Water running at the beach; 6km & another great day at big school!

Today my husband had a day off work so we dropped the boys at school and headed down to Freshwater Beach.  I wasn't going to run today as I've been sore lately.   But we checked out the ocean pool, which was filling up.  The water level was at about my hips and there were people walking so I decided to run some laps.  It was awesome!  Definitely not easy and the bottom of the pool was a little slippery.

Awesome ocean pool run today!

I ran out of time to blog my run yesterday but I did a slow and sore 6km.  Tonight I did a few light weights.  Overall my body is feeling abit better today than it has all week.

It was perfect beach weather.  Warm but not too warm, though my poor pale skin is looking a teensy bit red (yes I did put sunscreen on!).  Also the surf was relatively flat.  I'm not a fan of being pummelled by waves.

Flat and still - just the way I like it!

Such a glorious day - I love the Northern Beaches

 There's a fancy restaurant called Pilu right at the beach.  But there's also a kiosk attached to it where we always get pork panini sandwiches for lunch. They're officially called the 'suckling pig panini' but I try and forget the name because its a bit of a turn off.  But they taste great.  It was a great day out together.

lunch

Suckling pig panini (sorry any vegetarians out there!)

The boys have had a really good week at school this week.  Everyday I've been told 'they've been really good today'.  I'm loving it!  I really hope it lasts.  I'm so glad they are getting the support they deserve and that they've had such a great start.

5km & autism apps

5km this morning, stiff and slow, which is about standard at the moment.  I'm off to do some stretching now.


This afternoon my husband and I got to sit down with the twins' teacher.  We got to talk over any concerns about the boys and how they were settling in.  So far she seems like a fantastic, caring teacher.  She asked all the right questions and is very open to having my BCBA come in and supervise.  PLUS the school obtained funding for the boys to get an iPad. This is going to be invaluable for T2 because he LOVES technology.  So my job now is to find some useful apps. But its SO difficult because there are so many and its really difficult to know how effective they are until you purchase them.  So far two apps have caught my eye.  They are both for visual schedules and task analysis.  The first one is the  Choiceworks App.

Choiceworks App

T2 could definitely use this

The other app that looks useful is called First then App

Do you know of any other apps that are great for kids with autism?

9km long run & chilling at home with the fam

T2 woke up with an asthmatic cough at 5.44am - ouch, its Sunday for crying out loud!  So I gave him some ventolin and thought I'll just lie down for a little while and then get up and do my long run.  I opened my eyes and it was past 7.30am!  My punishment?  The sun belting down on my head during my 9km.  But I can't complain because other Aussies are frying in different parts of the country.  I felt slow and hot.  I'm starting to feel the need...the need for speed!  Therefore I'm going to start looking around at some other programs that incorporate at least one speed session a week as well as a long run.  Any suggestions?

My dear mother-in-law went to the bakery this morning, and bought...hot cross buns!  Oh the yummy deliciousness!  I just can't resist them.

Please don't tell me its too early!

I know - alot of butter!

The rest of the day was spent swimming with the family, cooking for this week's lunches and doing a little reading for my nursing course.  Later my sister-in-law popped over.  I totally love her and us 3 girls had a natter over a tea.  She's just returned from China and picked up some Tiger Balm from Singapore.  I'm going to give it a whirl after my next Parkrun.

mini-quiches

Choc chip Cookies

Recipe for the choc chip cookies is here.  I made them much smaller than the recipe said, but they're still pretty huge.

I'm feeling really tired this evening.  I wonder if the 9km (the longest run since I've started back running) has fatigued me?  My darling husband gave my legs a rub and just had a soak in the bath so feeling a little better now.

Back to school for the twinnies tomorrow.  I'm going to miss them, a little.  I really hope there's no nose bleeds this week.

Any suggestions for a 12 week half marathon program that has a little speedwork?

Week 5 of Lazyrunner 10k program; cricket and a visitor

Finished week 5 of the Lazyrunner 10k program today.  It was supposed to be 5kms but I think i ran a little longer.  No Parkrun for me because I was coaching Milo cricket :-(  The things we do for our kids!  There's 3 weeks left so then I'll be back to Parkrun every Saturday.

I have a mouth ulcer.  Its interfering with my enjoyment of food, which is serious.  Someone once told me that chocolate causes mouth ulcers.  I've chosen not to believe that.

T1 was amazing at cricket this morning.  No behaviour or attitude and his skills were incredible.  Another parent was asking what we do with him to get him good at cricket!  I actually enjoyed it, even though I whinge terribly about getting up early every Saturday morning to do it.  I've really got to stop whining about it.  The kids have really improved.

The twins were given a slipn slide T1 was into it

T2 preferred jumping in the puddles

Next up a wonderful therapist who used to work with T1 came to visit.  She is one of those people you can't imagine ever being angry or upset or saying a bad word about anyone.  Our whole family adores her.  She is such a great person and she bought the boys belated Christmas presents.  I love how all our long-term therapists come and visit.

They were also given these nut free (actually everything free!) cookies
They taste just like Tiny Teddies!

They were also given these bath toys and some pool toys

After that it was cooking for the lunch boxes.  Today was vegetable and ham fritters.  You can get the recipe here. We've decided not to let the boys sample them until they get them in their lunchbox.  I figure they'll be more hungry at school and hopefully will eat them.

Ham and vegetable fritters for lunch boxes - finger crossed!

5ish km; The Wolf of Wall Street & medical mysteries

It was such a relief to run in cool, non-humid weather.  I really enjoyed my run this morning.  I didn't measure it but I know it was at least 5km.  This morning I discovered there is going to be a school fun run!  Ooh how exciting.  I wonder if the other parents will be competitive, fast, slow etc.  Added incentive to train!  Some of the mums look pretty fit so it will be really interesting.

I'm making a few dietary adjustments to try and eradicate some nasty cyclical headaches I'm getting.  They're starting to affect my quality of life.  I'm going to swap my black tea for green tea (waaa!) and eat miso soup with tofu a couple of times a day.  I'm giving it one month.  If they don't improve I'm going to get medical advice.  That's medical mystery no.1.

T2's nose bled again and the school rang to pick him up.  It was gushing.  Then I looked up the side effects of his new dose of asthma preventer - uncommon side effect?...bleeding and irritation of the nasal lining.  Bingo!  Hopefully we can work this out quickly.  Its been affecting his first week and he really doesn't need that.  That is medical mystery no. 2.

T1 is going SO well at school.  Indistinguishable so far, by all accounts.  Woohoo!  I'm reserving judgement though.

I blame hungryrunnergirl for this! My 2nd 'froyo'

My first Vmax experience - comfy chairs!

A couple of nights ago my husband and I saw Wolf of Wall Street.  It was really good.  I enjoyed the story (never trust a stockbroker!).  I loved Matthew Mcconaughey in it.  I didn't recognize him at first.  Has he been taking acting lessons?  I never used to like any of his acting.  But be warned, its R rated for a reason!

What's your favourite movie?

7km & lunchbox success and failure

A humid 7km this morning as day 2 of Week 6 of the Lazyrunner 10km program.  I'm not supposed to do these runs consecutively, but I'm just so enthusiastic at the moment.  And importantly, I think my morning runs are really helping me emotionally and mentally get through the twins' first week of school.  So its my body and I'll run if I want to.....run if I want to...(for those too young to get it just move on).

I saw two pelicans on my run! 

This morning was a breeze compared to yesterday.  No nose bleeds, no hats down drains, everyone was happy.  I'm starting to get to know a few Mums from school.  One family lives just down the road.  They seem like really nice people.  I love the feel of this school.  It feels like a real community.   One mum told me this morning that running is her 'thing'.  Yippee!  She does look pretty fit and I suggested we go for a run together sometime.  I hope she's not too fast for me!

My husband wants me to double-check that T2 did this all himself!

T1's handiwork - I'm so proud of those guys!

Over the weekend I started work on my goal to participate in the kitchen more for the kids' school lunches.  My mother-in-law does the cooking (I know I'm completely spoiled).  I confess, she also helped with these..she's a champion!

these were given the thumbs up by all 3

Over the weekend I tried out mini quiches and banana weetbix chocolate muffins.  The mini-quiches were a success with all three and the muffins (which are healthier) were a fail with 2/3.  I tasted them and I reckon they're yummy.  I did use dark chocolate by accident, so I may give them another go in future.  Meanwhile, I'll eat them.  Oh well.

Me and 100+ reviews on the website liked them...oh well

The recipe for the mini-quiches is here.  A tip if you make them-buy short-cut bacon.  It took me too long too cut all the gross fat off the rashers.   I also used onion flakes because my little darlings don't 'like' onion.  The recipe for the muffins is here.  I hope you have more luck with them than I do.

Do you have a favourite lunch box recipe for me to try?  I need inspiration.

8.5km & The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

A lovely 8.5km this morning at an easy pace.  I'm glad I got my run in before school starts as its going to be hot today.  Its the luxury of living close to school.

This morning is the first full day of school for the boys.  I was up before them (very rare) and heard the tap upstairs go on. "Oh no you don't" I thought, thinking that T2 was up to his usual tricks (he loves water).  As I approached the bathroom I saw smears of blood on the door, then blood all up my T2's arms and then I looked into his face and it was literally covered in blood!  "Is he cut? What's going on?".  Just a nose bleed - phew.  We are not a family of nose bleeders and this is actually the first time I've experienced a proper nose bleed from any of my kids.  Thanks for saving it for the first day of school buddy!

I cleaned him up a little and let him watch TV as I attempted to pinch his nose.  This is not an easy feat with a kid on the spectrum but luckily it stopped, and I was able to go for my run.  Fast forward to about 8am and it starts again - gushing everywhere.  He started wiping his nose and smearing it everywhere.  So he had blood pretty much all over him so I got him in a fairly cool bath and after a little while it stopped bleeding.  Meanwhile the clock is ticking....

My goal of looking half respectable compared to the coiffed and polished school mums began to fade.  I'm still in my running gear, hair unwashed.  I rushed downstairs and leaned over the bath to at least wash my hair (I have fine hair that really needs a wash after a run).  At 8.40 we headed out the door - my hair was wet, no make-up.

I'm walking a couple of metres in front trying to hurry the pace a little.  I could hear the principal on the megaphone.  I turned around and T2 had NO hat on.  "Where's your hat?" I asked, panic rising.  "Gone" said T2. "Well go get it!!" I yelled (I do regret the yelling part).  Then I asked "where is it?"  He led me to the drain.  At this point I thought I might crack and start sobbing on school grounds for the second time in 3 days.  Deep breaths, deep breaths..I held it together!  I peered down the drain and saw the hat, got onto my stomach and reached down as far as I could  My finger tips could just feel the hat.  At this stage I had my whole torso down a drain on school grounds.  I got the hat!!  And off we went.

I just know I'm going to be one of those crazy mums no matter how hard I try :-).  Its 9.30am and very quiet.  I'm drinking tea, but probably need something much stronger :-)

Now I'm just waiting for the phone to ring ;-)