Alexandrite Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Good tidings! I am a mother of three children under 5, turning my focus towards postpartum recovery. This challenge I was inspired by Jane Austen genre movies/books (I usually watch many of these movies during the first week after having a baby, they are great distraction). A lot of the characters go for long, meandering walks or refreshing jaunts outside. They also dedicate themselves to improvement and uses of their time such as writing letters. To that end, I have the following quests this challenge: Walking - I plan on doing some kind of walking every day. Whether this be a roundabout of our backyard, a quick walk to the end of our gravel road and back, or something more substantial at a park, it will be done each day. This is the extent of exercise at this point until I reach 6 weeks postpartum half way through the challenge. Fooding - An effort to make good choices for a balanced diet, plus if needed removing dairy for the sake of my breastfeeding son (will find out halfway through challenge). This also includes remembering to take my vitamins and drinking enough water. Meal planning, prep, and creation. Lifeing - I have many professional hats that I have to juggle. In order to make this all work I need to create and work within a schedule/calendar. A real one that isn't just talk, that isn't just "oh I will get to it" in binge activity fashion. I need something written down and visual so my family can see what I am doing and help. Time management too. Friending - This will include finishing all thank yous for the baby gifts, writing to friends I need to correspond with, texting or calling people, getting together with others at least once a week. Improving - I have seen good gains with WaniKani for my Japanese study, so I will be returning to it again. I also am seriously considering pursuing teaching Japanese at the local high school. I must be crazy because I am not fluent by any means. But I feel like I could manage a beginners class for a rural area like ours? Also in this category is the homeschool prep stuff, the veggie garden and yard maint, and my volunteer hours for Master Gardener recertification that I am finishing up. Time to Begin! Sent by my Navi-powered device! 6 Quote Brain-Building Assassin, a.k.a Radical Domestic Jill-of-All-Trades Battle Log | Challenges: Current |18 |17 |16 |15 |14 |13 |12 |11 |10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Isaiah 40:30-31 Link to comment
Alexandrite Posted May 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Let's simplify a little. Biggest goals under each category right now so I can remain focused. Walking - once a day, somehow Fooding - vitamins and probiotic each day Lifeing - create a home calendar for accountability and time management during first week Friending - Thank you cards conquered during first week Improving - start up WaniKani again, and order preschool/homeschool decorations for our playroom during first week. If I accomplish these things, my first week reward will be a new Asian calligraphy pen and stationary! Sent by my Navi-powered device! 2 Quote Brain-Building Assassin, a.k.a Radical Domestic Jill-of-All-Trades Battle Log | Challenges: Current |18 |17 |16 |15 |14 |13 |12 |11 |10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Isaiah 40:30-31 Link to comment
mediaguy99 Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 You had your baby! Congratulations!!! I hope that you're getting good rest and enjoying that new-baby-smell 1 Quote Level 21 Wild Elf Ranger/Assassin Spoiler I'm not really sure these stats are relevant anymore... STR: 31 DEX: 26 STA: 30 CON: 24 WIS: 30 CHA: 26 Current Challenge Link to comment
Alexandrite Posted May 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 You had your baby! Congratulations!!! I hope that you're getting good rest and enjoying that new-baby-smell [emoji4] Oh yes, new baby smells definitely were fun. Now "Frei-bird" is chunking up and bathing more frequently is becoming necessary, lol. Dr. Focker (the husband) jokes every time I have a baby that the NFL will be contacting me for breastmilk donations because of how it really turns my babies into tanks! I am having fun with it all. Just need more sleep, ALL the time. And food. =) Sent by my Navi-powered device! 3 Quote Brain-Building Assassin, a.k.a Radical Domestic Jill-of-All-Trades Battle Log | Challenges: Current |18 |17 |16 |15 |14 |13 |12 |11 |10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Isaiah 40:30-31 Link to comment
Hazard Posted May 6, 2016 Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 I foresee...... walking while practicing reciting Jane Austen in Japanese. 3 Quote You haven't seen my Final Form I Stand With Gina Carano Link to comment
Alexandrite Posted May 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 I foresee...... walking while practicing reciting Jane Austen in Japanese. Why have I not thought about reading Jane Austen in Japanese before now?! Adding to list of needed books... Today's Persuasion, 1995: It has been a good prep week honestly. Practicing some of the quests/habits ahead of time. I spent M, Tues, and Thurs mowing the back and front yards at different intervals for my walking, carrying Freibird on my chest in the Ergo. My "walking" was small and doing a little more each day helped pace me. I would fill up the bag or run out of fuel and stop for the day. Wed I cleaned the downstairs of the house, and felt I had enough energy to do so for the first time since delivery. But Thurs I pretty much did waaaay too much. Mowing the front, then garden weeding, then no nap, and more garden time. I could hardly function that night and fell into bed as Dr. Focker rocked Freibird to sleep. So nap is definitely a requirement, and only one chunk of big activity can be done per day right now. Fri was recover, but I still managed to finish weeding the bit of garden that was left (it is 40x60 total!) and walked briefly in the yard. It has been very hard to get into the office to get anything done while at home with the kids, now that I am taking naps instead of staying up to work. Ill figure it out eventually. It has also been hard to keep up with food intake. I hate to eat protein bars at night because I get so thirsty later, but Im starving by 1-2am! I love me some big poppyseed muffins from the store though.... I have managed to take my vitamins each day, but not all the ones every day. I need a multi with iron in it too (gummy vits dont have irom for safety reasons). Prenatal, calcium, probiotic, all at different times of the day of course. Going to set a reminder on my phone I think. And finally, I was talking to Dr. Focker about NF again and he wants to join the challenge this round! I am going to get him set up on his phone I think so he can do his own thread and whatnot. I am very excited to get him going and help him stick to his fitness goals. I think I may press for him to run home from work as a way to get his running in. He is going to go cut wood this weekend too. Nothing like being a lumberjack to build up muscle! Sent by my Navi-powered device! 3 Quote Brain-Building Assassin, a.k.a Radical Domestic Jill-of-All-Trades Battle Log | Challenges: Current |18 |17 |16 |15 |14 |13 |12 |11 |10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Isaiah 40:30-31 Link to comment
karinajean Posted May 7, 2016 Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 oh nice challenge! (I was thinking that maybe they have a japanese language jane austin audio book that you can read.) 1 Quote 2014! #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 2015! #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | #11 | #12 | 2016! #13 | #14 | #15 | #16 | #17 | #18 | #19 | #20 | #21 | #22 | #23 | 2017! #24 | #25 | #26 | #27 | #28 | #29 | #30 | #31 | #32 | #33 | 2018! #34 | #35 | #36 | #37v1 | #37v2 | 2019! #38 | #39 | #40 | reference materials | academy battle log mermaid ninja assassin. on a motorcycle. with swords. and knitting needles. and kittens. Link to comment
SnowOwl Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 I love Jane Austen. 1 Quote Race: Elf ~ Class: Druid Apprentice ~ Level: 12 Current Challenge 2015-2016 Challenges: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve 2018-2019 Challenges: (first one in progress) Link to comment
imjustarogue Posted May 10, 2016 Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 Yay! More walking! 1 Quote Assassin **Challenges** Current Challenge: Black Daiquiri is Wonder Woman Battle Log: Black Daiquiri battles the pink robots Previous: 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Link to comment
Alexandrite Posted May 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 So here I am, 1am, (I wrote most of this then and forgot to post, lol) hoping that the little Freibird falls asleep soon in his crib because Dr. Focker would love to be able to sleep in his own bed again eventually. Yay transitions! Monday was a good start day. Dr. Focker is aiming at running twice a week, waking up at 5am each day for quiet/bible time, stretching, and morning prep. I told him kindly that he may be doing it with a baby since early mornings are difficult for me and I need all the sleep I can get! He also wants to do more core strengthening and such. As for me, I woke up a zombie, fed the baby, gave him to Dr. Focker for burping, and woke up an hour later still sitting up in bed. I don't even remember falling asleep. I tried to take it easy but today was the day for ultimate potty training fail with my daughter (three outfits in one day, plus bedding) and constant redirection needed for my oldest son to stop terrorizing everything in sight. Dr. Focker shared with me at lunch that he read an article about postpartum depression and wants to make sure he is doing what he can to help me not fall into it. This included making sure I didnt try overdoing things by doing too much or feeling like I had to have the house clean, food made, or everything together all the time. He is such a good husband, this made me feel so taken care of right now. So most of the day was spent doing a whole lot of movies, haha. We did go outside in the evening and walk around the backyard, plus planted about 37 potato plants as the official first crop in our garden, yay! I hurt my right quad a bit doing too much squatting up and down while wearing Freibird, but arnica gel helped. Summary: Walking - yes! Fooding - forgot actually... Lifeing - discussion are in play Friending - completed half on Sat, just need to finish rest and mail Improving - did start up WK again, and averaged about 80% correct after a three month break? Not bad! Sent by my Navi-powered device! 4 Quote Brain-Building Assassin, a.k.a Radical Domestic Jill-of-All-Trades Battle Log | Challenges: Current |18 |17 |16 |15 |14 |13 |12 |11 |10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Isaiah 40:30-31 Link to comment
Alexandrite Posted May 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 As a quick mini-challenge update, I am doing Super Toughess, Regeneration, and Super Intelligence. I totally just slammed the Int category with my WaniKani study (20 min increments throughout the day, SRS style) AND completion of my Master Gardeners exam tonight. Phew!! Today's summary coming later. Sent by my Navi-powered device! 2 Quote Brain-Building Assassin, a.k.a Radical Domestic Jill-of-All-Trades Battle Log | Challenges: Current |18 |17 |16 |15 |14 |13 |12 |11 |10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Isaiah 40:30-31 Link to comment
SnowOwl Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 15 hours ago, Alexandrite said: Dr. Focker shared with me at lunch that he read an article about postpartum depression and wants to make sure he is doing what he can to help me not fall into it. This included making sure I didnt try overdoing things by doing too much or feeling like I had to have the house clean, food made, or everything together all the time. He is such a good husband, this made me feel so taken care of right now. How wonderful and supportive! And way to go on all the studying! 1 Quote Race: Elf ~ Class: Druid Apprentice ~ Level: 12 Current Challenge 2015-2016 Challenges: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve 2018-2019 Challenges: (first one in progress) Link to comment
Alexandrite Posted May 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 How wonderful and supportive! And way to go on all the studying! Thank you! Summary: Walking - yes. Actually I ended up walking a lot upstairs in our house trying to get Freibird asleep (still trying to figure out his preferences). Fooding - took my probiotic before bed. Calcium seems to upset Freibird's stomach so I will wait until morning. Lifeing - still figuring out preferences on schedules, but I am sticking to the whole dinner early-yard work after right now. Friending - nothing today Improving - Lots here, with Master gardener stuff and WaniKani. Sent by my Navi-powered device! 2 Quote Brain-Building Assassin, a.k.a Radical Domestic Jill-of-All-Trades Battle Log | Challenges: Current |18 |17 |16 |15 |14 |13 |12 |11 |10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Isaiah 40:30-31 Link to comment
Norgaard Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 good luck!!! oh japaneese sounds so cool! are everything going great? 1 Quote Be like water my friend Link to comment
Alexandrite Posted May 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 Forgot to mention I enacted another 4-week break from FB and social media to help me this challenge. I see better focus and more progress without FB especially. Some people were sad because they want more baby photos and updates, but I still respond to messaging. Also, we have a real "first vacation" planned at the end of this month, taking the trailer across the state to visit friends. I am supposed to be working on getting the trailer ready, but the garden planting has taken precedence. Gardening is by far much more fun to me too, lol. Sent by my Navi-powered device! 4 Quote Brain-Building Assassin, a.k.a Radical Domestic Jill-of-All-Trades Battle Log | Challenges: Current |18 |17 |16 |15 |14 |13 |12 |11 |10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Isaiah 40:30-31 Link to comment
Norgaard Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 4 minutes ago, Alexandrite said: Forgot to mention I enacted another 4-week break from FB and social media to help me this challenge. I see better focus and more progress without FB especially. Some people were sad because they want more baby photos and updates, but I still respond to messaging. Also, we have a real "first vacation" planned at the end of this month, taking the trailer across the state to visit friends. I am supposed to be working on getting the trailer ready, but the garden planting has taken precedence. Gardening is by far much more fun to me too, lol. Sent by my Navi-powered device! I love gardening! specialy if it have something to do with fruits, berries, vegs and herbs the facebook one is awesome. I deleted my facebook app on my phone, so I have to go trough the browser, which makes me much less likely to browse trough, saving some time to enjoy things around me 1 Quote Be like water my friend Link to comment
Alexandrite Posted May 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 I love gardening! specialy if it have something to do with fruits, berries, vegs and herbs [emoji3] the facebook one is awesome. I deleted my facebook app on my phone, so I have to go trough the browser, which makes me much less likely to browse trough, saving some time to enjoy things around me We bought our first house in December. Had a lot of years to think about what we wanted in a property and garden/outdoor space was a big priority. We now have half an acre that includes four fruit trees, grape arbor with 4 vines, raspberry canes, a 40x50 garden plot, a big garden/greenhouse shed that will eventually be part chicken coop, and the river out our back fence that includes water rights for irrigation and fishing. The previous owners also put in a lot of landscaping that just needs some cleaning up (been left to overgrow for a year or two). And lots of lawn grass that we plan on replacing with alternatives like straw bale forts, mud pit for the kids, and maybe some grains or whatnot. Things that won't require so much watering and maintenance! I absolutely love being outside and doing garden stuff as a de-stressor. Heck my favorite video games include the Harvest Moon series for that reason. Speaking of which, I just got done mowing some more lawn out back for an hour. We have pretty much not kept up on watering since the irrigation pump isnt running yet, so half is dried out... oh well. Time to relax a little! Sent by my Navi-powered device! 3 Quote Brain-Building Assassin, a.k.a Radical Domestic Jill-of-All-Trades Battle Log | Challenges: Current |18 |17 |16 |15 |14 |13 |12 |11 |10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Isaiah 40:30-31 Link to comment
TheFatFriar Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 Finally found your challenge. What a cool mom you are Following along! 1 Quote Link to comment
Norgaard Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 2 hours ago, Alexandrite said: We bought our first house in December. Had a lot of years to think about what we wanted in a property and garden/outdoor space was a big priority. We now have half an acre that includes four fruit trees, grape arbor with 4 vines, raspberry canes, a 40x50 garden plot, a big garden/greenhouse shed that will eventually be part chicken coop, and the river out our back fence that includes water rights for irrigation and fishing. The previous owners also put in a lot of landscaping that just needs some cleaning up (been left to overgrow for a year or two). And lots of lawn grass that we plan on replacing with alternatives like straw bale forts, mud pit for the kids, and maybe some grains or whatnot. Things that won't require so much watering and maintenance! I absolutely love being outside and doing garden stuff as a de-stressor. Heck my favorite video games include the Harvest Moon series for that reason. Speaking of which, I just got done mowing some more lawn out back for an hour. We have pretty much not kept up on watering since the irrigation pump isnt running yet, so half is dried out... oh well. Time to relax a little! Sent by my Navi-powered device! Get your feet up! you deserve it! 1 Quote Be like water my friend Link to comment
Alexandrite Posted May 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 Walking - oh yes, lots. Haha. Fooding - Im really slacking on this. Its mainly because my "multi prenatal thing" is a gummy version and I have to take 6 for a serving. I found I dont like them at all, taste and texture. Blah. Need to just buy the one I like instead of being cheap and trying to use these up. Gummies also dont have iron, and I need iron. Lifeing - stuck to the schedule last night I had discussed with Dr. Focker. Earlyish dinner, time outside working on stuff, kids inside by 8pm for bath and bed. Everyone was in bed, clean, and lights out by 9 or so. Much better. If I move dinner time to 5pm instead of 6 or so, then I can do bath at 7 for kids, and read to them more. We didnt have time last night. Mornings are still tough. Both boys (4 yo and baby) wake up super early around 5am. Oh well. Eating three breakfasts in one day? Its okay. Friending - I plan on finishing the thank yous today or tomorrow. Mail Sat! Improving - WaniKani throughout the day. Also made some important calls and set up vacation time, feeling so good today about handling our family and adult stuff with three kids! Sent by my Navi-powered device! 5 Quote Brain-Building Assassin, a.k.a Radical Domestic Jill-of-All-Trades Battle Log | Challenges: Current |18 |17 |16 |15 |14 |13 |12 |11 |10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Isaiah 40:30-31 Link to comment
Talvi Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 Well done for everything - you are juggling a lot there! It sounds like you are being really conscientious about everything you do though, so I'm sure you'll have a good challenge Also I'm supposing Freibird is a codename - I'm curious why you chose it since it is pretty distinctive. 1 Quote Level 11 Morgana Scout STR 14|DEX 11|STA 31|CON 11|WIS 23|CHA 19 Current challenge: Talvi makes tactical decisions | Epic quests: 2015, 2016 | Running instalog: new_tracks_to_follow | Previous challenges: -2 -1 etc... Link to comment
Alexandrite Posted May 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 Yes, Freibird is the nickname for Freidrick. A friend of ours came up with it and I think it is just perfect for him. He yells out like baby bird anyway, lol. And yes, really trying to be conscientious of the fact that I'm only barely 6 weeks postpartum and mowing lawns and caring for three kids and doing all the stuff I am doing is plenty, I don't need to aim for more unless I want to injure myself, physically or mentally. Postpartum depression is a real serious thing and avoiding it is honestly my secret challenge quest. Being a stay at home mother puts me more at risk too so I am being careful. I did end up taking my vitamins, but had no time to finish thank you cards yesterday, so that will be today. I did send an email out connecting with a group of ladies I am friends with back in CA, so there is that! So excited for our first family road trip/true vacation in August. Every trip in the past has been a crazy mad dash to get where we are going to someone who is sick or has just passed away, and Dr. Focker has always had to take a pay cut for the time we are gone. This time he has full paid time off! We can truly relax and have fun. Sent by my Navi-powered device! 4 Quote Brain-Building Assassin, a.k.a Radical Domestic Jill-of-All-Trades Battle Log | Challenges: Current |18 |17 |16 |15 |14 |13 |12 |11 |10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Isaiah 40:30-31 Link to comment
Alexandrite Posted May 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 Phew, what a day. Friday is usually pretty busy for me because I try to get as much done ahead as possible so we arent spending time on family day (sat) or church day (sun) doing it. Cleaning, bills, outdoor stuff, etc. Walking - it was sweat inducing hot today, 85 degrees. We went out in the morning and walked the yard, planted a blackberry cane, and then fled back inside. We don't have a/c though, so that didn't last long. In the evening after dinner, more walking, planting strawberries and onions too! Fooding - Took my vits. Lifeing - Dinner on time, we came inside in time to bath and dress kids and everyone was in bed by 9pm! I put our calendar up in the living room to help Dr. Focker know what is going on for the family. Friending - Did not do thank you cards like I thought. Just didnt make time for it... Improving - more WaniKani, and research/learning about strawberries, onion sets, how to plant both, and interplanting methods. Surprise came just now, it started raining! I feel like such a gardener now. Next up is actual seed planting in the ground. Lots of seeds to plant... a little nervous about getting it all done. 40x50 is a large garden! One more day to wrap up week 1! Sent by my Navi-powered device! 5 Quote Brain-Building Assassin, a.k.a Radical Domestic Jill-of-All-Trades Battle Log | Challenges: Current |18 |17 |16 |15 |14 |13 |12 |11 |10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 Isaiah 40:30-31 Link to comment
SnowOwl Posted May 14, 2016 Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 In a garden it never gets all done, you just go with it and do what you can. 2 Quote Race: Elf ~ Class: Druid Apprentice ~ Level: 12 Current Challenge 2015-2016 Challenges: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve 2018-2019 Challenges: (first one in progress) Link to comment
TheFatFriar Posted May 15, 2016 Report Share Posted May 15, 2016 8 hours ago, SnowOwl said: In a garden it never gets all done, you just go with it and do what you can. I don't have a garden (my aunt does, though) but I second that. 1 Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.