Week 17 random stuff

Wow, time is just flying! Cant believe we've been married for over a month now!

Things are good, but I'm feeling a lot more tired. I sleep well, but I'm dreaming a lot. I read that its common in pregnancy to get a lot of REM sleep, but you miss out on some deep sleep. That must be whats happening. Plus, every time I roll over, I wake up - mainly because my belly is starting to get a little uncomfortable, but also because sometimes when I roll over I get a sharp abdominal pain like I've pulled a muscle.

Middle of the night toilet stops have diminished - I can go right through without having to get up now! Although I've heard that this will again start up once I get bigger - oh the joy! Hopefully the weather will be warmer by then.

I have a little belly now, and its so cute! Although I'm still at the stage where I just look a bit fat, rather than pregnant! Lucky its winter and I can wear longer jackets. I've got really really itchy skin though, and its driving me mental.

I'm slowly adjusting to the granny knickers now (note: granny knickers are anything other than a g-string) but I still wear a g-string a few days a week - but its getting a bit uncomfortable.

Had my first hospital visit yesterday and it was all good - mainly just filling out paperwork and answering heaps of questions. Had a weigh in , which I didn't like much - their scales had me 2kgs heavier than mine at home! Boohoo! LOL! Although I was fully clothed, with shoes on, and it was 4pm, a bit different to my own weigh ins. Its weird watching the scales go up, and being ok with it. I haven't put on too much yet, but I know I've lost some muscle.

Did have a bit of a fright when she listed for tic tac's heartbeat - and for about 15 seconds, she couldn't find it... I think I stopped breathing until she did!! But there it was, nice and strong and loud - phew!

I got given a bag of goodies to take home (I love sample bags!!) which was full of pamphlets, brochures, sample creams and nappies etc. I read them all last night while hubby watched the State of Origin - I dont think I glanced up even once!! Went to bed at half time though - did we win????

I did a cycle class this morning, the first one in about 8 weeks. It was nice to do something different, and I managed to hold myself back for the majority of the class, not pushing too much or getting my heart rate too high (until the last track, then I kinda forgot myself a bit and went hard - oops). It was nice to do something in a group atmosphere again!

Anyway, enough ramblings! Here's a few more wedding photos...

These white Havaianas were such a great idea for the wedding reception - once the speeches were over I kicked off my heels and put these on - I was so comfortable and was able to dance the night away in them! Not so glamourous, but hey, comfort rules I reckon!

An exciting moment!

On Tuesday morning I was lying in bed, arguing with myself to get up and go to gym. "Come ON - get up get up get up" etc. For some reason I rolled onto my stomach (and I'm not a tummy sleeper) and said out loud "Come on tic tac, lets get up"...

and I felt a little flutter in my lower abdomen...

I laid there on my stomach with my eyes bulging out of my head... thinking oh wow, was that the baby I just felt moving???? Naaaah, its too soon - I'm only 16 weeks, must have just imagined it. Dont be silly...

Nevertheless, I laid there for a few more minutes - waiting, wondering - and nothing. So I sighed and said "Ok tic tac, we're getting up now"

another little flutter!!

I was so so excited! Got up and tried to explain it to hubby - Remember when you used to blow bubbles with dishwashing liquid? Remember how it used to feel having the bubbles burst on your skin? Thats the best way I could describe the sensation. I haven't felt it since, but then I've been pretty busy, and at this stage the feelings are so gentle that I dont think I would feel it unless it was very quiet, I laid very still and concentrated hard.

I have my first appointment with the hospital next Wednesday!

Good luck to everyone competing this weekend at the All Females - cant wait to hear how it all goes!!

Stuff...

Well I'm still here and plodding along nicely, 15 weeks pregnant now, only 25 weeks to go! It sounds like forever, but I know it will come around fast.

For the last week and a half I've had to undo the top bottom of my work pants, as I'm just starting to have a little "pooch" and its getting uncomfortable otherwise. I went a bought a belly-belt thingo, but its a bit early yet to start using it. The pants are a size 10, hopefully they'll fit for a bit longer yet.

I'm also finding that a lot of my work shirts, and casual singlets aren't long enough to cover the fact that my button is undone.

The other day in the office my mobile phone rang on the other side of the room and I ran to get it - bad idea - SORE BOOBS! So I kept running while holding onto them LOL...

Its also a bit difficult in that I'm out on the road a lot with my job - and finding toilets. Its like I need to go every hour. On Tuesday I did one of my regular drives - to Toowoomba, then to Warwick, then home - you have to plan your toilet stops VERY carefully!

I'm finding my gym sessions a bit boring, there is only so much you can do whilst keeping your heart rate in the lower range. I did two weights sessions this week, but I cant say I'm really enjoying it much. From the second trimester on, the recommendation is that you try not to do any resistance training while standing, because your sense of balance and your centre of gravity changes. I'm using a lot more machines than I used to. Its all very interesting, but frustrating at the same time!

Anyway, nothing thrilling to report. Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Some wedding photos

As promised, here are a few of our professional wedding photos. I'm so excited to have these already, as initially it was going to take 3-4 weeks to get them! We are extremely happy with them. Big thanks to Rezolution Photography!

I'm also happy that I dont look pregnant in the photos!

Here's a few of my favourites:

I will post a few more in the coming weeks.

Today I bought baby stuff for the first time, it was so exciting! I never thought I would get excited about buying baby singlets, nappies, baby wipes etc, but, well, it is! I was so excited that I sms'd hubby about it, and it turns out that he was at home on ebay looking at baby stuff too! (admittedly he was looking at Ford Racing baby jumpsuits, suitable for boy or girl, but hey - it still counts!)

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

The journey up to now:

Well, I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone for all your comments and well wishes, I really appreciate each and every one of them, thank you so much!!

I am currently enjoying the "glow" of being pregnant, I dont remember ever being so happy and content in my life, now with a gorgeous husband and a bub on the way. It must be those 'happy hormones' that they tell you about :-) Life is great and I'm loving every minute :)

Back at gym this week after 2 weeks off (had a week off before and after the wedding) - did some piddly little weights on Tuesday, its taking some time adjusting to the different way of training, I'm so used to going as hard and as heavy as I can!

Received my wedding photos on disc today, so exciting! There are some really nice ones, so I will post them soon, maybe over the weekend.

I'm going to post my experiences of my first trimester now. Its part of a journal that I've been keeping ever since we started trying to get pregnant. I'm sure it will be long and boring for most of you, but I want to have it here for my records. Please feel free to tune out now!

25th April 2009 Saturday – SURPRISE!!

Ok, so after 4 attempts with clomid – nothing worked. I stopped drinking alcohol, removed coffee, and really concentrated hard on what we were trying to achieve. And nothing.

After 4 unsuccessful attempts, we decided to stop trying. Ob/gyn wanted me to have more tests, laproscopy, have my ovaries drilled etc. But, we’re getting married in June, so I said I wanted to wait until after that. She agreed.

So that was the plan.

In February, I stopped all treatment. I focused on getting this wedding organized. I drank coffee every day, drank alcohol like a fish.

And I’m now pregnant… go figure!

My period was 10 days late. I kept telling myself that it was going to start any minute. I kept getting little pains thinking that it was about to start, I tried not to think about it, and continued to drink coffee and alcohol. On Monday my boss asked me if I was ok, he said I was looking pale (who knew a man could notice such things?! Didn’t think anything of it at the time) Then on Tuesday we found out that a friend of ours is pregnant again. I got a little upset. Drank some more. Wednesday I still hadn’t got my period. So I decided that if it didn’t come by the time I got up for gym on Thursday morning, I would do a test.

Even so, when I got up on Thursday, I kept thinking – this is ridiculous, I can FEEL my period about to start, I’m just late. Plus, every time I go to Gympie (like I was on Thursday), I seem to get my period. So I decided that it wasn’t going to be any different.

It was positive. I think I went into shock.

I called OH in, and he was very very happy – even had tears in his eyes.

All day, up to Gympie and back, I kept thinking – I cant believe it, I cant believe it – I’m pregnant!

So, its early days yet. I am in about week 5-6 I think. I’m going back to the ob/gyn on Monday, hopefully we’ll have it all confirmed!

Feeling a bit weird about actually. Think I’m still in shock. I’m over the moon though! The worst thing is that I cant tell anyone! I think that after the ob/gyn confirms it, I’d like to tell both our parents.

No symptoms yet either – just a little tired, and little bit of dizziness.

Fingers crossed all goes well!



28th April 2009 Tuesday – 6 weeks pregnant

So far so good. Went to the Ob/gyn yesterday and she was quite happy for me, specially after a year and a half of tryin!

So I’ve got to have my blood tests on 25th of May, and first ultrasound on the 10th of June (3 days before the wedding!!). I was surprised that she didn’t do any tests on me, not even another pregnancy test. She just took my word for it! I did show her my own pregnancy test that I’d saved, so maybe that was enough. I think its too early anyway for much.

Due date is 22nd of December!

On Sunday I bought a whole heap of fruit, and then really REALLY felt like having some fruit/banana – I normally hate banana!! Not sure if that classifies as a craving, I doubt it.

Still feel fine, feeling tired this morning because I stayed up to watch the finale of the Biggest Loser, it was a late night for me. Felt a little light-headed during cycle class yesterday, even though I was faking it with the tension lever. Ob/gyn says to take it a little easier, and she doesn’t think I should do weights any more… boohoo. Don’t know that I’m happy about that.

Will have to get a referral to a public ob/gyn, since my current one is private, it would cost an absolute fortune to have this baby with her. Plus she doesn't work at the hospital that I want to go to.

So we’ll stick with her until after the first scan and blood test, then get the referral for public. Medibank wont kick in until February next year!!

I’m restraining myself from buying every pregnancy book and magazine under the sun!


Tuesday 5th May 2009 7 weeks pregnant

Yesterday (Labour day holiday) we broke the news to both sets of parents. My mum almost cried, she said she was never this excited when she found out SHE was pregnant!

OH's dad got all teary too. Although we explained that its very early days, and that anything could happen, I think we made their day. :)

Had a slight scare on Sunday night, I had a little spotting. I googled this though, and apparently its quite normal. As long as you aren’t bleeding red blood, and having severe abdominal pains, its fairly normal to have spotting during pregnancy. (What would I do without Google??)

Our Best Man to-be was here on Sunday, and he was testing his resting heart rate. His was 45 or something (he is so fit!), OH's was 60-something. Mine was 80. They were both “that cant be right”. I was thinking shit I’m unfit!

We did it quite a few times, and yep, mine was 80. Then OH and I looked at each other and went “ohhhh… I get it” and exchanged knowing glances. I was worried that it meant I was going to miscarry (same night as the spotting), but then I read yesterday that a pregnant womans resting heart rate is 20% higher, due to the increased load on the body.

Today I went to gym and did a 1st trimester pregnancy weight training session. I was almost embarrassed about how little weight I was lifting. I thought that people must be staring at me, thinking “wow, she’s not working very hard!”. Paranoid. Because obviously, it’s not common knowledge. And I don’t look any different. But now I have to train different, use baby weights and high reps.

I keep waiting for signs of pregnancy to whack me in the face. So far, the main thing has been sore boobs. I cant stop eating fruit – cant get enough mandarins. Previously, you’d have to force me to eat fruit.

Since Friday I’ve been feeling a little hung-over all day. Like I’ve been on a huge bender the night before, only, I haven’t.

I’ve become obsessed about my boobs. OH just laughs at me – he cant wait until they get bigger. Right now, they are firmer, but lumpy and sore.

I went and did the groceries on Saturday, and the sight of all the meat turned my stomach. I didn’t buy much meat this week because of that, so I’m not sure what this weeks meals will consist of!

I’m so hungry, all the time! I cant seem to fill the hole. Eating seems to keep the queasiness at bay, so I feel like I’m eating a lot more often. Like I’ll eat something, and an hour later, I’m ravenous again. Trying to make good choices, but there has been a lot less protein, and a lot more dairy and carbs on the menu. Trying to get more calcium in, so I’ll have a slice of vintage cheddar every day, with a few vita-weet. Plus about ½ cup of skim milk with my oats in the morning (had to chuck the cottage cheese out, don’t want to risk it, although its probably fine to have – I’d still class it as a soft cheese).

My toothpaste tastes horrible.

I’m calling it my little tic tac. That’s about the size at 5-6 weeks, and its much better than calling it “it”. I’ve been talking to tic tac a little bit, telling it to stay safe in there, be strong and healthy.

Still keeping fingers crossed!



Tuesday 12th May 2009 – 8 weeks pregnant

Tic tac is still with us!!

On Saturday night I got a bit of a scare, because there was more spotting, a bit more than last week. Panicked a little, but it went away again.

Went shopping with my maid of honour on Saturday for her bridesmaid dress – spent about 5 hours walking around Robina Town Centre, and I was knackered after that! Then I had to rush home and get ready for my friends hens night in the city.

I’m having to do lots of lying! I drove into the city on Saturday night, because we said I hadn’t been feeling well all day (more lies!). Then one friend was asking me about when we were planning to have kids, so I gave her the spiel – trying for 18 mths, stopped trying now and just concentrating on the wedding etc – feels bad, and you just want to tell people! I drank two soda waters with lime in a short glass, and it looked just like vodka and soda. Someone asked me what I was drinking though, so I had to tell her it was just soda.

Then when leaving I dropped two friends back to their places, and driving through the Valley at nearly 11pm, just totally put me off having my hens there. There was just this seething mass of teenagers, all drunk and wearing skimpy clothes, I just decided it wasn’t my cup of tea anymore, I’m too old for that now! Plus the fact that I cant drink doesn’t help. So we might do a day shopping tour instead.

Its difficult at gym. I haven’t been going as much, mostly because I’m so tired in the mornings! I did a cycle class yesterday morning, and was feeling pretty good, trying to keep the intensity down a little. After one sprint track, I slowed to take a drink and felt REALLY lightheaded… oops, think I went a bit too hard! After that I tried to take it easier, but its so difficult when you’re used to giving it 100%. I’m going to avoid group fitness classes for a bit, my competitive nature takes over and I cant help flogging myself!

I’m still obsessed about my boobs, they are so much bigger now! They are firm and perky, like an 18 year olds! I cant stop looking at them, and going “wow, this is what its like to have big boobs!” LOL!

This morning I have indigestion. I don’t know if its tic tac’s fault or not.

I’ve gone off fruit again, and I really cant stomach salad at the moment.



Sunday 17th May 2009 – still 8 weeks pregnant

This has just been an awful week – one filled with worry. This week I have felt the crappiest yet, from headaches, indigestion, backache, nausea etc.

On Thursday, more spotting, and heavier. Not exactly blood, but close. I had this awful sinking feeling. I kept saying “oh no… no, no, no, please don’t…”

It only happened once, but I was still stressing.

Then all day Friday I kept having these stabbing pains in my lower abdomen. Short, sharp, stabbing pain. Then it would go away for a while, then it came back. So I was worried again.

This weekend seems to be ok, I feel a lot better, almost back to my old self. Only problem is that I keep waking up at 4am – needing to go to the bathroom! Its like WHAM – wide awake, uncomfortable bladder.

Feeling really dehydrated too – just cant seem to get enough water in – I’m lucky to get 2 litres down, and yesterday I only managed about 1.5. So when I wake at 4am, my tongue feels like a lump of cardboard in my mouth. Must drink more water!!

Also been dreaming a lot these last two nights.

I’ve had to organize my hens party this week, which hasn’t helped with the stress levels. Oh well.


Friday 22nd May 2009 – 9 weeks pregnant

This week I’ve been feeling good. Too good. Worried that maybe tic tac wasn’t hanging in there, and perhaps we might not get a heartbeat when we have the scan. Stupid thoughts I know. But when your boobs stop hurting, and you stop feeling nausea etc, it’s the thing that springs to my mind.

Maybe I’m just one of the lucky ones?

Nobody ever tells you that this journey is one that is filled with worry!

Been feeling better about food, but still have no interest in salad or veggies. I’m happy to eat veggies if they are mixed in with something, but just salad or steamed veg on its own? Ugh - no thanks.

Still not really eating much protein because it turns my stomach.

But I have been eating too much carbs. I know that for sure, and I really must stop. I feel a bit bloated all the time now, and I’m just hoping that my wedding dress will look ok! Only 3 weeks til we get married now…


Saturday 30th May 2009 – 10 weeks pregnant.

Today was the hens day, and it was a good day, but very tiring.

One of my pregnant friends was over last weekend for a coffee, and at one point I got up and she went “SHIT your boobs are big!!” I just laughed, really wanted to tell her, but bit my tongue. I fobbed it off, but probably not successfully. She might suspect, but then again, maybe not.

Yesterday I had my final dress fitting. When we got the dress, it was a full size too big. Even 5 or 6 weeks ago it was too big. But yesterday, it fit just right. It’s a size 12. Woah, I have really thickened up around the middle. I had to go up 2 sizes for the corset, mainly because of boobs, but also so I could wear it and still breathe! Pick the dress up on Tuesday afternoon.

Am still the same weight now as I was when we first found out. I know that I have lost muscle in these last weeks, what with my half-hearted efforts at the gym. I’m only making it to gym about 2 days a week at the moment. My chiropractor assures me that this is MUCH more than most pregnant women manage, and that I’m doing fine. Still feel guilty.

I think I might be back on salads again, I actually felt like salad on Friday night, for the first time in weeks. Protein is still a bit ick though.

Had my blood tests on Tuesday, and go for the scan in a week and a half. Cant wait to find out how the tic tac is going!


Tuesday 2nd June 2009 – 11 weeks pregnant

I’m staying home sick today. I prolly could have gone, but I really need to rest. I have a cold, and yesterday I couldn’t breathe at all through my nose. Had no sense of taste or smell. Sucked.

The problem is that there isn’t much that I can take – Olive Leaf Extract (which I normally swear by) is a no-no apparently, as is a lot of herbal remedies. Even most cough lollies are frowned on because of the menthol in them. All I can basically take is Lemsip, which has paracetamol. I’m going back to the chemist today to see what else I can take. Every time I blow my nose, my ears block up.

I’m hoping it will be cleared up for the wedding, which is 11 days away!

Only a week and one day til our first scan!

Saturday night turned into an interesting night, with OH coming home roaring drunk and then threw up half the night. It was hard work to keep my own dinner down!

I am officially back on salads again, I bought a delicious salad dressing that has really helped, and I’m only having iceberg lettuce rather than the dark green stuff, but it’s a vast improvement!


Tuesday 9th June 2009 – 12 weeks pregnant!

Yahoo!!! Made it to 12 weeks!!

Tomorrow is the scan, I’m so nervous and excited at the same time. Actually I think I’m more excited about THAT than our wedding on Saturday! Fingers and toes are crossed that everything is fine.

Wednesday 10th June 2009 - 12 week scan day!

Tic tac is healthy and fine, and we are so happy and relieved!! Cant wait to tell everyone at the wedding!

Here is a pic of the little bubba:

Now its time for the BIG news!

Now that all the excitement of the wedding is over, its time to share with you the OTHER big news in our lives.

I am UP THE DUFF!

Yep, I am 13 weeks pregnant!

Some of my friends know that this something that we have been struggling to achieve for the last 20 months or more. We started trying when I was still at my last job, which was 2 years ago!

After coming off the pill (was on it for 14 years!) we started trying. After a year of no luck, I went and had tests and found out that I have polycystic ovaries. I was devastated to find that out and it sent me into a bit of a downward emotional spiral, which is a lot of the reason for my insomnia and other stresses last year. The “good” news was that, although I have polycystic ovaries, the tests revealed that I don’t have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – which means that I have the “faulty” ovaries, but not the symptoms that normally go with it.

I was assured that a treatment of Clomid would fix me up, and it DID cause me to ovulate, however, after 4 months of treatment, STILL NOT PREGNANT!!

We actually started planning this whole wedding back in January as a way of taking my mind off fertility stuff, to give me something else to think about!!

Meanwhile, it seems that girls, friends, co-workers, random strangers are getting pregnant at the drop of a hat, there are pregnant women everywhere – SO frustrating and upsetting! What is wrong with me?? I felt like I was close to having a breakdown, I was miserable, emotional all the time. Every month when “bitch week” arrived, I collapsed into a flood of tears, feeling like a failure, feeling guilty for depriving OH of a child, wondering what was wrong with me – WHY CANT I DO THIS???!!!!

So, with 4 months to go until the wedding, we decided to stop trying. Told the Ob/gyn that I was just going to concentrate on the wedding, couldn’t handle it anymore. We tentatively booked some key-hole surgery for July, to have a look inside me and see what else could be the problem.

And then I spent the next 5 weeks drinking COPIOUS amounts of alcohol and coffee, both things I had given up for so long. (I think I drank 6 months worth of alcohol in those 5 weeks!). I didn’t think about pregnancy anymore, I stopped reading about conception, stopped counting days etc.

Unbeknownst to me, I spontaneous ovulated, without the help of any drugs.

And then a few weeks later, I was 10 days late for that-time-of-the-month. And even though I was convinced that there was no way on earth that I could be pregnant,I did a test. And it was positive…

OH – MY – GOD!!!!!!!! Husband-to-be gets all emotional. I’m in shock.

OMG, OMG, OMG… pregnant!!!!!! SO excited, wanted to shout it from the rooftops, ring everyone we knew, tell the WORLD!

But of course, we didn’t tell anyone except our immediate families. We found out just before Anzac Day. I worked out the dates, and realized that if this all went according to plan, I’d be 12 weeks pregnant at the wedding! So we kept our fingers crossed for the next 7 weeks!

We affectionately name bubs “tic tac”. At 5 weeks pregnant, that’s about the size of the embryo. Plus it sounds better than calling it “IT”. By now (June) it has outgrown the name tic tac, but the name has stuck!

We had our 12 week scan on the Wednesday before the wedding, and I cannot describe how amazing and incredible it was to see our little tic tac leaping about inside me. Hubby was stunned. My own jaw hit the floor and stayed there for a good 5 minutes. Tic tac was bouncing around, kicking its legs like crazy, punching the air, doing somersaults (well, almost!).

And the best news ever? Tic tac is looking absolutely fine, healthy and normal. PHEW!

We made the big announcement at the speeches at our wedding reception, and it was a very emotional moment when hubby declared that he was going to be a dad for the first time!

And no – we are not planning on finding out if tic tac is a boy or a girl – that will have to wait until the big day!

Tic-tac is due to join us around the 22nd of December!

What a day!

I am now a Mrs!!

Wow, what an amazing day our wedding day was!

On Friday night, OH stayed at our best mans house. But when I went to bed that night, he'd left me a beautiful letter on my pillow, 2 pages long - and it made me burst into tears of happiness! He is such a sweet romantic at heart, and I am so lucky to have him!

I was surprisingly calm on the day, and my only major stress was remembering my vows! I went over them time and time again, each time forgetting part of it, or just going blank... I was so worried that I'd stuff it up

Getting ready at mum and dads was the strangest experience. (Getting strapped into my corset wasn't fun either). It all felt quite surreal, it felt like a bit of a dream actually. I started to panic when we got in the limo, OMG I wasn't going to remember these bloody vows! I still kept forgetting them - then my eye started to twitch... I said to my Maid of Honour that OH was going to look deep in my eyes when saying his vows, only to see his freaked out wife-to-be with an uncontrollable eye twitch!! Then I started to do the "what ifs..." - what if the photographer hasn't arrived, OMG what if OH hasn't turned up!!!!

Anyway, the eye twitch disappeared, we arrived and got into positions. For the last 6 months of planning this wedding, OH has told me that he wouldn't be wearing a suit, he has never worn one, and doesn't own one. The plan was he would wear black trousers and a shirt, no tie. I had no problem with that, as we are both quite laid-back people. He decided to surprise me by wearing a suit! I was so overcome with emotion, both with him in a suit, and the raw emotion of the day that I started crying just before we walked down the stairs...

Managed to pull myself together by the time we got to the red carpet though, but then I looked down the aise and saw that OH was getting all teary, and I mumbled to dad "oh no, he's crying!!"


The actual ceremony seemed to be over in a flash. I felt all peaceful and calm, and said my vows word perfect, so I was absolutely chuffed with myself and felt completely relaxed after that!

Signing the register...

Walking back down the aisle as Mr and Mrs!

It was an absolutely perfect day, I couldn't have asked for a better setting, the weather was spectacular, and our cocktail style reception was so relaxed and laid back, just how we wanted it. It all came together so perfectly that there is absolutely nothing I would change!

We've had a few days away and are getting lots of mileage out of calling ourselves "husband" and "wife" - I generally fall apart into giggles at that :) It sounds so grown up LOL!

So its back to reality now, and back to work on Monday!

I will post more pictures when we get some official ones from the photographers in a few weeks, cant wait to see them!

Its almost here!

Thank you to everyone for the messages of support on blog, email and facebook - you are all beautiful people!

This morning is the calm before the storm I think! This afternoon is going to be very busy with last minute things... Woke up at 4.30 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep - started going over my vows again, making mental notes etc - so I decided to get up and brave the freezing cold house... brrrrr!! I think it was 3 degrees here last night, and our houses in QLD just aren't designed for that!

I also wanted to wish Nicole all the best for her wedding day on Sunday - cant wait to see her pics! Hope you have a wonderful day sweets :)

I dont have anything else to say except... I'm so excited!!!!!

FULL... ON...

Thank you girls, I am feeling better now and have managed to fight off the head cold, apart from a lingering, honking cough. I sound like a barking dog LOL :)

This weekend has been completely FULL ON. I've been racing around like a headless chicken, from our wedding rehearsal, to housework, washing, shopping in a mad panic yesterday for a new dress, doing some IBO work, then racing out the door yesterday to attend our friends wedding.

Then this morning (after getting about 4 hours sleep after that wedding) I had to get up at 5am to pick my darling brother up from the airport. He's come all the way from America to attend our wedding and be our MC! So today has been very social, with mum and dad coming up for lunch, then we had to duck out this afternoon to get some curtains for the spare room for him!

Luckily I have the next two weeks off work, so I can get "stuff" done. I have appointments every day this week, and I might try to fit in a massage too, since for the last few days I've had one of those dull headaches that wont go away.

I'm really starting to get excited now! Everything is organised, just have to go pay people lots of money. Actually we still haven't organised cars yet, but I will get that done this week (OH has passed this one small task BACK to me!)

I am so looking forward to next week when I can just sit back and do NOTHING, and THINK about nothing! No more planning - how awesome will that be!

Have a great week everyone!

Here comes the (snotty) bride

Well just to make things interesting, I've gone and caught a cold. A very very snotty head cold! I am not impressed. I caught it off OH, who only seemed to have it for 3 days and is now totally fine (typical).

With 11 days to go until the wedding, I now have visions of walking down the aisle with a bright red, sore nose, and having to stop halfway through the ceremony to blow it. And THEN where will I put the snotty tissues?? LOL!

I'm having a day off today to try to rest and recover. Will have to head to the chemist to get something. Luckily I dont have any flu-like symptoms, its just my head thats blocked up - so if you chopped my head off I'd be fine!

I'm trying to take my own advice and rest while I'm sick... so no gym. I had my dress fitting last Friday anyway, so whatever size I am now, I'm going to have to stay that way until the big day!

On Saturday I had my hens party, we all loaded up on a bus and went on our warehouse shopping tour, which was really good. I was given a "Bride To Be" sash, which was kinda cool to wear, a bit of a novelty - hey, you only get to be a bride once (hopefully!). Most of us spent up BIG at the Darrell Lea chocolate outlet. I bought a BOX of liquorice (containing 12 packets of soft eating liquorice) for $10!! I went halves with mum on this, and I have put all but one packet in the freezer. That's one thing I didn't know - that you can freeze liquorice. My one open packet is being rationed out slowly :)

Also went to the Berlei factory outlet and got some underwear, and also went to this fantastic homewares place that sells to Loot and Freedom Furniture - heaps of vases, candles, mirrors, prints etc at really great prices (starting from $5-$10) - I think we all bought something in there! We also went to bags and shoes, a kitchenware outlet, manchester, Reebok (got some new gym shoes!) and had a buffet lunch at Broncos Leagues Club.

OH had his bucks party too - they started out doing a bootcamp (flying foxes, rope climbs etc - sounds like awesome fun to me!!) and then they headed out for dinner. Well, he got home after midnight, blind drunk! From 2am onwards he had his head down the toilet, or in a bucket, and it took me 2 hours to get him back to bed. There was a bit of cleaning up to do (because sometimes the toilet wasn't close enough and the floor was an easier target!) and I had trouble hanging on to my own dinner... urgrh! Normally he doesn't drink much, but obviously the boys shouted him drinks all night! Oh well, you only get married once I guess!

So that was my fun weekend!

Kitchens, Stress, and Telstra

I'm still here!! Been a while, sorry. Lots going on...

Firstly, kitchen. Here's what our kitchen looked like BEFORE (well, actually, OH had already started dismantling in this pic, but you get the idea) - a lovely soft pink, with round gold knobs for handles. VERY 80's!
And now... with new rangehood (note, the blue vent thing above rangehood still has the protective plastic on it, it is actually stainless steel underneath!)

We still have no splashbacks, but that will happen in the next few weeks. We're thinking of glass splashbacks - maybe a colour. What do you think of red? We originally planned a silver colour, but we are thinking we need some colour in there.

And I now have a breakfast bar (below), which also means that I can prepare meals AND watch TV through the lounge room at the same time... now we have all the mod-cons! LOL!

Last weekend I went to watch the INBAs in Brissie, and got to cheer on Michaela and Selina. Both girls looked fantatsic, and absolutely shone on stage. Still has not convinced me to get up there myself one day, but never say never I suppose! It was also lovely to catch up with lots of blogger friends, Deb, Jadey, Kerry, Liz and Lindy, and also meet a few other girls for the first time :)

I have felt incredibly stressed this week. I have all these lists of things to finalise for the wedding (less than 3 weeks to go now, OMG!) and I had to organise the hens party too :( Originally I wanted to go into town (in the Valley) to this new club, but a few weeks ago I went to a hens party in the Valley, and while I had a great time, when I was leaving I just decided that a boozy night in town just isn't me anymore. I'm over it, maybe I'm too old for it, I dont know. So I changed my plans at the last minute!!

Instead we are now doing a shopping bus tour next Saturday, which I am really looking forward to! We get to go to all sorts of warehouse outlets (some are not open to the public) and also get a nice buffet lunch on the way. Now if people would only RSVP me so I can organise final numbers!! My maid of honour has a lot on her plate at the moment, so I took on the organising of the hens party too. Maybe not a good move, I have actually lost sleep over this, more so than the wedding!

Anyway, there has been more frustration this week. We had some wild weather through the week, and consequently lots of wind - a tree in our yard broke and snapped our phone line. So I've been without home internet for a few days, and it makes things very difficult. Telstra came out yesterday to fix it, but because it was raining, they refuse to climb ladders in the rain... grrrr... so now I have to wait around for them on Monday when they come back. Lets just hope its not still raining.

I'm using my work laptop, but its not great, as all my IBO work is on my home computer.

Well, thats enough whinging for me for one day. This time in 3 weeks I will be Mrs H !

31 days til I'm a "Mrs"

Not much time for blogging lately, but I am still here!!

Starting to really count down now, 31 days now til I get hitched! My mind is starting to overflow with all the things that are going on, finalising everying, organising wedding rehearsal, meeting the photographer on site to suss out where we'll get photos done, hens party, menu choices, flower colours, decorations at the reception, accommondation, getting final numbers together - the list seems to be endless!

The only thing not organised is the cars. OH is meant to be organising that. But I'm not too stressed about it - worst case scenario, we'll get taxis. No biggie.

So with all the wedding stuff going on, we're also in the middle of some major house renovations, with the kitchen having HALF gone in a week and a half ago. The stone bench tops got measured up, so we're hoping to have the rest done very soon (was hoping for this Friday, but who knows!). So I have bits of MDF & villa board for bench tops at the moment, and no sink. I'm having to run up and down to the laundry sink all the time.

Our dining table has been buried under a mass of kitchen appliances, glasses etc - all waiting for the kitchen and cupboards to be finished. So we've been eating on the lounge in front of the TV every night for the last two weeks - OH is loving it! I just want to get my dining table back.

Oh yeah, we also had another lot of concreting done, this time the front section of our driveway got done, and under the carport, and the back patio too - so nice to be rid of the dirt finally! Still lots more concreting to be done, but its expensive, so we have to do it in stages.

Anyway, thats about what my life consists of at the moment! I'm ready for it all to be over and done with!

Been a while...

Well things are still pretty busy around here, hence the lack of posting I guess!

My foot issues are making me train a little differently, I'm avoiding anything impact. So about the only thing I have done for the last week or so is cycling - on the stationary bike, and in cycle classes. Oh, I have done weights too! Cant forget that!

Last weekend I tried to take the dogs for a walk, and because our area is so hilly, it ended up straining my foot tendon again, so even walking seems to be out at the moment. Not good when you're on a mission to be a buff bride, but these things were sent to try us I guess!

Yesterday I spoke to the podiatrist (my hairdressers husband - noice!!) and he is going to organise some orthotics for me (mates rates too - love it!) and has given me some advice on strapping techniques. I've been strapping it in different ways to try to find the way that rips the least amount of skin off. He took one look at how I'd strapped it and said "um... where did you learn to do THAT?".

I said: "ummmm.... the internet?" (bowing head in shame)

I think he actually shook his head in disbelief LOL! Turns out, my feet are crooked. Well I cant remember the technical term, but thats the upshot anyway. They slump inwards. So I'm also nightly going to be treating my feet to 10 minutes each of ice/heat/ice/heat - followed by some massage of the heel and arch. Hopefully all this helps!

Yesterday I went to a 2nd birthday party. I ate a slice of fairy bread. WHY? I dont know. It was there. Its probably been at least 25 years since I last had some. I'm pretty sure it will be another 25 years before I have another.

I also went to my hairdresser, had my pre-wedding trim, and got her to refresh my purple stripe.

We're getting some concreting done tomorrow, and we are also getting our kitchen installed on Friday - HOO-BLOODY-RAY! Give it a few weeks, and I'll show you all a photo.

Yep, its all happening here.

Catcha.

The verdict seems to be...

Plantar fasciitis.

I think I have figured out what my foot pain is. All the symptoms seem to point to this. I will, of course, go to a podiatrist and get it checked out.

I'd heard of the 'plantar fascia' before, but, y'know, I always thought it was something to do with warts (plantar warts)!

So yesterday and today, on the advise of the ever helpful internet (!) I have strapped my feet as shown, and the difference has been amazing. The burning in the arch and heel is still there, but the sharp pain when I walk has stopped. Rest, icing and stretching is also recommended. Running may be off the schedule for a few weeks.

In other news, I spent Saturday and Sunday in Warwick... oh joy. The Datsun Nationals (affectionately known as the "Dat Nats") were on - and LUCKY me got to go. The things we do for our other halves eh? We were only meant to go on Saturday, however the drags got rained out, so OH went home very dissapointed on Saturday night. Sunday dawned all clear in Warwick, so back we went... 2 hours there, 2 hours back. 2 days in a row. Looking at old cars. Bet you're all SOOO jealous! lol!

As far as Easter goes, we kinda forgot. Somebody at work gave me a couple of mini eggs, which have been in the fridge since mid last week. So I ate two. That was the sum total of my Easter chocolate experience. I dont "do" hot cross buns (ick!) so the damage was minimal. I did eat some rubbish in Warwick, but only because it was that or nothing. All in all, not too bad a weekend.

Anyways, today I'll be off to do the groceries, the cupboards are bare!! I'm also going to look at sunglasses - I'm sick of buying cheap ones, I want a really nice new pair of good ones that will last for a while. Will post a pic if I find some!

Enjoy the last day of your long weekend...

My new favourite breakfast

Cottage cheese, onion, tomato and a sprinkling of herbs, on toast, and then grilled... yum! I have been having this a few days a week for breakfast, its a little more time consuming than my regular oats and cottage cheese, but its so worth it... could I be a cottage cheese convert??? I suppose I had to go over to the dark side eventually :)

Training has been going great, had a moment on Wednesday night where I'd had a bad day at work, and was feeling a bit low, so had a glass of wine. Not good behaviour, but something I'm working on. Wednesday was a particularly bad day for some reason, I skipped a training session, had the wine, and only got about 4 hours sleep that night. Followed it up with a fantastic day on Thursday though, smashed it at cycle, and ate clean all day, which on 4 hours sleep was something of an accomplishment!

Last night my maid of honour came around to see my wedding dress, and we got talking about lots of wedding stuff. She's a bit like me in that we're both not "girly" girls - its all a bit alien for both of us actually! So next on the agenda is to get the hens night organised... a night out in the city is in order I think.

Here is what OH has been busy with this morning... we're about to get a new front door...

The big gaping hole, and our ugly old front door. Spot the cat, looking for an escape route (not likely with Shavez standing guard!)



The new front door... soon to be installed.

We are both so over this house!! For the past few days its been raining, and now we've got saturated carpet again in the downstairs spare bedroom, and we're not sure where its getting in. Oh the joys... Oh how I wish for a house that didn't need to be renovated!

When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with it.

I feel like I've got so much going on at the moment, feel like I'm trying to be superwoman!! Wedding stuff is slowly coming together - ordered my invitations last week, so I've been going through address lists, wording options, romantic verses (!!) and FONTS! Who knew that choosing a bloody font could be so difficult?

And just when I've got it narrowed down to a few options, OH finally decides to have a say, and dislikes my choices... grrrrr!

Is it just me, or do most males think that you can just "wing it" with weddings? I think mine has decided that all he has to do is turn up... lol!

I'm making great progress with training though, absolutely smashed it this week. Only managed 2 weights sessions, but did 7 cardio sessions. Sprint update: did interval sprints on Tuesday morning - kept it at 14km/hour but increased the duration slightly... need to increase it more next week.

Feeling pretty good, weight is finally shifting a little, food has been pretty clean all week - and counting down - 11 weeks to go!

12 weeks to go

I've had so much stuff that I wanted to blog about this week, but I haven't had much spare time on the computer this week, so I've forgotten most of it!!

The most exciting news is that there is now only 12 weeks until I become a "Mrs"! OMG I still have so much to do! So effectively that gives me 11 weeks to get into "buff bride" shape - I say 11 weeks because I intend to have the entire week off training before the wedding - I want to look rested and refreshed, without dark circles under my eyes.

I dont really have far to go, about 3kg. Its just that I keep losing and gaining the same 1kg every week, and I'm a little bit over it. Weekends are my downfall, I'm usually really good and consistent through the week, but then come Saturday its sleeping in, egg white omelette on toast for breakfast (which are still fine, but I find them so much more filling than my regular oats and cottage cheese, consequently I forget to eat meal 2)... , forgetting to drink enough water, a few glasses of wine on Saturday night, takeaway for dinner... you know the story.

Enough is enough. I'm in countdown mode now. Putting together my plan this weekend, watch this space!

This week I was so motivated, it felt great. On Tuesday I challenged myself to beat my previous best sprinting speed of 13.1 km/hour. Got to 14.5km/hour - 1 minute intervals. Woohoo!! Felt amazing, my intervals were 6km/hour, 9km/hour, 14.5km/hour - kept that up for 10 minutes. Then I slowed to my next walking interval, and got struck down with the most horrendous period pain... I wasn't sure if I wanted to vomit, or run to the toilet, or collapse on the floor. So I had to pack up and get the hell out of there - went home, took 3 panadeine, and laid on the floor for 20 minutes until it passed.

Next morning I was determined to do it again, so after weights I did a 10 minute jog, and then another 10 minutes of intervals - this time I got to 15km/hour! The treadmill started to make a noise at that speed (the suspension starts to rattle), to the point where people were turning around to stare at me... oops! (perhaps it was my gasping noises that drew their attention?!) Shattered after that!

Its nice to be able to challenge myself like that - each week I want to either increase the speed, or increase the length of the intervals. Next week I will aim for longer duration, and the following week will go for speed.

Wedding: have ordered the invitations, paid the deposit for the venue, booked our accommodation for a few nights after the wedding, booked my flowers, and shortlisted some photographers. Surprisingly most wedding suppliers seem to be free on my date, every single photographer that I have contacted is available... who says you need a year or more to organise a wedding!!?

So I'm starting to feel more organised!

Have a fabulous weekend!

I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here...

Its been an up and down week. A few emotional moments, a few big days driving (had to go to Gympie and back on Thursday - 3 hours there, 3 hours in Gympie, 3 hours home= knackered) and I've been a bit in my own little world.

On Thursday it was mine and OH's 10 year anniversary... T.E.N. Years! Wow. We didn't do anything much, OH wanted to get takeaway for dinner so I didn't have to cook, but I decided to cook anyway. I had chicken breast marinated in pesto, and then pan fried, with a nice clean salad, and OH had his favourite steak. We followed that up with a celebratory drink - white wine for me, bourbon for him. Happy Anniversary!

Training has been going well this week. I powered through all my sessions, but slept in again for Friday step - oops! Got up at 6 this morning and took the dogs for a walk, and then went for a run around the neighbourhood. I did a few intervals of jogging, and then, inspired by the Biggest Loser last night where they had to run around Royal Randwick racecourse... decided to change it to sprint intervals - woohoo!! (kept picturing Nathan sprinting along like he did - that man is a machine) Felt great! Well, when I could catch my breath I felt great, I was gasping for breath most of the time :-)

Tonight we are having a BBQ here, with about 10 friends. So we've decided to have a table tennis tournament! I'm really looking forward to this, should be a great laugh. I've decided to go and get a prize for the winner too - cant wait!

Oh, before I forget too - here's a few pics of my wedding shoes... (and the corner of my wedding dress!)

Devolution

The devolution of my footwear choices... through the ages...

Shoe number 1: My favourite Sachi heels. Soooo high, soooo pointy toed. I am so in love with these shoes. These are the kind of shoes, that every time I put them on, I think "God I love these shoes".

Too much time spent in these shoes has been my undoing though. I used to wear them all day, every day. And then. In the last year or two - mega painful arches... *sob*

These shoes and I only get together very rarely these days.

Which lead to my next stage of footwear:

Shoe number 2... the slightly more sensible heel, complete with sturdy ankle strap. These are super comfy, until I take them off. Then I pay for it for the next week, with arches and heels screaming at me.

My chiropracter used to laugh at me, whenever I would say "look! I'm wearing my sensible shoes!" Then he would torture my feet, trying to loosen them up so that I could walk without hobbling.

Damn you, Shoe number 1!

And look what I have resorted to... *sniffle*

Shoe number 3 - Nanna shoes from hell.

I got these a few weeks ago. I refused to buy the rounded toe ones, they're just not me. I also refused to go completely flat, no doubt that will be the next step. Luckily I wear my work trousers quite long, so they are mostly unseen. They are so ugly!

boohoo.

You should see my wedding shoes. Strappy, sparkly silver heels, which I think are higher than shoe number 1. Yep, after wearing them for the wedding day, I'm sure I'm gonna be a cripple!

***************************************************************************

In other news, today I did sprint intervals on the treadmill at 13.1 km/hr (yes the "0.1" IS important!) That is a record for me on the treadmill, and its still not really that fast is it! I'm aiming to work on that each week, and see how fast I can go :)

Good morning Hamstrings!!...

Thats what I was saying to myself this morning at gym...

Got up, went to gym, did my first shoulder session since my traps locked up a few weeks ago - its all good. Followed up with some incline treadmill and some jogging - its all good. Got down on the floor to stretch before going home...? HELLLLLOOOOO hamstrings!

What the hell happened? My hamstrings started cramping the minute I started to stretch. I've never had a hamstring cramp before, and I tell ya, I dont want another one! I could barely touch my toes - WTF? I stretched them out for longer than normal, but I was seriously grimmacing - it HURT.

Now every time I bend over, they continue to pull and cramp. I have always been able to bend over to touch my toes with my palms flat to the floor and knees straight. Right now, I cannot get the tips of my fingernails to touch the floor... ?

Tomorrow I'm doing an hour cardio, so after I'm nice and warm I will do lots more stretching. Will put some tiger balm on tonight too before bed.

We had a very uneventful weekend, the highlight was a trip to Victoria Point, a game of pinball and lunch (half of which I gave to the birds that swarmed in on us) by the bay - nice :)