The House of Gastro

I haven't been up to much lately, but I am thinking of submitting an idea to the yearly show for another horror attraction. I would call it The House of Gastro!

Apparently Christmas has come early this year..............

"Howdy Ho"

Thankfully it hasn't been me that has been effected by the dreaded poo bug, but the kids - all 4 of them!  To make it worse, they get it one by one.  Why can't they get it all at the same time and it all be over in a week?? WHY????

There have also been a couple of throat infections in there as well causing fevers and vomiting - it has been such an awesome few weeks, I just love it.

Apart from my lack of exercise, my food choices have been really, really bad so yesterday I went grocery shopping and have now filled the house with healthy foods.  I didn't buy any chips, sweets, chocolates, biscuits etc. much to the disgust of my husband.  I told him if he wants softdrink and biscuits he can buy it himself and eat it at work.  I don't want it in the house and the kids don't need it to be here either.

Today I have swapped this.............

For this............

AND I am making it a permanent part of my life.  I know that if I keep a healthy kitchen, I will keep a healthy body.  I don't care how much the kids and hubby complain that there's "no dessert" or "softdrink" in the house, I refuse to buy it from now on.  I mean what sort of example am I setting for the kids by having it in the house anyway?  Plus, it is so, so easy for me to just grab a biscuit instead of making myself a salad.

Even though I enjoy the salad just as much as the biscuit, the difference is the convenience of the junk cause it's pre-made.  Now instead of grabbing a biscuit, I can grab an apple which is 1000 times more satisfying anyway - I am such an idiot, why am I just learning these simple, healthy lifestyle tips now?  I can't believe how long it has taken for it all to finally start sinking in.

I do owe my epiphany to a good friend of mine (Me from My Journey - Am I There Yet?).  Thanks to a conversation between us the other day, she made me realise something extremely significant which has greatly been effecting my attitude towards food that I didn't even know was happening.

Thank you so much Me, I love your support and the encouragement you give me to make myself a better version of what I am now xx

Please tell me if you have had a complete brain and kitchen overhaul.......

• Did / does your family complain about the changes to the food?  
• What's something you have given up and never looked back?
• How do you cope with your new lifestyle changes when cravings hit?

 

101 Personal Goals List

Number 5 on the list : Go Hiking with the family.  It's a little to hard to go on a proper hike with 4 kids and I don't think the hubster would ever go on a proper one with me, so I have learned to compromise, well I have had to compromise otherwise I will never get anything on my list done.

While we were away on holidays, we went to most of the sight-seeing things they had available and one of those things was a lighthouse.....

Cape Schanck Lighthouse

We were a little early and the lighthouse tours weren't opened yet so we decided to go for a little walk and check out the scenery.....

We opted for the Loop Return to Carpark and the scenery was breathtaking.  Here are a few snaps :

everyone except me cause I was taking the photo

view from the track

Holly, Hayden, Ava & Christian

another view from the track

the longest set of stairs I have even seen

at the end of the loop and back near the lighthouse

Everyone enjoyed the walk so I am thinking I can use the experience as a stepping stone towards another walk/hike thingy - who knows??

*Weekly Circuit*

I have decided to include a circuit (which is to be done 3 times a week) into my fitness regime.  This weeks choice is the 90 Day Transformation which comes from The Reality of Skinny.  

P.S. Look at what has finally hit the stores in Melbourne!!!!!! 

I am loving the pineapple flavour, followed by the peach and look at all that protein - 12.4g per 170g tub and only 162 calories :)

Getting the family involved.......

• Does your partner/family enjoy doing the same things as you?  For example, hiking? 
• If no, How you do you get them involved?
• Vanessa at Gourmet Runner has suggested bribery!
• Do you have any other suggestions for me?

The Cranky Wife

You've heard of the Good Wife?  Now meet the Cranky Wife!  The picture below sums up exactly how I felt yesterday.......

I wasn't in the best mood yesterday after a bad swim and the day just seemed to get worse.  I only swam 1 km and I am happy that I did, but I also felt really disappointed in myself for not finishing the 2 kms that I normally swim.  I told myself that I will do an extra little treadmill workout later which made me feel better.  

To save your eyes and brain from reading the biggest vent of all my blogging time ever, I have done a more to the point and shorter version : 

• The kids have put all sorts of things in the treadmill, which have all made it down near the motor
• I asked the hubster to pull it apart and get all that stuff out for me about 3 weeks ago

 

• Yesterday he had a day off so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for him to do this for me ~ he didn't do it
• I don't want to risk something getting jammed and burning the motor out cause.....
• I might have to use something like this.........

• the poop man Hubby rolled out of bed at 1.30 pm 
• I asked him if he could fix the treadmill
• He made some comment about me not using it for weeks
• This really annoyed me
• I haven't used it for 3 weeks because of all the stuff in there that I need removed
• I could feel myself starting to boil inside
  

• fart features He was finally out of bed and could watch the kids while I went grocery shopping
• I was mistaken!  
• I hate taking the kids grocery shopping
• I told them they couldn't come
• 3 little volcanoes appeared, there were tears and screams erupting from everywhere
• I was then called certain unpleasant names for upsetting the kids like that
• I'm pretty sure the name caller got a look similar to this......

• Idiot Hubster suggested I take Hayden as well to help me
• Now I am taking 4 kids shopping (years 12, 5, 4 & 4)
• Hayden ran into the back of my foot with the shopping trolley
• It really, really hurt

• After around 30 mins I'd had enough
• Kids were fighting and screaming and demanding every bit of rubbish they could see
• When I stopped at the checkout (2 trolleys) Hayden ran into the back of my feet AGAIN
• Both my heels were now bleeding
• I am pretty sure he got this look..........

• I felt like total rubbish
• I was crying
• It's really hard to cry secretly in the middle of the supermarket
• I wanted to runaway and hide somewhere
• Here looks nice..................

• Or here............

• When we got home I started unpacking all the groceries
• The kids wanted a snack
• I told them to wait until I had finished putting everything away
• This didn't sit well with fartarama hubster
• He made some comment about why couldn't they have it now or something
• I just lost it with him.........

• Lets just say that pig farts hubby disappeared with the kids pretty quickly
• I don't explode very often, but when I do, it's best to just leave me alone for a bit

I've been thinking about it all night and none of what happened yesterday was terrible or devastating enough for my inner beast to emerge which means there is an underlying problem that is making everything seem worse.

I think I am still angry at Alan for organising his mother coming to visit (in 5 days time) for a couple of months without talking to me about it first.  I've got his sisters ringing me wanting a copy of her airline ticket, which I don't have cause shit for brains Alan booked it, then they are asking me where she (mother-in-law) will be sleeping?  What will we be doing? etc, etc, etc.

I have enough going on already and I don't need to be taking care of someone else for that long.  I wouldn't even have my own mother stay with me for that long, but when it's someone that you feel you constantly have to impress and be the perfect housewife around, it just makes it all worse.  Plus, I am still really annoyed that she will be coming on the beach holiday with us.

I know I sound totally petty and pathetic, but this is the only place I have that I can come and say what I really want to say and get everything off my chest.  Thanks so much for reading and putting up with me :)

I know I'm being a total bitch, but..........

• Do you take your kids grocery shopping?
• Do you vent and explode or do you communicate like a normal person should?
• No matter how well (or not) you get on with your mother-in-law ~
• Would you want her staying with you for months?
• Would you want her on holidays with you?

The Mysterious Monster

First lets start with the workout - there was none, well not yet anyway.  The alarm went off at 5.20am and as part of my normal morning routine, I hit the snooze button.  The alarm then goes off again at 5.30am, which is when I get out of bed.  Well, that didn't happen this morning.  I turned the alarm off and went straight back to sleep until I was woken by thunder a little later on.

I know there are no excuses, but but I had the crappiest sleep ever last night.  I fell asleep around 10ish out of boredom from listening to my husband rabbit on about all his grievances he has with me because I was so tired and I was awake again a little after midnight.  My mind was racing with a million different thoughts and I couldn't get back to sleep.  I had to call on Kath Day-Knight for some help!

"If anyone needs me, I'll be going inside myself outside"

"OK Kath empty your mind, empty your mind, empty, that was quick"  Yes, that's what I had to do to get back to sleep and it was after 1.30am.  

*The Mysterious Monster*

I was woken again a bit after 2am - there was something on my arm.  I woke up to the feeling of something crawling on me!  It was disgusting and gross.  Whatever it was I grabbed it and hit it against my bedside table.  I could not get back to sleep cause every time I felt a twinge I thought it was another monster.  After about 5 mins I got my phone to use for light, but still couldn't see anything.  Next I got up and turned the light on.  I pulled the bed apart looking for the monster, which I am thinking may have been a spider.  There was nothing in the bed, there was nothing on or near the bed side table, whatever it was must have limped away to hide.

Now that I was wide awake, my mind started racing again and it was nearly 4am before I had to rely on Kath Day-Knight to get back to sleep.

*Mind Racing*

I think my thoughts have overtaken my mind at the moment because arse features the hubster knew I was furious with him last night and I think for good reason.  He on the other hand thinks I am being unreasonable.

I had to pop out last night to the grocery store and when I got home, my son informs me that Yia Yia (grandma aka mother-in-law) is coming to stay for a month or two.  I don't really mind, I like her and we get on, but it would have been nice to have been asked about it.  What really tipped me over the edge though is that she is arriving the week before we go away on our beach holiday and she is coming with us.

This holiday is the first we have been on in 3 years and it's a chance for us all to just relax and enjoy ourselves.  I can not relax around the mother-in-law.  I don't feel like I can just hang out in my PJ's till lunch time or just throw a slap-together-in-5 minutes-dinner on the table.  She is a huge cook and she is happy to just stay in the kitchen cooking from the moment she wakes up till she goes to bed - that is not me, but I feel like I have to make much more of an effort with everything when she is around.

I have 4 kids, 3 of which are still young and like to make a mess (5 yr old and 4 year old twins).  I let them make a mess with whatever they are doing at the time, such as food or playdough and I clean it up when they are finished playing or eating.  The mother-in-law follows them around with a dust pan and brush sweeping up every little crumb that they drop - this drives me insane.  It makes me fell like I have to do more.  I really wanted to relax on my holiday not feel like I have to be Anthea Turner.

Anthea Turner also known as - The Perfect Housewife

I don't know?  What do you think?  Am I being unreasonable?

*Regrets*

I am really regretting not getting up and getting my butt moving this morning, but I just felt blah about everything.  I am feeling much better now after a yummy yoghurt bowl and I will definitely do some sort of workout a little later.

yoghurt bowl with apple (still in progress)

finished product - with apple, Nesquik cereal & muesli bar

We're All Going on a Summer Holiday

I am sooooo excited!!  Hubby booked us a nice 5 night holiday this morning.  The only bad part is that I have to wait 9 weeks till we go.  Because I am such a nerd so excited I sat down this morning and made a list of what I will need to pack, including our meals.  

The only thing I want to buy before we go is one of those beach tents.  I burn hanging out the washing so the last thing I want is to hang myself in the sun allll day, plus I would like to have some sort of shade for our packed lunches - my goodness! I sound so sad, it sounds as though I don't have a life, but when I plan lunches for a holiday in 9 weeks.......well what can I say?? :)

This is what our holiday should look like 

This is what our holiday should look like at sunset

My goal is to lose 10 kilos before my holiday, that way I will feel comfortable in my board shorts.  They fit now, but are a kilo or 2 too snug for my liking SO, if I push myself, work hard, really focus on my food and tracking then I should be able to lose enough kilos to make my shorts baggy on me.  I prefer things loose rather than just fitting or snug. I know 10 kg is a big ask and I really don't expect to get the whole 10, but I am going to push myself as much as possible and do the best I can.   

This reminds me of Sammy's board short challenge for her Bali trip.  I think I will go and take a photo of myself in the shorts (not for public exposure though, too scary) and then I will take a photo the day before we leave for holidays.  There will be a big difference.  I was going to write hopefully a big difference, but Michelle Bridges says you are not allowed to use those words - hope, wish, try etc.  Michelle says you must state "I am, I will, I can."  Pretty good advice I think!

*Workout*

I have been working out, but not too much.  I cough most of the time and after about 20 mins I start to feel really sick, but as long as I can manage the 20 mins I will continue doing it and hopefully in a couple more days I will be able to increase the time to at least 30 mins.  I am thinking a trip back to the doctors is in order though, the antibiotics don't really seem to be doing much and it's been 4 weeks now.  I might ask for a chest x-ray cause I know there is already a lot of scarring from the pneumonia and maybe there is something else going on in there?

 

Big Plans, Little Motivation

**WARNING**  This post is a little gross, but if you have ever had sick kids you should be OK!

I had big exercise plans for this week.  I sat down last week and planned what I would be doing on the treadmill for the upcoming week.  It looked like this :

Sunday 9 October 2011 - Saturday 15 October 2011

• Sunday : incline
• Monday : incline & speed
• Tuesday : speed
• Wednesday : incline & speed
• Thursday : incline
• Friday : speed
• Saturday : speed

Looks simple enough?  Well so far, this has occurred..................

 This sums up exactly how I have been feeling :(

 

It's not because I don't want to do it, but I am just soooooo tired.  The kids have been sick since last Thursday.  I can't even remember how many pairs of underpants Christian went through!  Then Ava woke up at 2am vomiting and I was up with her till 5ish.  Every 20 mins she would wake and puke.  I had that special mummy alarm and every single time she moved I would jump up and grab that bucket whether she needed it or not resulting in no sleep for me.  

This has been going on since last Thursday with Holly and Hayden joining in as well.  I think I went without sleep from midnight till about 5 am Thursday through to Monday.   It was like a production line.  Clean up vomit, clean up poo, move onto the next kid and repeat.  The kids all seemed better yesterday and slept through the night, but I didn't, I am now the one who is up all night in the bathroom with a bucket.  I love how the kids just sleep through it and how none of them get up to help me.  Luckily though, I make it to the bathroom in time and none of my sheets need changing :) 

The kids are still not 100%, the vomit has stopped, but other end just keeps on going with them and it is driving me crazy.  Poor Hayden ended up with a face full of vomit the other night.  Christian leaned over the edge of his bed (bunks) to vomit and it landed on Hayden's head.  I was already up with Ava and her bucket when I heard something coming from the boys room.  The next minute Hayden walks in with vomit dripping from his hair into his face.  He was close to tears when me mumbled "Christian vomited on me", I couldn't help but laugh.  Unfortunately, Hayden didn't see the funny side at the time, but at least he laughed about it later - after his shower.

The worst thing about all of this is the lack of sleep = lack of motivation = lack of desire to eat well and all I want to eat is....

......this

Today I had the biggest urge to just guzzle 5 litres of coke, but I resisted and had water instead.  Also, I have no desire to cook anything healthy for myself, but I forced the issue cause I knew that with my lack of exercise, the last thing I couldn't afford to do was to binge on all things sugar.  I steamed up a pile of veggies the other day and they have been a quick and easy go to dinner.  I just re-heat and eat.  I have discovered that the veggies are delicious with a sprinkling of shredded cheese (melted on top) and a drizzling of Ranch dressing.

I am also lacking any desire to jump onto the treadmill at the moment.  I think I just need a good night or two of sleep and everything will be back to normal - I hope!

My motto for this week is :

Home Decorating - While I was Sleeping

"Look at moi, I've got one word to say to you, Pinterest".  It is soooo addictive and such a time waster.  I just love it and I can't believe it took me so long to catch on!  It is great for all types of things, inspiration, home decorating, organising ideas, food, the list just goes on.  

Basically I can find anything I want, pin it to one of my many boards and it's there forever.  Easy access to all the things I love, such as my Home Decorating Ideas.  Unfortunately my husband will never have doesn't have Pinterest, he's just not a pinning type of guy.  He is however, a horse man.  No, he doesn't look like one,  he just loves the animal, maybe I could open a Pinterest account for him and just fill it with horses.  He hates loves how I know the passwords to all his stuff, like his facebook account - I love changing his profile info and picture to something really embarrassing when he's at work - I think it's hilarious and I just can't understand why hubby doesn't think it's funny?????  He can try and change his passwords, but they always have something to do with his football team or horses - so predictable mwuhhahahahahahahah!

Anyhooo, totally digressing, my husband obviously doesn't have access to my home decorating ideas because when I got up this morning, I noticed a couple of changes in our kitchen - "noice, different, unusual"......

Here are some more home decorating ideas by my husband that you may enjoy :)

Calendar near computer

Also near computer

Kitchen Decor - mmmmmm

Gooooo Buddy!!

Doorbell  speaker thing in kitchen

Please, please don't be jealous of my husband's decorating abilities.  I am sure 100% positive it is very easy to replicate and anyone can have this look.  All it takes is a little imagination!