicker at getting her cleaned up and dressed.

Schedule for bad bad bad nap day

5:30 Dinner. If we don't have time to feed parents now, so be it, Legan gets PB&J and we move on. When he's tired he takes like 30-45 minutes to eat almost nothing, but I have to try.
6:15-6:30 Brief playtime while dinner cleaned up and mom sets out pajamas, gets both rooms ready to receive kiddos, and picks out clothes for kiddos and mom for tomorrow
6:30 Start bedtime routine for 1 or both kiddos, whoever is going to bed early. Teeth brushing, diaper change, pajamas, books, hugs & kisses, then nursing and tucking in. It's the same for either kid, though we skip books if it's just Jade going down. She'll join in books if they're going down at the same time.
7:15 - tired kid or kids in bed. If one kid still up, it's basement playtime with Dad usually, but sometimes mom too.

Schedule for if naps were OK, so bedtime is roughly 8/8:15

Play until dinner
6:15 Dinner chaos!!!! Legan is usually in crazy mode by now. Jade is just kinda cranky in general. I try to nurse her before dinner, but sometimes it's too crazy in the house and she won't. Sometimes eating takes an hour because Legan is trying to talk and play.
6:45-7:30 Bath or play time. Depends on the day. Kiddos bath together. They love that. Or they play for a while with Dad or dogs. When nights start being warmish we'll try to alternate. Bath 1 day, play inside with Dad 1 day, family walk 1 day. Hair brushed after baths.
7:30 Start bedtime, teeth, diapers, pajamas, books. Best case, we do all those together, then I nurse Legan while dad gets a few extra minutes with Jade, and then I nurse Jade and both kids out by 8:15. If Jade gets too fussy, I instead nurse her during books and lay her down right before nursing him. Whomever can't hang goes down first. Hoping that once she's over a year and we can communicate a little better, and nursing is less her way of eating and more for supplemental nutrition and comfort that I can nurse them at the same time, and just have Daddy lay Jade down while I tuck in Legan....but we're not there yet. 

After they are in bed, it's parent clean up time. Make sure dinner was totally cleaned up, fill up and start dishwasher, parent showers, diapers folded and get in a little adult time via video games, board games or TV from like 9-10. Then get ourselves ready for bed, climb in by 10:30/11p. 

Jade wakes up for more feeds at either 11, 3, 5, OR 11, 1:30, 4, 5:30. 

I get not nearly enough sleep, and start over. 

Getting extra cleaning done happens during one of the solo kid play times. Errands mean waking Jade up after 45 minutes from her first nap (or making breakfast happen super fast and push her nap later). OR if she has a short second nap, run errands at 4 pm, and do leftovers for dinner. 

I try to some me time during nap time. Sometimes I have to do appointment scheduling or wool care or extra cleaning duties there. But I try to take time to myself because I'm in danger of losing my mind if I don't.

And it is exhausting, but there are so many hugs and kisses and smiles. But hopefully one day, there will be less naps and so less structured chaos....I think?

Modeling with her Jade bunny

We managed to see the best kite ever during a kite fest on a walk just a quarter mile from our house

The cutest ever duo in the best hats

These are messy fierce kisses

Somedays I even get bigger kid cuddles

She's trying so so hard, and she managed to learn to crawl

baby toes!

She has learned to pull up to her feet

Legan modeling the flowers from the wedding I was just in

White Person's Quick Guide to Racism

This all started because I made a Facebook post....on my personal page, and some people didn't like it or want to hear it.

Here's the post.

"If you don't think women, black people, brown people, Muslim people, the special needs, differently abled, LGBTQ.... people, and other marginalized groups all deserve the same basic rights and truly believe they aren't discriminated against...

You're wrong.

Also, white privilege is a thing. And the people in the marginalized groups are not responsible for educating you.

These things won't be debated on my page. If you disagree, you can block me.

ETA: One last thing. Please note that when you rant about Millennials being entitled or ruining pretty much everything, or about how all people on Medicaid are lazy scammers...that's me you're talking about. So if I seem irritated by these types of remarks - it's because I am. Because it's me, so it IS personal."

Let me preface the rest of this with saying these AREN'T my ideas. I'm paraphrasing so many other people I've read/heard. Mostly black women, some black men, occasionally a white woman, and even more rarely a white man. But don't give me credit for these words or thoughts. I'm just trying to boost the radar if you will, to get the message out further, and, in the case of some people, making the message more believable. So many white people won't believe the message from black people. So many honestly need to hear it from a white person, and quite frankly, I think we need to stop making black people responsible for spreading the truth and educating US, especially since so many of US don't listen to black people when it comes to racism anyway.

So, here it is.

Racism is real. And it's systemic, and it's a serious problem. And it's subtle at times - it's not always some idiot screaming how they won't stand for interracial marriage, or a black manager of a company, etc. Frequently it's just small little things like assuming that the black person isn't a homeowner, or not even noticing that your cutting them in line. Or maybe it's that lighter colored black people who use more "correct" language are trusted more.

Frequently, it's something systemic. More black people live in poorer neighborhoods (because systemically they make less, just like women do), and therefore they go to schools with less funding, with teachers who are paid less and don't have as many resources, therefore are less likely to make it to a trade school or college, and less likely to get a well-paid career, which makes them likely to get stay in a poorer neighborhood, perpetuating the cycle. And YES I KNOW this is true of some white people too. YES. But statistically it's more black people than white people in this situation. And statistically more white people have connections to higher up people who can help them get out of the cycle.

There are so many studies proving this. That being said, I'm not bothering to site all my sources. Because, STATISTICALLY white people are more likely to be reading this, and the point of me writing this is to try to encourage fellow white folks to educate themselves and take the burden of learning and making positive change on themselves. But I will remind you that I've read this in many many many places. 

But the most important lesson I want to impart here is that racism, and sexism, and many other sorts of discrimination, they have a common factor. Ok, probably several. Likely several. The one I'm most familiar with though is victim blaming. It's a common theme with rape (article here), and that crap reminds me of white people arguing with black people that such and so experience "wasn't about race."

Newsflash - if the black person says it's about race, they know better than you - because WHITE people don't have to handle racially charged experiences every single day of their lives. They can be taught that "racism is over" in school, and that it's best to be "colorblind" which just erases their feelings and experiences. 

Now, I don't want to make this about me. But I had a birth trauma. And so many people said "but baby is healthy, so it doesn't matter." That erases my experience. That tells me that my trauma doesn't matter. That tells me that my baby is more important than me, that I don't matter. Furthermore it tells me that when I get abused, I should sit down and shut up and take it for the good of others. And takes away my humanity. I wouldn't wish that experience upon anyone, ever. That being said though, my experience wasn't related to my race, and it doesn't show on my skin. It isn't repeated each and everyday, and it is something I can hide. Black people cannot hide their blackness. They can't escape it. Nor should they want to. 


SO if a black person or other POC (person of color, aka non-white) tells you that something was racist, BELIEVE them. 

If it was you that did the thing, and they're calling YOU out, this DOESN'T MEAN you are a horrible terrible person or that everything you do is racist or even that you MEANT to be hurtful. It means you made a mistake. You need to:

1. Apologize. Literally say something like "I'm sorry, I didn't know/realize _____ was hurtful/harmful/racist." Don't be defensive, this isn't about you, this is about any potential victims. Don't center yourself in it.
2. If it was someone you consider a friend, you CAN ASK something to the affect of "why/how is this harmful" or "have you heard of alternatives to (insert phrase you used here that you didn't realize is racially charged)." Now just because you can doesn't mean you SHOULD every single time. And asking does put some responsibility on them. If they don't want to explain, that's ok, they don't need to. If you DON'T know the person at all or very well, just skip this.
3. Let them know that you care with a statement to the point of "I will make note of this, look for other options, and make a point to change my ways." Don't say this if you don't mean it though. Also make a point to tell other white people (especially those close to you, but honestly anyone you can) that this action or statement is harmful/hurtful/affects people and is racist.
4. Actually follow through on trying to know better, do better, and teach better.

And know, that racism has even bigger ramifications for those with other marginalized status such as female, sexuality/gender, citizenship, mental health concerns, neutro-atypical status (such as being autistic), or having other "disabilities". I use quotations there because I DO NOT like that word, but in my reading on the subject and of the words of those affected, I haven't been able to find a consensus on a right word or whether there is a right word to denote the community of people who find themselves discriminated against that use wheelchairs, scooters, the blind, the deaf, etc as a whole. Therefore I use a word that I believe will be understood, but wanted to make the case that I do not wish to identify a group by a label or word NOT of their choosing. Either way, a black woman, or a black trans woman, or a latinx person in a wheelchair or a deaf Indian person or blind Asian person has difficulties with stereotypes and discrimination of their race and their other statuses - and has to cope with and handle the intersectionalities of their multipli-marginalized status. 

I feel it is my responsibility as a white person to attempt to spread the word and educate other white people and to encourage them to educate themselves. To teach them or at least try to talk them into teaching themselves to check their privilege. No one is trying to shame you for being white or privileged. And having white privilege doesn't mean you have all the privilege. Being poor doesn't take away your white privilege. 

I'm not trying to be self-righteous here. I am not perfect. I screw up. I make mistakes, I do racist things and I benefit from racist systems. I likely was able to have the great second birth I did because I am white. But, knowing is part of the battle. I do my best to note my privilege and use to help others. I try to speak against other's racist comments or actions. I try to educate myself on how to do better and how to spread the word and how to stop from stepping on black people and other people of color. What language to use, and how to make sure the black words are heard. 

So here are a few articles. Because these do matter. Here are some thoughts on what you can do. 
Learn better, know better, do better.

What is White Privilege

Checking Your Privilege

Pushing Back Against Privilege

And now, if you made it all the way through it, some kid photos. 

Spock enjoying warm weather

This is a happy Barley

Silly pooch

Legan helping Daddy mow

Jade helping Daddy mow

Silicone mat as a tray/catch for baby picnics

Legan wanted to check out the rumble seat

Cutest boy ever in self-chosen outfit in messy messy garage

Happy girl in just a regular shirt - no onesie under it, for the first time

Jade started taking apart the floor mat

First hair cut, just had to trim off one matted bit

8 months old!!!

Still two years old, and she thinks he's weird too

Another Car Key Saga

You would have thought I would have learned the first time. But no. The perfect storm happened again. At least this was a cheap issue - it only cost time, muscles, and dignity.

My mom had been staying with us for a few weeks, and she flew in. So, I had her keep my spare car key in her purse so coming and going was easier on all parties. No big deal at all - it just meant that it wasn't hanging up on my wall.

Then, because my mom is awesome and hasn't had a real break to herself without her mom, or my kids and dogs being all in her space and ears (serious noise and privacy pollution over at this house), I got together with her siblings and my sister and a friend and we rented her an RV and got her money to park it for a almost a week. She got to get out of here and relax alone by herself. Hooray.

So...while she was out doing that, I was working on taking care of some of my own crap. Like, I'm the Maid of Honor in a wedding soon. And, my dress lets my bra hang out. Because the straps are too long. My cheap sewing machine and my mediocre skills are not enough to solve this, so through a series of efforts I managed to call and schedule an appointment with a local (IN TOWN EVEN!) seamstress. She got me on the books right away because it's prom season and she's busy so she wanted dress in and out ASAP. Totally fair. So I get up the next morning, get Jade into a nap schedule that will probably make it OK, get everything together, stuff to amuse the kids for the 10 minutes we'll be there, and put on my spanx under my sweats just to make everything go smoothly while we're there. I pack up the bag with dress and baby things and a water cup (because toddler) and go to start the car, while I put coats and shoes on and plan to grab Jade from her nap and drop her into the car, because we'll only be gone 20 minutes. 

Did I mention it was the coldest day in two weeks? Yeah, it was like 26 degrees. And REALLY windy. And overcast. Just icky out. 

But I can't find my keys. There's not hanging up. They're not on my desk or in my pocket of my jacket or my pants or my sweatshirt from the other day. Haven't had them since I got home from the RV drop off....with two overtired sleeping kiddos. Shit. Check the car, check the basement. Text my husband in case he picked them up and they're in his coat pocket. Check car again. Check house again. Do this 4 more times. Give up. Shit. Call the lovely seamstress. Explain. Ask her if I can come in this evening (don't offer for tomorrow morning, because I might not have keys until my mom gets back into town.....just in case). Nope, she's got all evenings and weekends booked because of proms. Ok...can she wait thirty minutes? Sure. 

So now I'm packing up the kids into the double stroller. Loaded backpack and more water. Did I mention I had spanx on already? Yeah. And it's super cold. I put on a thick sweatshirt, but no coat. Kids going into their stroller bags (they're so warm and nice) and the canopies go up to protect from wind. Also, the location is .1.5 miles away. And my pelvis is not 100%. Either way, I don't want to inconvenience her anymore. Stroller, plus kiddos, plus bag is literally 100 lbs. Wow. And I am doing short jogs between. I'm sweaty. In spanx. And in the cold. 

We get there, I apologize, and it takes more time to get kids out, inside, undressed and then redressed and back into stroller than it does for my entire fitting. But she was gracious and patient. I apologized some more. 

Legan is now cranky because we passed by a park on the way. So I tell him we can can stop for 10 minutes on the way home. We get to the playground and it starts sleeting. I can't make this up. He is dressed warm, but not warm enough for that and he doesn't like sleet either. Back into the stroller, and canopies shift. I'm back to trying to get them back ASAP and not caring that I can't breath and my everything hurts. I'm shuffling with some hint of speed (on the not-uphill parts at least). Get back home. Now we were gone about 90 minutes total. And we're late for lunch and I have to change all my clothes and get stroller into garage because the bags are wet. Now Jade is starving, I'm exhausted and in pain...just etc etc etc etc. Kids at least go down for nap at the same time and I get a short break. Where I have extra comfort food and extra warm socks and the TV with no laundry or blogging. Just dog cuddling. I had wine that night and everything because I figured I needed the calories.

I must have. By the end of the week - I had lost my usual half pound (almost down to pre-baby weight!), so I most not have overdone it.

Kiddos all cozy in their stroller right as it started sleeting

Between bags and canopies they were dry once we got home...I was not

Eric gets home and we have a movie on - it's still sleeting and it's still cold and Legan is bored and I hurt everywhere. My arms and shoulders and back from pushing, and my legs and lungs and pelvic girdle from running/instability. He asks if I've found my keys yet. Lol, I was so pissed off and frustrated, I didn't even look after I got home. I knew the keys were somewhere at home. He found them, in a place I had already checked several times. So, I could have avoided the chaos. But...I had been up since 5 am and wasn't able to use enough brains to find them. I managed. We lived. But sigh.

And so...Easter photos!

Looking cute

I don't know why they were taking this walk, but it was so cute

He was so proud that he skewered the pine cone

Legan dyeing eggs - he was pretty independent about it

Kids sharing a swing at the park

We had a mini photo shoot because it was so nice and she was so cute

Getting ready for the park district Easter Egg Hunt

Getting chicken & fries after the hunt

Easter basket in the morning

Jade really wanted to eat everything

She was really into Easter baskets

Picnic lunch outside, feeding her on a silicone mat

Legan juggling just like daddy