Update!

Rattle Me Bones 10K

PB - 1:01:06

October 25, 2009.

A précis of news coverage

As long-time Fringe readers know, I really do love my job!

But, alas, like many jobs, even dream-jobs, there is usually little recognition for all the hard work we do.

That is, until now!

Last night on The CBC National News there was a call out to my little team of media monitors and analysts. Watch for yourself!!!!

Yep...now, if someone asks what I do for a living I can say, "I deliver a précis of news coverage to the Prime Minister!"

PM Harper is correct, he DOES NOT watch Canadian news broadcasts....I DO...FOR HIM!!!!

Which sounds more impressive than, I watch the news for the Prime Minister!

Ready! Set! Go Gobble Gobble!

A few weeks into the school year I got a phone call from DJ's school. Apparently, every second nutrition break he was hanging out with a bunch of grade 3-6 students. DJ would race out of the Grade 1 door and head over to the far corner of the track. The grade 5 teacher called to tell me of DJ's fascination with this crowd.

Apparently, every day, DJ has been leaving his peers and joining in the grade3-6 track team practices.

The coach told me that he does not want to discourage DJr, but that he wanted to make sure my future track star understood he was too young to participate in the upcoming track team competition.

That afternoon, I sat DJ down and asked him about his track aspirations.

He was so cute. At first he thought he was in trouble. Then, I think I figured he was going to be banned from the team practices.

He smiled innocently at me and simply said he liked running with the big kids. It was good exercise and making him strong and healthy.

I congratulated him on his commitment and hard work. Then I gently explained how he could not compete with the school team...not yet.

He smiled. Nodded in agreement. Gave me a big hug and said, " That's ok mommy. I do not run for them. I run for me, cause I like it...and um, I run for you."

"You run for mommy?"

"Well mommy, I like it when you race and I want to race like you. But really, I just want to run with you when I get big and when I get better at running. Mommy, you go to your running class to learn to run - and I go to the running team to learn to run and maybe one day we can run together. I would really like that. Mommy, running makes you happy and running makes me happy and I like being happy with you!"

WOW. WHAM!

It really hit me how my transformation from being overweight, inactive and unhealthy has impacted my children.

My children see how I now take time for myself, and that physical exercise, working out, and taking care of myself makes me happy. Heck, it makes me happy, content, proud and at peace.

They see the benefits to leading an active lifestyle. Both the physical ones, and the emotional ones.

I am committed to keeping up with my new routines of working out, eating properly and taking care of myself. I am committed to being a positive role model for my three children.

So, this past weekend we all ran together. We entered the The Fall Colours Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot race.

And everything about it made me happy.

Pre-race photo!

Ready....Set....Go!

And we are off!!!!

I love this photo of the boys! DJ's facial expression is priceless!

DJ loved the experience. He was awesome!

Click HERE for more photos of DJ giving it his all!

Anderson was excited...and then got a little whiny ...but soon got his second win and finished on a high note!

Click HERE for more photos of Anderson.

Little Madigan ran the ENTIRE 1km on her own. She was so determined. When people cheered for her she would stop and clap! It was hilarious! This photo so captures her race with me loudly cheering her on every step of the race!

Her photos from the race are great! I love the one with her running and a man running behind her with his screaming child! Priceless! Click HERE to see all Madigan`s professional shots!

Here we are after the race. The kids were super proud of their t-shirts, their bibs and especially their medals.

I was just proud of them...and very thankful.

Happy be-lated thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadian bloggers!

I did it - a PB!!!

I did it!!!!!
A half marathon!!!!!!
2:19:21.6

My runners!

Left foot: Over 80 lbs gone!

Right foot: Only 21km to go!

Moments before lining up at the start line.

It was amazing. It was the Army Run - so, lots of soldiers, and brave, injured soldiers started the pack. Read THIS amazing story about a double amputee running this race!

I felt strong the entire race. I kept with my plan and never "lost it emotionally".

This wonderful cheering squad met me at 7km, 17km and at the finish line. Each time giving my encouragement and strength. My heart swelled with their yells of, "GO MOMMY GO!"

I finished very strong and felt great!

I had realistically figured I COULD finish in the 2:30s. I had privately hoped to finish in the 2:20s...and was ecstatic to clock 2:19:21.6!!! A Personal Best, you know, since it was the first time I ever ran a half!

We headed off to Chapters - the kids played with Thomas the Train and read books, and I enjoyed a nice coffee, and admired my dog-tag medal!!!!

(Believe it or not, yes, I was able to get up! AND, after running the half, I took the three kids to the local pool for some fun. We then went out for dinner...it was an amazing day!)

WW - Say cheese!

Today's Wordless Wednesday is actually also a Wordful Wednesday post.

While the photos I am going to post all speak for themselves - a young family, travelling across Canada on summer vacation - having the best time ever - they do not express my gratitude and pride.

So far, we have taken approximately 140 photos and I am in many of them. In fact, I volunteer to be in many and throw the camera at hubby so that he can capture a special moment. This is a HUGE shift in attitude. Before loosing my weight I shied away from the camera. So much so, that there are months, and many special occasions that you would be hard-pressed to find a photo of me.

People always ask me to post before and after photos - and the truth is that I have very few photos of me - especially in the last year or so. I was ashamed of how I looked. I protected myself by being the one taking all the photos. Never posing.

Now, as I upload our adventure vacation photos, I am so very happy. Now, I am part of the memory. I am not just behind the camera. I am in the action!

Now my kids will have photos of me. Photos of mommy smiling. Confident. Joking around. Enjoying life. Playing with them. Goofing off for the camera. Relaxing. Happy.

We will all have fun memories captured of a family trip that we all went on together - that we all enjoyed. Images of their mother are captured forever, not only in photos, but also in their hearts.





















For more Wordless Wednesday entries click HERE!

Or if you prefer Wordful Wednesdays, click HERE!

Realistic, Attainable and Measurable

Yet another frustrating weigh-in last night. I am up a pound...well, actually, not "A" pound, but, "THE" pound. Yep. That pesky little bugger that I have been gaining and loosing for 10 weeks now!

Full stop.

Let's switch up our thinking, and look at this from another angle:



Hmmmm...... how about looking at it from this angle?





OK - that was not very pretty, but it did get me thinking of this whole weight loss journey a bit differently.

Those photos above? Well, those jeans are the same size I wore back in 2000. In fact, they are the smallest size I have worn since getting engaged - forget the whole multiple pregnancy excuse! ENGAGED!!!

(ok, my tummy is bigger, and the pants fit me a bit differently, but these pants were bought at a "normal" store, in a normal size, with no tears of frustration or feelings of just buying something cause it fits!)

So, perhaps I should not focus on the number on the scale, but on how my body is changing. I am leaner, stronger, fitter and I carry myself with a feeling of confidence that has been missing for a long, long time.

On Sunday I ran the furthest I have EVER run (15.8km) AND I purchased size 12 jeans.

Ya, the scale may be bouncing around the 166 mark - but I am not over eating, binge eating and I am trying to choose healthy foods. I am running 3 or 4 times a week, playing soccer, working full time AND being a full time SAHM. And my weight is not ballooning. It is not inching or catapulting up.

On Thursday our running clinic had a nutritionist as a guest speaker. She is a runner, and could easily relate to our running agendas, and she works with obese children. So, I really felt that she could relate to my struggles.

After a brief conversation she gave me a big hug and said, " Look at you! You look great! You are about to go for a 6k run! You have come a long way. But you are at a cross roads. It is very difficult to properly fuel your body to prepare and train for a half marathon while totally focused on losing weight. You need to decide if your goal is to reach your goal weight in the next 2 months or is it to successfully train, and complete a half? Maybe your new short term goal is to eat healthy and properly, and train - and then, after the race you focus on loosing the last little bit of excess weight. You may be pleasantly surprised how flipping your focus to be properly fueling your training and running your race to the best of your ability will allow your to meet your weight loss goals...but it will take more time. The key should be on refueling, repairing muscle and keeping healthy. Cutting calories and sacrificing your ability to train effectively will lead to huge disappointment. You need to set your goals."

Goals. My goals.

Well, for almost 10 months my goal has been to loose weight. Period. PERIOD. Perhaps I am suffering from tunnel vision?

I really want to train and succeed at completing a half marathon. Can you imagine the feeling I will have crossing that finish line - exactly one year from the time I could not run around the soccer pitch or run up two flights of stairs?

I have come a long way. Ten months ago, I could not even fathom running 1km let alone 22.5km!

OK. So, I need to set new goals. They need to be realistic, attainable and measurable.

What a coincidence, the weekly challenge at Amy's 15 Week challenge is all about goal setting and rewarding yourself for short term and long term goals.

Here goes:


Short term goals and associated rewards:
1. Run 3 times a week while on vacation (getting in each of my LSD Sunday runs as per my training program. REWARD - A new, cute running outfit!


2. Journal everything I eat while on vacation - The good, the bad, and the ugly. REWARD - A new sleek black coat I have been eyeing for a few weeks.

3.Enjoy my vacation and get to at least 1 WW meeting in the 3 weeks. REWARD - A pair of AMAZING red shoes I saw at Winners!

Long term goals and associated rewards:
1. Run the half marathon in September - and cross the finish line with a smile, or simply beaming with pride. REWARD - a day at the spa.

2. By Christmas day be 160 pounds. REWARD - Treat myself to a boxing day shopping spree.

Well, I think those are all realistic, attainable and measurable!

Your encouragement, support and well, prayers, are all appreciated.

I am not in a race to lose weight, I am building, defining and reconfirming who I am and what I want out of life, but embarking on a healthy lifestyle and a commitment to me.

WW - You've come a long way!

I have been asked for another before and after comparison - so, for Wordless Wednesday, here you go!

Me, on July 18, 2008.

The new me on July 21, 2009.

For more Wordless Wednesday entries click HERE!

Or if you prefer Wordful Wednesdays, click HERE!

The best gifts for the best teachers - eva!

Well, another school year is done. Another thank you gift for the teachers.

If you have been following The Fringe, you know we do not give ordinary, run-of-the-mill teacher gifts. Nope, we do it a bit out of the box...out of the box of wood, that is!

Our homemade yule logs caused many tears! Sometimes the kids use power tools and let them raid my herb garden!

Once again, the boys worked with Pepe to make some beautiful gifts. Our best yet!

The boys made wooden flower boxes, and even decorated them with a apple of flower!

We then visited the dollar store and bought a bunch of flower seeds and a nice garden ornament.

I used photos of the boys working in Pepe's workroom to make a personalized card for each. Basically, I played up the fact that these wonderful teachers have "planted the seeds of education" and the boys have "blossomed" into wonderful little boys.

I brought them to the class picnic and the boys proudly presented Ms. D and Ms. B with their gifts.

Based on the smiles and hugs shared, I am pretty sure the two best kindergarten teachers appreciated their gifts!

(Thanks Pepe and Nana for helping the boys!)

Bunny ears and peacemakers

I am still recovering from my grad-day car accident. Oh, I am not physically hurt - but a button was pushed, or a lever pulled, or a tear damn broken. Let's just say, I am still very upset about the whole situation - and in my own admission, a bit out of control. I know and realize it, but I cannot help it.

Anyways, let me wipe away my tears and start this post.

Deep breath.

I could not leave the DJ's graduation post the way it was - no. That post was about me. My accident. My wanting to be at the graduation. My frustration and emotional break down. It was not about DJ, his accomplishments, his experiences or successes.

So, let's start over!

Two years ago DJ happily climbed onto a big yellow school bus and with a quick wave and a very brave smile he was off on an educational adventure.

He loved junior kindergarten. He made some great friends. He was exposed to many interesting things, ideas, attitudes - some his parents appreciated, and some, not so much! But hey, that is the nature of school.

He fell in love with his teacher, Ms. B. She is a veteran teacher with years of experience, a heart of gold, and firm, but loving and caring way. DJ excelled!

Ms. B calls her class Kinderbunnies. On the first day of school DJ came home sporting very cute brown bunny ears.

The year flew by.

Last September, DJ came home from his first day of Senior Kindergarten proudly wearing his grey ears. He was older, wiser, more experienced Kinderbunny.



This year was super amazing. DJ started developing reading and math skills. He become more outgoing, more confident and really started to become his own person.

"DJ has enjoyed an excellent kindergarten year;making steady gains in all areas."

"He consistently displays a respectful, kind attitude towards others;congratulating classmates on their successes or gently supporting them through their challenges."

"He can typically be depended upon to practice his best behaviour."

"He routinely applies simple problem solving strategies to address disagreements between friends though they rarely involve him due to his generous nature and innate sense of fairness"

These are only a few of the statements in DJ's end of the year report that had me beaming with pride and bawling like a baby.

I cannot express how proud I am of DJ.

At graduation DJ received his silver bunny ears. These old, wise ears symbolized his retirement from kindergarten.

Do you remember the All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten poem by Robert Fulghum? Well, Ms. B has taken that idea one step further. The main theme or philosophy in her class is centred around peacemakers and peacebreakers.

This terminology has been consistent all year round.

"Johnny, is that a peacemaker decision, or a peacebreaker decision?" "Amy, is hitting a peacemaker solution or a peacebreaker solution?" "Danny, you are being such a peacemaker helping Patty build that tower!" You get the point.

And you know, the whole concept is ingenious. We now use it at home, and heck, let's face it, I have even found myself cautioning myself about making a peacebreaker decision!

Ms. B. is BRILLIANT!

Anyways. Back to graduation.

Every senior bunny received a classroom award. There was the leadership award, the musicality award, the "took good care of the books" award, the tidy award, and even the Tigger award for unbridled enthusiasm!

Every child was called up and was presented their award. At the end, Ms. B. asked if anyone had not received and award. DJ slowly raised his hand. Ms. B. then explained the philosophy of her classroom; then without further adieu, she presented my DJ with the PEACEMAKER AWARD. Tops honours. My DJ.


Can you say proud?!?!?!?!

Today was the last day of school. DJ is now off to grade one. Who knows what is in store for us...but, you know, I cannot wait to find out!

Way to go DJr!!!!!!