Rocking A Fussy Baby Is A Cardio Workout... Right?

I came to this conclusion at 530 this morning as I rocked Ryan, begging him to go back to sleep, cringing at the pain in my calves with each push of the rocker-recliner. Now, I know you're thinking - what the heck was I doing for simple rocking to be so painful? Well, remember - I now go to the gym after his earlier feeding - anywhere between 2 and 3 am. (And it's working great - already lost 5.5 pounds this week and more importantly - starting to lose the inches!! Woo-Hoo!!) Yesterday was "legs day" where I just work legs (hubby helped me put the routine together - just concentrate on one body area per day so the muscles get the proper rest between workouts! Wed=legs, Thur=chest, Fri=back, Sat=arms, Sun=abs, Mon=shoulders, Tues=just cardio). I really worked on my legs, as that's not just my problem area, but also one of my stronger areas (chest is the hardest for me - the weakest area! AUGH!!). And as I was rocking, pushing with my calves, feeling the sorness from the previous day, it dawned on me that motherhood in itself can be a whole workout routine! I mean, think about it! You have a 15 pound wiggling sack of potatoes that you carry around, jiggle when he's fussy, rock him back and forth, play with him. And let's not forget putting him in the car seat carrier and having to haul him up and down stairs and out to the truck! That really gets those arms pumped! In fact, I change arms each day when I carry him out to the car - that way not just the right gets stronger! Then there's working the abs. I can hear you out there: And just how do you work abs as a mother? Well, let me tell ya! :) The other day, Ryan was fussy (see the teething post!! lol!) and nothing would comfort him but movement (see: we walk and walk and walk and walk - there's some cardio!!), but after having walked him around the apartment and jiggled him up and down for nearly 45 minutes, my arms were getting just a wee bit tired. So I sat on the end of the bed, only to have him let me know very loudly that he wanted to move (the recliner/rocker didn't help this time so I had to come up with something different). Then it came to me - I twisted my torso from side to side while cradling him in my arms, giving him a rocking motion that was different. Bingo! After 15 minutes, he was out! And I realized I was also working those obliques by tightening my abs and twisting the torso - feel the burn!! lol! I think someone should write a how to book on exercising while caring for that crying baby!! Who needs dumbbells when you have an infant? Who needs a treadmill when you have a toddler? So now I don't feel as guilty when I cut my workout a little short by doing only 5 laps in the pool instead of 10, or only do 3 sets instead of 4 - I get a second workout just by being a mom! Now ain't that cool??!!

It's Official - I'm Certifiably Insane

Now I know those of you who have known me for some time, are thinking, "Yeah, we already knew that. What's taken you so long to figure it out?" So I'm slow! But this week has been the clincher to convince me y'all have been right all along (and if my brother is reading this - I may never again admit you're right so enjoy it while you can!!! lol!). If you noticed, I've haven't updated my blog in awhile. I've been just a little busy. First, I had to finish shopping for all the contest prizes!! If you haven't checked out my contest and prizes, I suggest cruising on over to my home page (link on the left over there under "My Home Page" ) and taking a look-see. Then I discovered Ryan has outgrown his newborn clothes and now needs a size 3-6 months. I know, I know - it's not like this snuck up on me as he's almost 3 months old and is growing like a little weed. But in my mind's eye, he's still that fragile little newborn I brought home from the hospital! Needless to say, we went to that evil of all evil stores: Babies 'R Us. I mean, this must be the first realm of Hell, as there's just so much to buy and not enough checks in the checkbook - I mean money in the account! :) Where was all these cute clothes for boys 17 years ago with my first born?? Did they just now realize that boys can be dressed in cute little outfits, too?? Sheesh! (rolling eyes here, as common sense is so rare these days) And Friday was wedding anniversary number 5! Yea!!! I was all ready to celebrate, as we've been making up for lost time of being on "pelvic rest" since last MARCH!! But nooooooooo - I was cruelly reminded that Mother Nature not only has a twisted sense of humor, she also has one hell of a mean streak!! lol! But I did get a new, nice mini hard disk drive camcorder!!! Now I can take hours upon hours of boring - I mean captivating - home videos of my children to share with my extended family!! So here's to five more years (to start with, then we'll add more as time allows! Love, ya, honey!!) and for continuing to make up for lost time! Then came Saturday, with all my good intentions of writing on my new romance, Kiss Me Once Again, and updating all the little errors on my webpage. But no - the Nebraska - Texas football game was on. Now, being a Husker fan living in California can be a pain as we're not in the tv coverage area (why not is beyond me - I mean, isn't everyone a Husker??) to watch the game, and I'm relagated to listening to it over the internet. Oh yeah - I'm the football fanatic in the house - hubby can't stand it! lol! He's a hockey player, so we're always arguing - I mean debating - about who's tougher (he's says hockey as football players wear pads and helmets! But that's another topic!). Yeah - I kinda got depressed for the rest of the weekend after that heartbreaker (we had it - we should have held on to it!!!! ) and didn't get much done. Then came the event that convinced me I'm certifiable! I got this hairbrained idea that since I didn't have enough time in the day or evening, the only time I could get back into the gym was after Ryan's middle of the night feeding: meaning anywhere between 1 and 2 am! Now I get up and feed the little Sweetpea, tuck him in bed with hubby (I'm trying to make it easier on him by having Ryan so close and not on the other side of the apartment, should he wake up hungry), get myself ready, and head to the gym for a couple of hours for a grueling, fat burning, muscle toning, I'm going to kick those size zeroes in the butt someday soon, workout. I'm on my third day, and haven't killed anyone or dropped dead myself, so it must be working! And I even managed to get my web site tweaked and fixed!! And here I am, updating my blog, getting ready to call a few bookstores and try and set up some signings, and then..... WRITE!!! I know it sounds crazy, but those couple of hours at the gym, with no worries, the mp3 player going in the background, that "zone" - gets those creative juices flowing and some of my best ideas for plots, characters, etc. come to me. It's been happening this week and I can't wait to get it all down and get my new story moving along! This morning, I even came up with the concepts of my new contests for November (gotta wait til then to see the announcements!!) and I'm all excited! So maybe I'm not as certifiable as others may believe - I've held off the men in the white coats this long and don't see them running at me, screaming and holding out a straight jacket - yet, anyway. Besides, I'm convinced the last time I saw them, it was just a delusion! :)

Website, Writing and... Teething

Yep - only two months old and he's alrady teething. That means drooling (I mean, is there a spigot in there??!!), fussiness (or is that just being male?) and extra "deposits" in the diapers! Not that I mind that he's teething - I know the kid needs teeth eventually. But he could have waited until I finished revamping my website and adding the forums!! :) I think the only reason I finished most of the web page by 1 am this morning was the two triple shot venti mochas from Starbucks yesterday! And the idea to redo the graphics and add some more features came to me - again - at that 1am feeding. And then I couldn't get it out of my head! So by last drop of formula and the sleepy burp at the 5am feeding, I had everything figured out in my head as to what I wanted. I think it turned out pretty good - though my 17 year old claims no one will actually say their own work looks like crap! :) So I'll let you be the judge. Go to my web page: www.lornakgrant.us and let me know what you think. I still have to work on getting the games and puzzles finished. I have the clues done, just need to input and upload. But after hitting the bed at 1am, feeding Ryan at 130am and then again at 415am, then getting up at 515 when hubby had to go to SD for work today and working furiously on trying to finish the web page updates - I think I'll just take it easy for the rest of the day and enjoy the little one cuddling up to me and cooing. I love the little coo's - it's funny when he has a sudden burst of vocal volume and he seems so surprised that sound came from him! For that alone, I suppose I can forgive him for the whole teething thing!

Back into the Swing of Things

I’m a writer. It feels so good to say that. Actually, I’m a published writer - which is even better to say! So what is it that I write? Well, I can tell some are about to groan and roll their eyes, but I write romances. Yep. That’s right. I write romances and am proud of it! The romances of today are not the “bodice rippers” of yesteryear! There’s many “sub” genres to romance - historicals, mystery, contemporary, time travel, paranormal (which can range from vampires to ghosts and much, much more). I write historicals - WWII era romances. As I mentioned above, I do have one pubished: A Pair of Wings, with Vintage Romance Publishing. I’ve been on a doctor imposed hiatus with a difficult pregnancy and an even more difficult delivery, so haven’t had a chance until now to get back into my writing career. But it’s been worth it, as I have an adorable little two month old son. I also have a 17 yr old son who graduates from high school this year! YIKES! Yes, it seems I’m a bit insane! They are exactly 16 years and 51 weeks apart in age! Needless to say, things can get a bit crazy around here - and this is the creative atmosphere in which I work! It’s hard to work it all in - the marketing of the current book, researching and writing the new one, feeding and changing the little one, getting the teenager to do his homework and chores (yeah, right, like that’s possible in real life!), cleaning house and cooking supper. Guess which ones fall to the wayside?! Yep - the house is clean but not spotless and we eat a lot of take out! lol! I’ve learned to power clean the house during the baby’s 20 minute naps and type one handed as I’m feeding or holding him! Sigh… but it’s all been worth it as I look at my family and all I’ve managed to accomplish with my writing as well. I'm a writer and a mother and love the challenge and triumphs of combining the two! Right now, I'm working on marketing A Pair of Wings, researching and writing the next one, Kiss Me Once Again, and updating/revamping my web page. I've got lots of great contests going on, so that keeps me busy as well! I love this life! :)