No Power; Cycle Power!

Well despite another crazy week last week, it turned out to be quite positive.


Cycle Power!

Yikes, I actually did it - I swallowed hard and coughed up for a shiny new road bike. I'm really glad I tried the smaller size as it fitted so much better. I realised as soon as I clambered on. I bought it on Saturday and headed out for my first ride yesterday. I was really lucky in many ways as when I got up with Murray, the weather was awful and I really didn't fancy heading out in the wind and rain, however by the time I headed out it was still v v windy, but the rain had abated and stayed off the whole ride. I must admit I nearly turned back home after about a mile as I was terrified!!!! I was on a major road and the x-wind was horrendous - I actually felt the bike leaning from under me several times within that mile. I actually stopped to gather my courage and told my self to toughen the hell up and get a grip. I seriously gave myself a talking to - "You've just spent a fortune on this bleep thing, now at least make it to Crieff!!!!" LOL. When I got to Crieff I took the back road to Comrie which takes a sharp left and so I was then into a strong head wind, but I can't tell you how glad of a head wind I was after that X wind. It helped of course not being on a major road. I got into my swing a bit then. Just like in running I really loved the uphills as I could get some power on without feeling rather afraid. On the way back I was really getting some speed on, but I felt like I had to back it off as I felt like I didn't have the technique to handle it. Quite scary actually. Frustrating too as you know that your fitness and strength could make you faster if you could just take your hands off the brake! I know how folk must feel skiing now! Any how I did 26 miles (hilly miles) in 1 hour 50 so I'll take that as a reasonable start, especially as my bottom was only just a little sore at the end and generally the bike was really comfortable. I think the thing I enjoyed the most was just being outdoors and exercising for longer than an hour and it feeling like a quarter of that time. I definitely think it'll be a good buy.


Feeling a bit wind swept, but happy - Murray loved teething on the rubber end of my water pipe!

My route so I remember was :
Muthill - Crieff
Crieff - Comrie on back rd
Comrie to Culty Braggan up Glen Artney
X over main rd and back to towards Muthill to 'Stinky Farm'
Left at stinky farm and down to Balloch
Right at main rd and left asap to Templemill
Left to join onto triangle route and then work way home. = 26 miles. Av: 14mph T= 1h50









So a good end to a crazy beginning.



No Power!

On Monday the weather was insane. Al and I were eating lunch (he had a random public holiday thank goodness) when the power went out so we thought we'd head out in the afternoon to take Murray swimming to get out of a cold, dark house. All was good until we left the Hydro to come home.The wind had blown trees down in the car park. Eventually once they had been cleared, we headed on our way home. As we drove up the main road, we could see a queue of traffic. We quickly realised it was a tree down and as I felt like we were sitting ducks to the bits of debris being blown around we tried to get home via the back road, but, yep, more trees down. By this time it was Murray's tea time so an emergency call to my mate Liz saw us at her house feeding Murray and waiting until the road had cleared which all things considered was very quick - 2 hours. She too had only just made it back from Comrie with her sis who was over visiting from Canada with her 2 small kids. When we got there Liz's son was just getting home from school with a mate who was stranded as his mum couldn't get through to pick him up, so it was a crazy full house! Thanks Liz!
Anyway we were able to head home about 6pm, but when we arrived we realised that the electricity was still off! Thankfully we were able to find our camp stove and use it to warm Murray's night time bottle and warm up some simple tea for us! All quite amusing as Al was here to help and we were safe and it was still a novelty. Not so funny in the morning when Al had to go to work and we still had no electricity! I packed up Murray's toys, travel cot etc; the entire contents of the fridge and freezer to stop them going off, and headed to my mum's asap! I'm v glad I did as it didn't come back on until 9.30pm. With all this going on I was quite impressed with myself for getting to swim group that evening - well it was definitely a better option than sitting in a dark house! Poor Al was getting just a bit fed up of reading by candle light when I got home and then the lights went back on!

I must say it would be rather nice to have a simple week of looking after Murray, work, put Murray in nursery etc and not have to deal with some form of illness or a ruddy power cut!!!!! At least life isn't dull I suppose!


So to sum up on my exercise:

Mon: 1 hour gym ~ 7 miles
Tues: 17 mins XT + 60 min swim ~ 7 miles + 40 mins pilates
Wed: 10 mins pilates (I forgot my arm weights to take to mum's so did it today!)
Thurs: 50 mins Pilates
Fri: REST
Sat: 55 min Gym ~ 6 miles (God that was a struggle to go - had to split everything into 10 min blocks and then 5 to mix it up!)
Sun: 26 mile bike ride (1h50) ~ 8.5miles + 3.5 mile hike
Total: 32 miles!!!!

This week's swim session was as follows:

10 lengths warm up
4 x 4 lengths 1min45
5x2 1 min
4 easy
4 x 3 1 min 30
12 x 1 30 secs
1/2 pyramid of 4,3,2,1
= 74
I then added 30 lengths on at the end of the session, so = 104 lengths = 2080 m ~ 5 miles

A Good Week + Road Bike

What a difference it makes when I have a healthy baby and hubby! Last week was a disaster - came home from Northern Ireland with a sick Murray. He had a rotten tummy bug which lasted a week and which he passed onto both his daddy and his nanna ( my mum). As my mum looks after Murray on a Wed when I go to work I was stuck home holding the baby as well as looking after sick hubby. It also meant exercise went out the window. However, in good old determined Kazza stylee I've bounced back this week to do the following:

Sunday: 70 mins gym (8 miles) + 10 min abs
Tues: 35 mins X - Trainer (4) + swim group - 70 lengths (4) = 8 miles + 50 mins pilates
Wed: 50 mins Pilates
Fri: 60 min spin (6)

I plan to do at least 60 mins at gym tomorrow so my min miles should be 29.

I am going a little crazy not being able to run. I went to a try a road bike last weekend and I kind of fell in love. The only prob is that they only had the second smallest size in the more expensive model (too expensive) so I need to get both the smallest and 2nd smallest sizes ordered in so I can try them both. Even then it is a lot of money to part with. That's another thing I love about running - it doesn't have to break the bank. Coming from a ski racing background it was a refreshing change not to have to spend a fortune on equipment! I'm sooooo torn. I'd looooooove to buy the bike and have something to train for, but even more importantly people to train with. It sucks so much being injured - you are so out of the loop. Life is bit lonely at the mo' actually because of the hours I work I can't meet up with mum friends - they work on opposite days and local baby groups are on the days I work too. I can't run so my sport friends are hard to meet and then because I'm the boss at work, my staff are fun, but it isn't the same. Ah well, that's life I suppose. It does make you uber efficient at work though. I worked like crazy all week so I could knock off at lunch today and go for a play date at Murray's friend Struan's house which was really fun.

Cracking Swim!!!!

I'm just home from swim group. It was really good and I want to write it down while I still remember it! I did 35 mins on the xtrainer (~4 miles) before the swim and then we did the following session:

Warm up: 6 lengths

4 x 3 lengths timed (under 1.30 including rest)
5 x 2 lengths timed (under 1.15 including rest)

2x recover lengths

6 x 1 length timed (under 45 secs including rest)

2 x recovery lengths

4 x 6 lengths timed (under 2.30 including rest)

Cool down : 8 lengths

Total = 70 lengths = 1400m (~ 4 miles)

I worked really hard - much harder than if I had been on my own and it was so nice to workout with others as I'm pretty lonely training at the mo'. I miss my running buddies so much, but at least this group gives me something to look forward to every week.

Crawling + Hiking + Wedding

Murray started crawling 3 days before his 10 month birthday. 2 day before that I caught him sort of shuffle crawl out of the corner of my eye, but as he wouldn't do it again, I wondered if I had imagined it. he did the same thing the next day and this time I think he made the connection between what he had done and what that meant (ie - get that toy over the other side of the room) and then before I knew it he was OFFFFFFFF!

Boy do I ever need 50 sets of eyes now, and I am even more glad of the play pen we had bought!

Hiking

Last holiday weekend we went hiking up to Glen Tilt. It was a great day out and Murray really enjoyed his first picnic lunch. He had a enough by the end right enough so the last 20 minutes were spent with me jumping out from behind the backpack carrier, shouting Boo. Exhausting, but he found it hilarious and so helped to take his mind off the last bit!

Right, off we go!

My first picnic!

 

Nearly Home 

Wedding

This weekend just passed we all headed over to Belfast for Al's cousin's wedding. It was a lovely day and Murray was a wee star. The Bride and Groom looked just lovely and it was a great chance to see family. I think Murry looked just gorgeous in his wee linen suit!

The happy couple!

Al and I with the new Mr and Mrs Nicholl

Above = The cousins! (L2R: Pip (groom), Emma (groom's sis), me, Al, Fe (Al's sis))

The First Dance - AWWW!

Unfortunately the poor wee mite has picked up a wee bug and was really poorly on our return journey. He slept practically the whole journey - which was a relief in many ways as he really wasn't a happy chappy when awake. He's only managed about 14oz of milk for the past 2 days and no food at all. Oh and the nappies -OMG!!!!!! I took him to the doc today, but as I had to tell him that 1000 ml (35 oz) wasn't the recommended amount for a 10 month old, I'm not sure what good it was! He did say that it was OK to keep giving regular calpol for the next 48 hours so I will be doing that, but it is a bit worrying the lack of fluid.

Random Pic of Murray petting a pony. When he saw it walking by his whole body shook with excitement and he nearly jumped out of my arms to go see it!

Exercise

I had a good week last week, which definitely helped me feel generally a bit more positive. I even went to a swim group which I really enjoyed, as it was nice to have other to exercise with. I've signed up for the next 10 weeks so I'm looking forward to it tomorrow.

Mon: 1 hr Gym + 10 mins abs + 3 mile walk (~10 miles)
Tue: 1hr Spin + 10 mins pilates (legs) + swim class (50 lengths - an easier first week) (~9 miles)
Wed: 35 min x-trainer (~4 miles)
Thursday: 1 hour spin (~ 6 miles)
Saturday: 50 mins Pilates
Total = 29 miles.

Penicillin and Photies!

I think the last time I did such little exercise was just after Murray was born! My sore throat and ear ache didn't get any better and even double dosing of Ibuprofen and paracetamol didn't dull the pain (of course teaching with a sore throat doesn't help) so by Thurs I got an appointment with the doc who prescribed a good dose of penicillin. It's pretty strong and I think it knocked me out the first 2 days, (well that's my excuse for falling asleep any time I was a passenger in the car). I think (fingers crossed) it is starting to take effect. Although still sore I can cope without paracetamol now and the throat is less sore than the ear so hopefully I'll be back to full health soon.

Murray has settled really well at Nursery and is a big hit! Mummy's very proud!

Some Cracking Photos!

Writing Mummy's First Mother's Day Card

Posing for the Paps!

Bathtime Fun!

Crazy Hair!

Mummy and Daddy took away my swaddling as I kept getting it wrapped around my neck! Now I like to roll around in my cot until I find a comfy position to fall asleep in. Sometimes it is face down, sometimes it's right at the bottom of the crib! Mummy and Daddy come and put me on my back in the correct direction once I've fallen asleep! They think the positions I end up in are hilarious!

Garden Fun with Daddy while poor mummy was at work. She was really sad not to be with us!

Mummy's 'tupperware' cupboard is great fun to explore in: she lets me go into the cupboard so she can do dishes or put a clothes wash on. She seems to love cleaning so I do a really good job of pulling out every tub, just so she can put them away. It's really fun!

My mummy's friend gave me this groovy Tour de France vest - perhaps I'll be the next Lance Armstrong!

Smiling!

GRRRRR to Bugs!

Exercise

1 x 1 hr gym + 10 min abs
1 x 5 mile run (bad idea)
2 x 2.5 mile walk with buggy
1 x 50 min gym session + 10 min abs
0 Pliates!

The week started off really well and I was all fired up to get in a good week. We went away for my birthday and I thought I'd give a run a go as Al and I could go out together. It was a total disaster. Pain levels were high and perhaps because of that I tripped, went A over T and quite badly grazed my elbow. All I could think, as I commando rolled in slow motion was, 'please let me not break my collar bone,' as that is what I did the last time I didn't pick me feet up enough!

I was knackered after going away, so could only face a walk on the Thursday. On Friday I nearly didn't go to the gym as I thought I felt blaaah, but we had a power cut and I needed a shower so thought I'd just go anyway - another bad idea: I was so tired I had to cut the workout short which I never do!

My sis was visiting on Sat ,so after lunch at the Hydro we went for a walk round the knock so Murray could have a sleep. Another bad idea - I was knackered after! My shoulders and neck were all achy and I had to take Ibuprofen! I was in bed by 9pm and thanks to a lovely hubby I slept until 9am!!!!!!! I then lay horizontal on the sofa until we had to leave to go to the Harriers' Eggstravaganza as Al was running and I didn't want him to miss it. It was a lovely day too so it was nice to picnic in the sun. I had to totally dose up on ibuprofen and paracetamol to cope. I was in bed by 8pm last night!

So, as I still feel pretty grotty and have work on Wed I am going to rest it up as much as poss in the hope that I will fully kick this bug as I am so bored of getting sick. I just don't do being ill. I think it is just such a waste of time! I'm not making any exercise plans and will only go walking if feel better or perhaps some pilates, but I really think I need a proper rest!


Nursery

Murray did really well at nursery on Thurs and Fri, although he was absolutely knackered after both sessions! He starts properly this week for full sessions. I think I've found it far harder than him. I'm embarrassed to admit I had a wee cry when I left him both days. Friday was the worst as the nursery assistant walked off with him looking at me over her shoulder and it just felt so awful. He was fine, but I just felt so sad! Tomorrow's job is to finish labelling the rest of his clothes! It makes him seem so old!

Birthday Break and Nursery + General Round up!

Today is my Birthday so as a really lovely treat, Al and I booked into a hotel and left Murray with my parents. It took all morning to get everything organised for Murray/mum (food, clothes, schedule written down, instructions for steriliser.......) and then we had to pack for ourselves. I was knackered by the time we left!!!! You don't realise what you do automatically! Anyway it was soooooooo hard to leave Murray, especially as he woke with a bit of a cold, but after about a thousand cuddles Al managed to drag me away!
We had a lovely stay / meal / few wines and probably the most enjoyable part, the opportunity to lazily watch some TV this morning with a cup of coffee in bed and not having to get up, make bottle, get Murray's breakfast etc etc. It was so lovely to get home though and gets lots more cuddles and big smiles on our return.

In the afternoon we went to Tiso to have a look for a down jacket as I got lots of vouchers to spend there for my birthday (as well as massage and hot stones treatment at my gym's spa). I've wanted a down jacket for so long. I tried on 2 that I liked, but they only had a size 10 in one of them so I couldn't get a proper feel for what it would look like, so I will have to go to another shop and then make my decision.


Lower Cot

It took Murray quite a while to settle tonight and one of the times we went to resettle him he had rolled onto his front - nightmare - we've managed to avoid this so far, but he's really getting active now - time to move the cot to the lower setting I believe!


Exercise

It's been a tough few weeks for exercise. Murray and Al were sick and that lasted nearly 2 weeks and as a result for those 2 weeks I think I managed to get out about twice. Then as soon as term finished I of course got sick (all teachers will know what I mean about the first week of hols curse). I was floored on the Saturday. Fortunately I didn't get it as bad as the  boys and felt a bit better already by the Sunday. I couldn't face exercise until Tuesday however. I did a spin and it kind of wiped me out, but by Fri I felt I could try to do another spin and this time I was able to push some of the intervals a bit harder. I was determined to get more than 2 workouts this week so got out to the gym yesterday after mass and thus managed to reserrect the week slightly with:
2 x 60 min spin (~12 miles from the 2 sessions)
1 x 3 mile walk with buggy
2 x 50 mins pilates (really tough after nopt doing much)
1 x hour gym session.

I'm determined to get a better week this week too.


Nursery


I took Murray for his first settling in day last Thursday. I stayed with him for half an hour and then sneaked away and left him for an hour. He was really good and apparently spent the time trying to catch the sunbeams coming in through the window and hitting the floor! He was so happy to see me when I got back his legs and arms shook with joy!!!!

He goes in tomorrow for 2 hours and 3 hours on Friday before starting properly for whole sessions when I'm back at work for the summer term. Although I'd prefer to be with him 100% of the time, as I have to work, I felt a lot happier leaving him this time than when I went to visit in Feb. He looks so much more robust now and I think it will be good for his socialisation. I think what I'll find hard tough is leaving him to go to the gym in addition to these times for work, I'll have to though as I just have to do exercise for my own sanity!!!!


Car seat

I was rather organised and got Murray's next car seat ordered a wee while back. As it turns out it has taken him longer tonhit 9kgs than I thought ( I need to get him weighed to see if he has reached it or not) so he hasn't been  out in the car in it.

Some Random Mummy and Murray Silliness!