It's been a while!!

Wow!! I can't believe I haven't posted on here in over a year and a half. Life got in the way, I suppose. So much has happened since March 2010:

I got a job!! I've been working in the Admissions Department at Concordia University since July 2010. I love my job and my co-workers. I'm sad I'm not able to stay home, but realize that sometimes we have to do things we don't always want to do for the better of our family. I'm still holding out hope that one of these days I can stay home, but until then, I couldn't ask for a better job!

Our family is growing!! Troy and I found out we were expecting in April 2011. After everyting I went through with the miscarriage in 2009, we were very nervous but cautiously excited until we knew everything was ok. I'm happy to say that at 24 weeks pregnant, everything is going smoothly, and we are expecting a baby boy!! Estimated due date is December 26, 2011. Sydney is thrilled to finally get the opportunity to be a big sister, and can't wait until December to meet her baby brother! Here are a few pics of our little man:

Sydney started Kindergarten!! Wow! I can't believe my baby girl is old enough for school. She absolutely loves it, and can't wait to get to school each morning. I'm so proud of the young girl she's grown into, and can't wait to see what this year holds in store for her!!

We've definitely had a lot of changes in our family over the past year, all for the better! Hopefully I can update my blog more often than once a year, but we'll see how that goes!! Love to all!

Jenny

I did it!!

I am so very happy to say that I completed my first 5K race this past weekend!! It was such a huge accomplishment for me, considering I only started running a little over 3 months ago. My official time was 32.56 minutes, and I'm happy with that since the trail had lots of hills! Troy and Sydney came along for moral support...it was so nice to see people cheering me on as I ran! Thank you both for your support, I couldn't have done it without you! Here are a few pics Troy took of me on race day.

Before the race

Just getting started...

The finish line is in sight!!!

After I completed the Couch to 5K program, I slacked off on my running and hit a little wall. The race gave me the push I needed to get back into my groove. I love the feeling I get after a run, and I love what running has done for my body!


Tonight I'm starting an 8-week program to train for a 10K. I realize I need a goal to work towards or I'll just hit that wall again. My run tonight is only 1.5 miles which doesn't sound like anything, since I'm so used to running 3 miles at a time. I have a feeling it's going to be hard to stop when I feel like I should keep going!


Thanks again to all of my family and friends...your kind words and support keep me going!

Love to all,

Jenny

Couch to 5K

I guess I should start every one of my blog entries with it's been a while, because, well...it's been quite a while since our last update!!

In my never-ending quest to lose the last 20lbs of weight I gained with Sydney (3.5 years ago!) I started looking at my options. I wanted to do something that would jumpstart my weight loss, help me to get fit and healthy, and to give me some much, much needed "me" time. I decided to go with the Couch to 5K program. I've never been a runner, but decided to give it a shot. Basically, it's an interval training program designed to get just about anyone from the couch to running a 5K in 30 minutes in 9 weeks. You run 3 days each week, with a day of rest in-between.

Here is an outline of the 9-week program. Each day had a 5-minute warmup and a 5-minute cooldown. I've also included my completion dates.

Week 1
Day 1 (Completed 12/7/09)
Alternate 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes
Day 2 (Completed 12/9/09)
Alternate 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes
Day 3 (Completed 12/11/09)
Alternate 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes

Week 2
Day 1 (Completed 12/15/09)
Alternate 90 seconds of jogging with 2 minutes of walking for 20 minutes
Day 2 (Completed 12/17/09)
Alternate 90 seconds of jogging with 2 minutes of walking for 20 minutes
Day 3 (Completed 12/19/09)
Alternate 90 seconds of jogging with 2 minutes of walking for 20 minutes

Week 3
Day 1 (Completed 12/22/09)
Do this twice: Jog 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, jog 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes
Day 2 (Completed 12/24/09)
Do this twice: Jog 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, jog 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes
Day 3 (Completed 12/26/09)
Do this twice: Jog 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, jog 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes

Week 4
Day 1 (Completed 12/28/09)
Run 3:00, walk 1:30, run 5:00, walk 2:30, run 3:00, walk 2:30, run 5:00
Day 2 (Completed 12/30/09)
Run 3:00, walk 1:30, run 5:00, walk 2:30, run 3:00, walk 2:30, run 5:00
Day 3 (Completed 1/2/10)
Run 3:00, walk 1:30, run 5:00, walk 2:30, run 3:00, walk 2:30, run 5:00

Week 5
Day 1 (Completed 1/4/10)
Alternate 5 minute jogs and 3 minute walks for a total of 20 minutes
Day 2 (Completed 1/6/10)
Jog for 8 minutes, walk for 5 minutes, jog for 8 minutes
Day 3 (Completed 1/9/10)
Jog for 20 minutes with no walking

Week 6
Day 1 (Completed 1/11/10)
Run 5:00, walk 3:00, run 8:00, walk 3:00, run 5:00
Day 2 (Completed 1/13/10)
Jog for 10 minutes,walk for 3 minutes, jog for 10 minutes
Day 3 (Completed 1/17/10)
Jog for 25 minutes with no walking

Week 7
Day 1 (Completed 1/19/10)
Jog for 25 minutes with no walking
Day 2 (Completed 1/21/10)
Jog for 25 minutes with no walking
Day 3 (Completed 1/24/10)
Jog for 25 minutes with no walking

Week 8
Day 1 (Completed 1/26/10)
Jog for 28 minutes
Day 2 (Completed 1/29/10)
Jog for 28 minutes
Day 3 (Completed 1/31/10)
Jog for 28 minutes

Week 9
Day 1 (Completed 2/2/10)
Jog for 30 minutes
Day 2 (Completed 2/5/10)
Jog for 30 minutes
Day 3 (Completed 2/7/10)
Final workout!! Jog for 30 minutes

To date, I've completed 6 weeks of the program and will be moving on to week 7 tonight. I'm excited because I won't have any more walking intervals from here on out. I haven't lost any weight, but I have noticed a change in the way my clothes fit. I'm just hoping that my body is building muscle at this point, and the weight will start to come off in the near future.

I never thought I'd be a runner, but I find myself enjoying it much more as the weeks progress. When I started this program, I was stressing about making the jump from 90 second jogs to 3 minute jogs, and now I'm running for 25 minutes at a time! I'm proof that C25K really works, and I can't wait to sign up for my very first 5K! I couldn't have done this program without the support of Troy and Sydney. Thank you both very much!

Until then, happy running!!

Jenny

What's your hurry.....?

Hello again our faithful followers! Today's topic.....Growing Up. Follow me for a minute..you'll see where I'm going. So, as most of you know I wait tables as a side-job a few nights a week. Right around the start of school we were getting the families in with their kids after the first few days of school. In an effort to make conversation I'd inevitably ask the kids how school is going....with the typical response of "Good". After a few more probing questions they start to talk about how they can't wait to get out....or can't wait to just go to college and party....or just can't wait to get a job. So, I do the polite thing...smile and nod, and walk away to get their Strawberry Lemonades and Chips/Salsa. In my mind...I want to scream "WHAT'S YOUR HURRY??"

Let's flash back several years for all of us....we all remember being in school and saying the same things...we can't wait to get out of school. Well, now that we're all out...what do we want to do?? Go Back To School? Whether it's to get a Master's Degree, finish our Bachelor's degree...or just go back to naptimes and recess....everyone that has a job realizes that it's way over-rated!! What's wrong with kids today? They seriously need a reality check.

All that being said....I find myself in that boat with our daughter, Sydney. When she was just a wee lil' baby, we couldn't wait for her to walk and talk....well, didn't know what we were in for. The only time she's not moving or speaking is when she's in her sleep....however, she seems to have inherited my "sleep-talking" gene, so really there's not much of a break. (Let me take a moment to sincerely apologize to Jenny...basically she doesn't get a break from either of us talking...Sorry baby!) Don't get me wrong....I love running around with her and listening to her stories about a princess getting chased by a horse in a car and then a dragon swooping in from nowhere. However, when I'm trying to get into a really intense episode of The Office, or So You Think You Can Dance...it's just not the right time. I find that I was in such a hurry for her to grow up that I didn't appreciate the silent, motion-less baby of years ago!

To try and wrap this random entry up...those who follow me on Facebook might remember a few weeks ago when Sydney told me on the phone "Daddy, I'm having a bad day". She's 3 years old...how bad of a day can it be?!?! I remember thinking how grown up she sounded as she told me that...and instantly I wanted to hug her and tell her to just slow down. I know she can't be a little kid forever.....but I'll do my hardest to make sure she enjoys her childhood...and even harder to make sure I enjoy it just as much!

On one final note.....I had no comments from my last entry about stories from the world of waiting tables...so I'll keep all the good stuff between myself and Jenny! Happy Friday all!!!

So..nothing new

Well, I kinda felt like I should get on here and update everyone on what's going on with The Storms....after all, that's what this blog is about right? Well folks...you're not missing a whole heck of a lot. Sydney is still doing well on the potty...for the #1 incidents. #2...well, it's a stinky situation that involves lots of laundry. But, patience will prevail... Jenny is still continuing to get her monthly blood draws. Apparently things are fine because I haven't had any calls from the doctor "...wanting to explain things to me because Jenny was a little upset and might have missed some facts". Ahh...that was a stressful day for all of us! Regardless....I'm glad that she's healthy and things are good! On the job front....well, she's still looking. I know out of the 3 people a year that look at this blog...one of y'all have to have a decent job lead for her! Remember the whole 6 degrees of separation to Kevin Bacon?? Come on folks....someone has to know Kevin and I'm sure he needs an assistant...right?

So, I've got something else that I want to start blogging about on a semi-regular basis. I'm reading a new book based off of another blog I've started reading. It's a book called Waiter Rant. It's essentially about a guy who waited tables at an upscale bistro in New York...talks about his experiences and in a humerous and story-telling fashion...is basically giving readers who haven't been in "the biz" an idea of how to not end up with a little spit in their food. So...I was kinda thinking about kicking off my own lil' version of that based on experiences in my 10+ years of working in restaurants...most recently with Chili's. Trust me...I run into some interesting characters out there..both customers and fellow employees. So...if this is something that the 3 of you would find interesting...please comment and let me know. Otherwise, I'll just keep boring Jenny with the same ol' stories instead of y'all!

Beyond that...all is well on the Storm Front... (haha..just got that as I was writing...damn I'm funny). To those family out there...we love y'all. To the friends out there....well, it's a little early in the relationship to tell...so we'll leave it at....we like y'all!

Potty-training success!!

As most of you are well aware, the Storm household has been potty-training central for the past several weeks. Sydney showed no real desire to start doing her business in the big girl potty, but I figured now was as good a time as any since I'm not working.

We started on Monday, July 6th. After chatting online and getting some last minute tips from my Babycenter mommy friend (thanks, Tricia!), Sydney and I headed off to Target for potty-training supplies. We got Pull-Ups, flushable wipes, a Dora seat for the big potty, a toy she could open when she went a day with no accidents, and a package of Chewy Spree. As soon as we got home, we swapped her diaper for big girl panties, and I waited for something to happen. I had everything set up in the bathroom: Her Dora seat on the big potty, a stool for her feet, and two sticker charts--one for good bathroom manners, and the other for going pee-pee or poo-poo on the potty.

Well I waited, and waited, and waited. Sydney had been in big girl panties since 11 am and it was now 3 pm with no accidents, but no success in the potty. She either had a bladder of steel (unlike her mommy!) or was learning to hold it so she wouldn't have to go on the potty. Finally, at about 4:30 pm, we had success!! Well, not complete success. She went pee-pee, but on the carpet. Then again on the tile floors. I was starting to get discouraged and it was only day 1. She ended up having one more accident before finally going on the big girl potty at the end of the day. The rest of the week went much like day 1...lots of accidents with some success mixed in.

By the weekend, she was starting to get the hang of it, and I was thankful to have some help from Troy! Week 2 came, and Sydney was doing really well going pee-pee in the potty. She got to open her toy for having no accidents, but was still struggling with poop. After holding it in for 4 days, she FINALLY went poo-poo on the potty and that was one of the happiest days of my life! Who knew poop could be so exciting?!?

We're now at the end of week 3 and I can say with a fair amount of certainty that Sydney is officially potty-trained (well, pee-pee at least!). She hasn't had a pee-pee accident since the end of week 1. She's finally starting to poop more regularly, but it's still a work in progress. She'll start to push it out in her panties, but stops and does the rest in the potty. She only wears Pull-Ups at night or if we're going to be out of the house for an extended amount of time. We could probably do away with the nighttime Pull-Ups, because she has yet to have an accident at naptime or overnight!

Troy and I are so very proud of Sydney. She is such a big girl, and never ceases to amaze us! Potty-training is by far one of the hardest things I've had to do as a mommy. I feel as if I can now join that elite group of mommies who have been through the battle known as potty-training, and I survived!!

I end this post with a picture of Sydney's Potty Chart. She has diligently put a star on her chart each time she has done her business. I can't say it enough, but I'm so proud of her!!

Sigh

Yes, I know I'm at home, jobless, and have all the time in the world, but I just haven't been in the blogging mood. Troy, Sydney and I are doing well, just trying to stay out of the stifling heat!

I leave you with a picture of Sydney, because she's what makes me smile!