SBF2 Reboot Boogaloo, Sept 6th

Happy Labour Day, pebbs,

Very flu-like again today. And, I'm having allergy hives (everywhere)..fun! I'm celebrating labor (labour) day by not labouring. Any sweating would be totally crazy-making. I'm trying to avoid Benadryl, but may end up there shortly. Which will mean I will not only be not labouring, but not awake. At least it discourages eating.

Better day tomorrow, boogaloo.:flowerforyou:

Hi all. It's been great to have a weekend to just relax. The weather has been cool and very fall-like. We went to the amusement park yesterday! I was feeling bad and didn't want to go, but my husband talked me into it and we had a good time. It wasn't very busy because it was a little chilly, so we hardly had to wait in line at all. I got a little bit of exercise walking around, and I played some DDR in the arcade. I am still feeling kind of down. I guess I have relied too much on work for feelings of self-worth, so if I'm not feeling satisfied or effective in that context, I don't feel like I have much to offer! I keep thinking that I need to get my eating in better shape, but then I keep turning to food to feel better. It was almost comical in the grocery store this morning - I had been feeling upset, and I kept going for the yogurt covered raisins or the Pocky or the No Pudge mix. Gee, think there's a connection there?

Mary, I'm sorry the retreat wasn't what you were looking for. That is a very interesting reaction to the breathing, though. Why do you think it bothers you? I have been thinking that I want to get more into yoga and meditation - it seems like what I need right now. But I need to find a new class since the sunrise one ended.

MM, how cool that you got everything ready for school! For some reason, they started school here on September 1, but I always think of the day after Labor Day as the first day of school (and end of summer).

V, hope you feel better soon!! :flowerforyou:

Labor day-bor, boogaloo!

Hi Pebbs,
I just wanted to let you all know that we got news from Moscow! We will receive info about another child on October 12. If we accept the referral we are to fly out and meet her the following week on the 19th! That is not enough time to get visas and book plane tickets (without paying a huge price), so we are going to have to start on that this week and just do it in faith that we will want this child. Oi. Craziness. So we find out in five weeks, and leave in six. :noway: Honestly I am not sure I am mentally or emotionally up to this but I know that God can work miracles in a very short amount of time. There was a verse I meditated on during our first Russian trip. Psalm 118:17: it says, "I will not die but live and proclaim the works of the Lord." I said that verse over and over and over while I was in Moscow. I had gathered 365 verses about fear and put them in a calendar. I knew Andrei was going to get the referral today so I looked up the verse for today and thought it was interesting that the verse for the day was that very verse! Coincidence? I think not.
Needless to say my mind is wired right now.
My goals for tomorrow are to clean house and try to work out for an hour. I signed up for another challenge on FB, and I really felt like I shouldn't have. But it was for a pedicure. :blushing: I don't know if I can stick to what I signed up for. I do have motivation to try to get weight off because I have to be able to fit into the clothes I will have to wear in Russia!
Oh and first day of school went well.

So it begins boogaloo!
MM

Morning pebbs,

I'm still searching everywhere for my lost mojo, and relief from the hives. They're probably (at least partially) stress related. Still waiting to hear my destiny for the year. I'm feeling overwhelmed by all my projects right now...isn't the home stretch supposed to feel invigorating? I did manage to do some brain work this a.m., but I just had to push into it. It all feels daunting right now, which is compounded by the uncertainty...sigh.

We've had just the threat of rain for days. Yesterday it felt like a storm, but it never arrived. Looks like you got it all down south. A foot of rain is pretty mind-boggling.

Anyways, I'm aiming for either weights at home or a weights class at the gym today, even though the hives are making me very uncomfortable (they're very heat rash-y...so sweat is particularly unpleasant.) Ugh. I've washed my entire wardrobe in unscented detergent in the hopes that it's some perfume sensitivity, but it feels like I'm itchy from the inside, if that makes sense) If they haven't subsided in a few days, I'll relent and go to the doctor. It's just embarrassing to be told "well, I think you're stressed out." Blergh.

That news is exciting, MM. And probably a bit scary.

Itchy moo, boogaloo.:flowerforyou:

Seems like so many people are sick right now, whether it's sinuses, allergies, or a cold. Hope everyone that's sick gets better fast.

I feel a lot better today, even though I didn't sleep too well. I guess I was too excited. I cleaned for an hour this morning, schooled Alex, walked for 50 minutes (2.5 miles) and then did some leg exercises and crunches. I think I slouch when I walk on the treadmill and that could be why my hip hurts. It feels like I am walking at an angle too. So I tried to hold my gut in and stand up straighter. It still hurt but I was able to walk until about 40-45 minutes before it started hurting. I would be so bored on the treadmill without movies on Netflix. lol.
Now on to the grocery list, putting laundry away, playing a game with Alex and figuring out what's for dinner. We have church tonight. I haven't been in a couple of weeks so I am looking forward to it.
It's funny that I feel better after getting good news from Moscow. I really don't think it's 100% related but it's neat how it coincided.
Feeling more energized boogaloo!
MM

Question: I've got a hankerin' for perogies (sp?). Do you ladies boil, fry or bake yours? I'd like to bake them but I don't know how. Or do you have a specific recipe that you use that you can share with me? Thanks! When I made some in January for the Russian party we went to I boiled them and I didn't care for the doughy texture. People ate them up though.
They aren't healthy I know but I really want some. I really liked the real things in Russia!

Good morning!
CP, hope you feel better soon and are able to get back on track. I am struggling with carbs (hence the perogie craving) right now. You are a rock (er...pebble) so I know you will get back on track. And yes I can't wait for October now. :happy:
Mary, I didn't really know what to say about you getting upset at yoga breathing since I don't do yoga, but I like what CP said.
V, how are you feeling today? Better I hope.
Bobbie, glad to see you. That's good that your boys are enjoying school so far!
Mummsy, hang in there! You can do it!:flowerforyou:
WL, how are you doing?
We heard from our agency again. She said we should not get our visas or book our plane tickets until after we get the child referral in case we don't want her. (That's a horrible, sad thought to not want a child.) So we will have to push our travel date to the 26th instead of the 19th, so we will have two weeks to get our visas. I could go into a lot of details about how it could work with just one week between the referral and traveling to meet her but it's kind of useless info to you guys. We did find out about Maria. Andrei went to check on her of his own accord. We had asked that they keep tabs on her in case things change and we can adopt her. Andrei said the grandmother is coming one in awhile and some times takes her out of the orphanage. So it is not an every weekend thing. It is just enough to keep Maria unadoptable. Andrei said he will still keep checking on her for us. Who knows? Something could work out. Without sounding disrespectful or mean, the grandmother is 75 years old. We obviously aren't praying the grandmother dies, but it could happen. We are praying that she will change her heart about Maria's situation instead. There are at least three children I want from Russia right now, and two of them I can not have right now. Hopefully we will meet the third in Oct. If any more kids from Russia touch my heart like these three then we will have to get a really big house! :laugh:
Rambling. Today we have school, grocery shopping (my list is made yay!), working out for an hour, and playing games. I also need to do some cleaning that I wasn't able to get to yesterday. The rain is mostly gone. I put a bucket out yesterday for about 4 hours and got 4 inches in it. That was just in four hours. Happy with it. My plants got a much needed drink.
Wow I'm chatty today! I guess I am feeling better!
MM

Morning pebbs,

Today I am declaring war on "the mopes" (as we call low-level depression/don't wannas in my house). I really have to try to stop this habit of pouting when things aren't exactly the way I want them to be. Especially since lately, that hardly ever happens. When I was on vacation, I was really relaxed and happy. But, my current lifestyle doesn't afford sitting around in cafes and window shopping all day long. I essentially apparently desire the lifestyle of an Italian person in a movie from the 1960s. I need to learn how to incorporate just enough espressos and art gallery visits into the life of a productive citizen to be happy. This is my new goal.

So, I still have hives, but I'm going to Zumba at 10.

I'm still un-informed about what I'm doing in as little as 4 days, but I'll do my brain work when I get home from Zumba.

All I want to do is self-medicate with carbs (current cravings: nutella and croissant or potato chips and diet soda or huge servings of pasta) but I will not. I made bison chili yesterday, and I will eat that and smoothies or veggies with cottage cheese pesto when I'm hungry.

I've been sitting around and pondering the fact that when I get stressed, I both consciously (through bad eating) and subconsciously (hives, anyone?) manage to take it out on myself. Lame. So, I'm declaring war on it.

Do it anyways, boogaloo.:flowerforyou:

Morning all. MM: I could take in every child I see. I LOVE kids and I know you are in a tough position. I can't imagine not wanting a child either but that certainly doesn't seem to be a problem for some folks out there.

I hope we all feel better soon. I don't have congestion or anything just sinus pressure and headaches. Ugg.

My goals for the week:

1. Log for 5 days, every bite
2. NO less than 3 liters of water a day (4 yesterday, woot)
3. NO unplanned food!
4. Walk at least 3 times for 40 minutes before Monday (Weigh in day)
5. Do a workout dvd that has some arm work twice before Monday (got one in yesterday)

I think that's it but I am not sure. I am praying that my motivation will come by making right choices that are healthy for me and get me closer to my goal.

Have a great day boogaloos! :bigsmile:

Mary, drink your water girl.
Mummsy, good for you! I blew it last night. My portions at dinner were too big and then we went out for ice cream which was really good!
V, how are you feeling?

I got my daily cleaning done, but I still need to mop and vacuum. Something died in the house. Nice. I'm getting rather tired of this. Nothing is keeping the rats out, whether it's electronic device, poison boxes, or traps. Even a cat. I hope we will get the stove pulled out this weekend and see if there is a hole.
My goal is to walk an hour on the treadmill, but if my hip hurts I will walk as long as I can and then do taebo for the rest of the hour. I am sore this morning from working out yesterday so that's kind of a nice feeling. I am also going to drink lots of water and try to stay away from the sweets. A friend brought over pumpkin bread yesterday. :grumble: I had some for breakfast...and a banana. I'm trying.
Going to do an hour of school with Alex. He did really awesome with it yesterday. Having a specific little chair and table for it has really helped. Oh and the OT might be coming by tonight as well.

Home smelly home boogaloo.
MM

MM: I am sorry about the stench. There isn't much worse than a rotting something stinking up the place. When I was at my folks last week, there was obviously something dead outside either in their front yard or their neighbors side yard. Uggg. It was AWFUL. Breathtakingly so. My dad can't smell so he was fine and dandy but the rest of us just turned green and ran to our cars when we exited! :sick:

VK: I always have to force myself to get my exercise in. I don't usually mind once I start but the couch and tv/computer is ALWAYS a better option in my mind. :devil:

Still trying to down the first liter of water. Somehow gotta get at least two more in! :noway:

waterlogged boogaloo! :drinker:

Happy Saturday!

Mary hope your class goes well!
V, I'm the same way about exercise.
Mummsy, did you get all your water down yesterday?

My plans for the day changed. I had planned on (with the help of hubby) to make perogies today. Instead we are going to work on our friend's brakes. Oh well. We're getting paid and we desperately need the money right now. Perogies will have to wait till tomorrow. It's only suppose to rain and be about 95* today. :grumble:
I started working out more consistently and I can tell my shape is changing in a good way. My waist appearance changed though I doubt I am smaller, it just looks less loose. :laugh: My thighs are also tighter so that's motivation enough to keep me going.
So goals today: try to stay hydrated, get brakes fixed, and maybe get a walk in this evening if we aren't gone all day.

Elbow grease boogaloo!
MM