Holy crap! I’ve never done this before, in the year and a half we’ve been doing it. I missed Health Group yesterday, (Saturday)! So I’m cheating and posting it on Saturday anyway.

Well, my party yesterday was fabulous. I saw Harry Potter 4 yesterday morning. I have to say that while it’s worth seeing, I was disappointed. They just had too much to cover in that movie to make it compelling. However, I do admit that it had brilliant moments. And it’s always fun to see the characters, hear the music, etc.

As for Health Group….

I didn’t get any exercise in this week. I’ve been spending all my energy on getting the house ready for the party. (It’s so pretty)!

I haven’t eaten enough this week. I probably made up for it in calorie intake last night. Mmmm. But there is definitely room for improvement next week. Which of course is Thanksgiving week. So the calorie consumption isn’t going to improve, but I hope to exercise.

I didn’t weigh myself this week, and to do so now would be inaccurate, considering how much I ate very late last night. So, we’ll wait a week for the scale.

How was your week?

I did my weights and physical therapy on Monday. I’m not even going to try to get on the treadmill until my ankle is all the way better (from the sprain). Fortunately, it’s healing very quickly. I wanted to do the weights again this week, but I got a brief little cold on Wednesday and Thursday, so I’ve been resting up.

Pregnancy weight this morning was 230.5. But that was after a bunch of herbal tea and some zucchini bread. So I’ll shave a half pound off in the sidebar.

I’m able to eat better, more frequently, and I’m taking my vitamins. Life is slowly (VERY slowly) improving. I still stay on the couch with my feet up most days.

This Wednesday, I’m officially half-way through the pregnancy!

Well, I did my weights and physical therapy on Thursday. I’ve noticed that Thursdays seem to be a good day for me. I didn’t do anything that would upset my ankle, but I was still able to do a lot. I overdid it however, I felt some pain in my abdomen afterwards, so next time, I’ll work it a little easier.

For the past two years, between Halloween and Thanksgiving, I’ve gone completely off of all sugar and refined carbs such as white flour, white bread, etc. I have always felt great benefit from it, and it seems to help me get through the rest of the “holiday food” season with self control, eating in moderation instead of the Inhaling Sugar Monster I am capable of becoming. Well, I don’t think I can do it this year, but I am in need of a change, so I think I’m going to try to get into the “spirit” of it and do the best I can. I’m on my 3rd day, and I already feel better. The problem is that most non-sugar foods upset my tummy, but I’m trying to find a happy compromise.

I didn’t weight myself this morning before breakfast, but yesterday I was 229.5, so that’ll be our official pregnant weight for the week.

This Wednesday we get our ultrasound to find out the gender of the baby, and we’re very excited about that.

How was your week?

I’m not miserable today! This is very exciting. I haven’t eaten very much, and that might be part of it. Eating always makes things worse.

I didn’t get out into my garage to exercise this week. I’m still optimistic that I can get out there today. And hopefully at least a couple times next week.

Pregnant weight so far… 230. I think that’s the same as last week? Cool. My tummy is big enough now that when Nate hugs me, I can feel it getting smooshed. I’m really digging that. It’s fun.

Another thing that’s fun is the pretty bracelet and earrings I have on. My sister-in-law had a Cookie Lee Jewelry party at her house last night, and another sister-in-law and I drove down together. I wasn’t expecting to buy anything, but I’m a sucker for things that sparkle, and Nate gave me a budget, so I came home with some pretties! And silly as it is, it makes me happy! Which is probably why I sound so chipper.

How are you?

I feel rotten. Absolutely bleh. It’s been a busy week, and I really only rested Tuesday and Wednesday. We slept in ’til 10 this morning and after making breakfast, I went back to bed to knit. Now we’re up to make lunch.

I need to eat better, but nothing sounds good. I did an hour of weights and physical therapy on Monday, and it felt really good, but that is all I managed this week. I’ll keep trying.

Today I weighed in at 230, so the pounds are starting to show up. And my belly is swelling, which I enjoy. Even though some people don’t think I look pregnant, just bigger. And you know who you are :-). Fortunately, it’s not my husband.

All I know is that when I am standing up, and I look down, I can see stomach poking out past my huge chest. And that only happens to me when I’m pregnant.

Sorry to be a downer. I feel so awful, I don’t have any spunk today. How’d you do this week Health Groupers?

I have a headache. I have told my daughters repeatedly, and their behavior/noise level has not changed in the slightest. This makes me cranky.

Mom and Steve have left. They’re going to the Maryhill Museum on the Columbia River on their way home. Nate and I love that museum, and now I want to go.

I wasn’t able to exercise this week, other than the housecleaning in preparation for my mom’s visit, and walking all over the Flight museum yesterday. So I have been active, but not specifically exercising.

I am feeling better, although I still tire extremely easily. I think I can be realistically optimistic about the upcoming week, provided I don’t catch a cold or something, to be a good one for exercise.

Of course, I now have two freezers full of ice cream and ice cream cake. So in that respect, I’m doomed.

We’re off on a 2 1/2 hour drive to an all day wedding celebration, so I need to post real quick before we leave. I’m hoping I’ll make it through the day. Helping at the school from 9-2:30 yesterday about killed me, and I was sitting down for most of it, so I have cause for concern.

This week, I did an hour of weights and physical therapy on Thursday. It was great. My pecs still hurt, and I like it!

I weighed in at 228.5. This is a little high for me. I’ve been 226, pretty much since August, and I’ve made a sudden jump. It’s fluids, right? :-).

How’re you doing?

Ok, real quick because it’s been a busy day, and I have to leave soon…

I was able to do an hour of physical therapy and weights on Thursday, and I actually hit the treadmill on Friday! It was a pathetic attempt. I did a total of 35 minutes, and was never able to get above my warm up speed of 2.6 mph. But my heart rate was up, and I broke a sweat, so I know I did some good. It took ’til about 16 minutes before I felt any trace of “good exercising vibe”. I was just exhausted for most of it.

How’d you do?

Abigail and I are sick. She’s had a fever and sore throat for three days, we’ll haul her off to the doctor on Monday if she isn’t better. My throat is scratchy. Dangit.

I’ve been in bed most of the week, although I had a good physical therapy session on Tuesday. It was my last scheduled visit, so any other strengthening I do is going to be on my own.

The nausea is getting better, although I still have a sour stomach most of the time, and the heartburn is kicking in. And then there’s this illness crap I’m fighting. So once again, I don’t know when things will pick up.

But here I am, checking in, keeping it going… I WILL work on my body again, as soon as I can.

I made the most yummy pizza yesterday. First, I thawed a homemade pizza crust from the freezer and laid it on a pizza stone dusted with cornmeal. Because I can’t handle tomato sauce right now, I spread some olive oil and fresh, chopped garlic on the dough. Next, I liberally dusted it with parmesan cheese out of a green can. I harvested a bunch of fresh basil from the deck and snipped it into little pieces all over the parmesan. Finally, I covered it with mozzarella and baked it at 500 degrees for 10 minutes. It was divine. I topped it with a few fresh cherry tomatoes cut into little tiny pieces, just to get that tomato and basil flavor, without the sour stomach.

What do you have for me? Some of you have been kicking my Health Group butt! Good for you! What’ve you got?