McGrath Moments

I started a workout program at the KCKCC Wellness Center in January. My sister and I worked out with a trainer 2 days a week until the end of May. In January we took our measurements, timed how long it took us to complete one mile, and did as many sit-ups and push-ups as we could in 1 minute. I can tell that my body looks much different and I can do so much more physically than I have in my entire life. I know this sounds so pathetic, but I have NEVER been able to run a mile without stopping at some point to walk. Not only can I run a mile now, but I am getting ready to participate in my first 5K in June. This is something that I never thought I would be able or interested in doing.

At our last session with our trainer, we redid all of our measurements and we did our timed sit-ups and push-ups. Like I said, I could see a big change in my body, so I knew the new measurements were going to be very impressive. NOT SO MUCH!:( I lost a total of 3 pounds the entire 4 months. 3 pounds? How is that even possible?

Well, I was sure the measurements would be more encouraging. I have heard (on TV) how people have lost 10 inches, etc. with certain weight-loss programs, so that is what I was expecting. I lost a total of 6cm. 6cm!! Are you kidding me? Jeremy, our trainer, could tell I was disappointed and he told me that there was no way I had 10 inches to lose in the first place.

The last thing we did was remeasure my BMI. I went from 24% to 18% body fat. I lost 6% body fat! Finally a GOOD result! That was something that I was proud of and I know Jeremy was proud of that too.

I was able to increase my push-ups from 10 to 40 and sit-ups from 32 to 53 in one minute.

More than anything, I am proud of myself for getting in shape and doing things that I never thought I could. At this point, I just have to keep it up and I know that is the hard part. :)

Dear Brenna,

Why does everything you say begin or end with the words poo poo or coconut? Poo poo head, coconut head, poo poo this, coconut that...blah, blah, blah. Who are you playing with at school? You CANNOT be their friend anymore. This is no way for a young lady to talk. And why do you find it so funny? ...probably because you know you shouldn't be saying these things. ENOUGH! Coconut? Why that word? I am confused.

Love you,
Mommy

Braeden's Graduation from Tots and Tales Preschool was last Thursday, May 13 at Open Door Baptist Church. I just knew that I was going to be an emotional mess, but I do think that I held it together quite well.

They opened their performance with a ballroom dance. Each male student escorted out a female student and they did a couples dance to Mozart. It was so special! The teachers explained the reason they did this dance was because they have noticed how chivalry and treating a woman like a lady has disappeared from our society, so they are doing exercises at school to teach the importance of these kinds of behaviors and manners. For lunch each day, a male student has to escort a female student to lunch and pull her chair out for her. I think teaching this is awesome and in the future some girl is going to be very lucky to have my son. Of course I think he is wonderful!

This is a picture of Braeden before the ceremony.



This is not a very good picture, but Braeden and his partner are the couple all the way to the right. She has on the black skirt. This is during their Mozart dance. He was such a gentleman!



This is Braeden walking in his cap and gown down the isle. So handsome!!



My 3.1 lbs baby boy is growing into such a wonderful child. Ed and I are so proud of him and look forward to witnessing all of his future accomplishments. Hopefully life will slow down a bit and not continue to speed by as the last 5 years have!

Why do I have such an issue with my children calling me "Mom"? I want to be called Mommy or Mama. I feel like they are growing up too fast and "Mom" seems like such a grown-up way to address me. I call my Mom, "Mom" but I am thirty years-old, so that seems okay to me. Believe it or not, but I correct them whenever they call me "Mom". I tell them, "it is either Mommy or Mama, not Mom." They just laugh at me and say, "sorry Mama." I heard Brenna call Ed "Dad" yesterday and I was shocked it didn't bother him. Doesn't he want to be their Daddy? Yes, I do admit I am probably going to be labeled a crazy person for writing about this, but I can't help how I feel. My poor kiddos!! :)

At Braeden's 5-year well visit, our Pediatrician suggested that we get Braeden's blood drawn to check for high cholesterol. My family and Ed's family both suffer from high cholesterol and heart/blood pressure issues. First of all, let me say that I adore our Pediatrician! I have referred all of my friends and family with children to her and they love her too, but I thought this was a little aggressive. I did not want to make Braeden go through getting his blood drawn for something that I felt was certainly not going to be a problem. High cholesterol? HE IS 5 YEARS OLD! Well, I am sure you know how the results came out. Braeden's cholesterol was high. How did this happen?

When I called the office for his results, the nurse told me that it was time for a lifestyle change. I was kind of in shock when I was talking to her on the phone, so I just sort of agreed with what she was saying and hung up the phone. I felt like the most horrible Mom in the world. How did I let this happen? But the more I thought about everything, I realized that maybe there wasn't much I could have done differently. I cook dinner at home almost every night and never fry anything. We have fast food once or twice a month. I don't think that is excessive at all. Perhaps the nurse should have asked about our "lifestyle" before asking me to change it. Maybe there is something genetic going on. Anyone who has seen Braeden knows he is definitely not obese. He is a thin, active 5 year old boy. Every Mom wants their children to be as healthy as possible, so I guess this will be something we will need to keep an eye on.

I have a friend, Rachel, visiting from Phoenix. She is staying with us this week and it has been an adjustment for the kids. Braeden is sleeping, dressing, playing, etc. in Brenna's room and they are taking baths in our bathroom. For kids, a small change in their routine can be quite confusing. This morning Braeden was still trying to "figure out" who Rachel is. The last time she was here, he was only 6 months old. This conversation happened in the car on the way to school:

Braeden: Miss Rachel is your friend?

Me: Yes.

Braeden: Did you used to play with her on the playground?

I think Braeden equates friends and playing together at school. That's where he sees his friends!

Brenna's conversation on the way to school: (I should first say, my sister's son was Baptised last Saturday at St. Pat's)

Brenna: There's church! (We pass St. Pat's on the way to school)

Me: We were there last weekend, weren't we?

Brenna: Carson's in there.

Brenna: He took a bath.

Brenna: They washed his hair!

She is talking about how they held him over the Holy Water and placed water and oil on his forehead. She is so funny!

A couple of weeks ago, Ed's sister Katie and her family came to visit from Toledo. We were able to get an updated "cousins picture". Everyone is getting so big! *Please don't judge me for Brenna's socks...she wanted to dress herself that day! :)



The weekend before Easter, we went to The Grand Court, where Ed's Grandma lives. The grandchildren enjoyed an Easter Egg Hunt and were able to meet The Easter Bunny.



This is Braeden and his cousin Helen. They were born only two months apart and are great friends. They always have so much fun together and love to have sleepovers at each other's houses.



Easter weekend was CRAZY! It started on Friday morning...

7am- went to Price Chopper for weekly groceries and Easter dinner

8am- baked cookies and brownies for the Ronald McDonald House

9am- my sister's baby, Carson, arrived (I watch him every Friday)

10am- stuffing Easter Eggs, cleaning house, laundry, and then the mini-tornado passed through the neighborhood

*I know there is no such thing as a mini-tornado, but if you were at my house, you would understand. I was so afraid for the trash men's lives that I invited two strangers into my house until the storm passed. Stupid to do in the world we live in?...probably, but they were perfectly nice men and very grateful. Guess who's trashcans were placed next to their garage doors yesterday? Mine! Everyone else's trashcans were thrown in their yards or driveway. I took their gesture as a little "Thank You."

Okay, on with my day...10am-12pm- no electricity!

2pm- started boiling 4 dozen eggs- 2 dozen for the kids to dye, 2 dozen to make into deviled eggs

3pm- Mom arrived to start making dinner for the Ronald McDonald House

3:30pm- Ed calls to tell me that we will be taking one of his clients out for dinner. What??? I haven't showered all day! I still need to drive downtown to drop off the food to the Ronald McDonald House! I was still watching Carson! He wants me to find a babysitter for tonight! OMG!!

4pm- Ed's Mom arrived to help too and agreed to watch the kids!

*We made Greek Chicken Pasta Salad, Corn and Potato Chowder, Loaves of French Bread, cookies and brownies. We hope that all of the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House enjoyed the dinner. It was a great experience to provide for families going through so much with ill children.

5:30pm- dropped food off

6pm- jumped in the shower and we left to go pick up Ed's client for dinner

10pm- BEDTIME!!!


Saturday we dyed Easter Eggs, finished cleaning the house, cut the grass...everything that needed to be done to prepare our home for Easter with my Mom's side of the family.



This is Brenna after my sister put curlers in her hair. She was supposed to sleep in them, but 5 minutes after Lindsey finish, Brenna came down from the toy room with all of them taken out of her hair!

Easter morning pictures before church!

My Mom and I spent Easter Sunday in the Nursery. This is a picture of Braeden, Brenna, and Baby Carson! I think it is a great picture!

We had an Easter egg hunt at our house with all of the family!