Not long to go...

Monday February 28th  Day 13

It’s my day off. What am I doing up at 5.20am? Oh yeah, that’s right. I want to lose weight and get fit.  That inevitably means early morning quality time J and the boys.  Workout gear-check. Banana-check. Monavie and L-Carnitine –check. Guess that means I’m ready.

These morning workouts on this detox diet are killing me! I just don’t have the same endurance that I had before. Still, I sweat it out as best I can, grateful that I don’t have to go to work when I’m finished.

Home. Thought about relaxing on the lounge with a protein shake, but I feel energised. So, I hopped on the treadmill for another workout. Made it through another 32 minutes. NOW I’m tired. Bone tired. Exhausted, actually. Not too tired to fore go stepping on the scales. If I could take that back I would. Still 1kg heavier than yesterday. How did this happen? I’m working so hard. Damn this is disheartening. All this hard work and no pay off.

Disgruntled, I put on some laundry and started to make my shake. Soy milk, pea protein powder, 100g yogurt and a frozen banana that I’ve saved especially for this occasion. The only thing I hadn’t thought about was how tricky it is to peel a frozen banana!! The peel breaks off in small chunks. My fingers are numb from trying to hang on to a very cold, unyielding piece of frozen fruit. The only thing that seemed to work was ‘shaving’ off the peel with a paring knife.

Into the blender. Press the button. Grab the silver stainless steel milkshake cup from the freezer and PRESTO. Instant breakfast! And, a yummy one at that! It is actually quite filling.

I try to relax, but it feels a bit weird to be home without S on a Monday. Perhaps some retail therapy will do the trick. It didn’t. I wondered around the shopping centre aimlessly. I couldn’t focus. I could hardly function. I am so tired. Drained.

I want to go home and sleep. Not sure it will make me feel any better. Just sitting here on the lounge will be enough- at least I hope so. Definitely early to bed tonight.

Sunday Feb 27 Day 12

College again for day 2 of 3. The past couple of weeks have definitely been busy. I could sure do with a sleep in. I drove myself to St Leonards; it’s free parking on Sundays.

I’m still really enjoying this course. He is taking us through some really interesting techniques. Not so sure about the assessments though. I’ll need to spend some time going over them.

Home to exercise. This time, I changed the program and made it through without holding on. Totally awesome! I can actually run for 2mins at a speed of 10km/hr. Never thought it was possible. Very impressed with myself.

Saturday Feb 26  Day 11

Up early. No rest for the weary. I have a weekend intensive course today at the college. It’s only 2 hr parking on Saturdays and so G offered to drive me to save me having to run outside to feed the parking meter.

Our course is about relationship issues and relationship counselling. It should be interesting. The lecturer is male which I’m also looking forward to since all of our lecturers have been female so far. I wonder what kind of view he’ll have on relationships?

He seems nice enough. The prospect of ‘holding the space’ for 2 people simultaneously is rather daunting. Sometimes, holding it for one is tricky enough. I’m looking forward to finding out what skills he’s going to share with us.

The break for lunch is much needed. Taunted by the spinach and ricotta rolls, the vegetable pies- even the spelt pizza with avocado (which I’m not overly keen on) I finally settled on the vegetable lentil curry- without rice. It looked yummy.

Sigh…looks can be deceiving. It had a very strong vinegar taste that I found hard to get past. In the end, I couldn’t’. So, I threw out what was left and made myself a protein shake with water. That didn’t go down so well on top of the vinegar lentils. Good thing I could chase them both with a soy dandy.

In the afternoon, we did a role play that was pivotal for me. I played one of the characters. It was amazing to watch how I responded and reacted to the various counselling techniques put forth by each counsellor in the ‘fish bowl’. I was particularly struck by the use of ‘immediacy’. Whenever they used that technique, it nudged my character to face ‘his’ emotions. Very powerful.

Then, G picked me up and took me home. The Best surprise was waiting for me there. G had spent the day cleaning and the house sparkled!! Totally wonderful thing to come home to!

I changed into my workout gear and hopped on the treadmill, hoping to repeat last night’s experience. It was not to be. I ran the whole time, but unlike last night, I had to hang on to the rails to get through it. My knees are sore. My left ankle is sore.

Time for a quick shower, some dinner, a little TV and then definitely bed.

The Detox Continues...

Friday Feb 25  Detox Day 10

Ahhh…that extra 40 mins of sleep and the chiro adjustment has made all the difference! I almost feel ‘normal’. If only I could sleep for another 2 hrs! Sigh… We decided to drive into work today. G is working back and I thought it might be nice to drive home instead of catching the train.

For the first day in ages, everyone who was supposed to be in the office- was in! It made the day so much more manageable! I didn’t get as much work done as I had planned on, because I just can’t seem to focus like I used to.  I’m hoping that will change by next week.

I brought some pea protein powder and a shaker to work. I didn’t have time to make a proper lunch and I wanted to be sure I had enough protein for my mid-day meal. I added 200mls of soy milk and gave it a good shake! Man, does it ever thicken up!! With just a little apprehension, I popped the lid and took a sip.

Wow—very pleasantly surprised!! It was almost as thick as a McDonald’s thick shake and it tasted quite nice!! I think I could actually drink this stuff!  Too groovy!

I sent a msg to J to let her know that I had picked up the supplements we talked about. I mentioned that I was feeling scattered and struggling a bit with craving for steak and cheese. She suggested it might just be that there are some toxins cruising around in my body. Nothing that exercise and sweating ‘em out couldn’t fix!

I laughed and told her that I intended to give the toxins a run for their money on the treadmill tonight.  I wasn’t kidding! I increased the length of the workout from 32 mins to 40 mins and I promised myself that I would run each 8km/hr interval!

Unbelievable! I ended up running for 17.5minutes out of 40!! I have never run that long before in my life! And before tonight, I would not have believed it was even possible! Now I just need to get in to the groove and keep at it. Pretty soon I’ll be able to do intervals between 8kms/hrs & 10kms/hr!! Even my feet were burning by the end of it! Proof that I pushed myself tonight. I’m very impressed with myself.

It’s a very cool way to end Day 10 of the Detox!

Thursday Feb 24 Detox Day 9

Last night was crazy.  After the Fringe, we had to deal with a Huntsman (spider) in the backroom. They’re harmless –mostly, but still unnerving to see –especially for me. Daddy Longlegs back in Canada are about as spidery as I’m used to! Didn’t know until I moved to Australia, that Daddy Longlegs have a deadly venom, but fortunately for humans, they don’t have fangs that can penetrate our skin. 

By the time we sorted out the spider, it was 11.15pm. Then I had to go hunting for the cat who had escaped when I opened our front door. It was past 11.30 when I finally turned out the light.

The alarm went off at 5.21am. I so did not want to get out of bed. Sleep is a rare commodity these days and I’d give anything to roll over and sleep until I woke up of my own accord. Alas, today is not a day for sleeping. I crept out of bed and into the bathroom to get changed into my workout gear.  Bags packed, lunch organized, banana and sunflower seeds at the ready, I slung what I could over my shoulder and made my way to the car.

2 new people joined us for group today! I struggled this morning. I’m not sure if it’s lack of sleep, the detox diet or what, but I don’t seem to have the strength or endurance that I had 2 weeks ago! And, the temptation to simply sit down and cry half way through the squat jumps was almost over-whelming. But, I held myself together.

Craving cheese and steak today. Last week seemed pretty straightforward. I was all prepared for it to be hard and awful and I was pleasantly surprised.  But, it’s obviously catching up with me this week.  Even my skin seems worse this week. Must be the release of all those toxins. Sigh… oh well. I’m sure it will be worth it in the end.

The past 2 Thursdays have been particularly trying at work. I can’t seem to focus and I’m easily distracted. Bet a coffee would sort me out! These ‘soy dandies’ (dandelion and chicory root coffee replacement ‘tea’ with soy milk) just do not have the same pick-me-up effect!!

After work, it’s back to Crows Nest to see the Chiropractor. I have some time to kill before my appointment, so I sauntered into the local health food shop. J & I have been talking about adding supplements to my diet. L-Carnitine is an amino acid that helps with weight loss. Essential Fatty Acids (in the form of fish oils) are great for heaps of things including weight loss. And, both J & V have suggested that I increase my protein intake- as protein helps to build lean muscle mass. Lean muscle burns fat.  So, I walked out of the shop with all 3 items! My body might be healthier, but my bank account sure isn’t!!

Snap, crackle, pop! And it’s time to head back across the bridge towards home.

Figured I would give the pea protein powder a try. Added 25 g (which is actually quite a bit) to my yogurt. It thickened it to almost a malt consistency. It didn’t taste too bad, actually.  Sure was filling though.

I stayed up long enough to watch the first 10mins of Desperate Housewives, and then I headed for bed. I can always watch the rest tomorrow!

Wednesday Feb 23  Detox Day 8

Woke up feeling marginally better than I did yesterday. My hip is still giving me grief, so I rang to book in for an adjustment tomorrow.  Better to be safe than sorry. I want to be able to make the most of the next 2 weeks! My birthday goal deadline is coming up fast and I want to lose as much as I can! If I can make it an even 17kgs, I’ll be thrilled!! I will still fall 8kgs short of my original goal, but it will be way better than I could have imagined!

Work wasn’t too bad today. I ended up getting stuck on a phone call and finished 20mins past the end of my normal shift. Fortunately, I’ve got college tonight so I wasn’t late for any after work appointments! By the time I found a park, I still had 30 mins before class started.

I decided to head into the Nature Care Café for a slice of sprouted rye bread with tahini and honey and a dandelion tea with soy milk.  I placed my order and was delighted when the barista called out my order : small soy dandy. That’s going to be my nickname for my daily beverage from here on in! It sure beats calling it a dandelion & chicory root coffee replacement tea with soy milk!! 

Half way through my sprouted rye bread, I discovered a date! Oh well, surely 1 or 2 dates can’t impact my detox diet too much! I like the sprouted rye bread. It’s sort of like eating a giant bran muffin! It’s really dense and very filling! However, it doesn’t appear to feel the same about me! My guts were feeling full and uncomfortable so I left a couple of bits on the plate and hoped that it wouldn’t cause me too much discomfort during class.

Class was brilliant! The role plays were fantastic! I learned heaps from watching my classmates handle ‘tricky’ clients! Experiential learning is vastly different to learning from a book. I’m thoroughly enjoying this term so far!

After a quick stop at Franklins to restock our dwindling supply of bananas, it was home for supper and an episode of the Fringe. As much as I wanted to stay up and watch the second episode, I wisely decided to head to bed. However, sleep was not forthcoming! Instead, we had to wrestle with a Huntsman spider! Sigh…

Tuesday Feb 22 Detox Day 7  Week One COMPLETE!

Oh wow! How sore am I feeling today!!! My buttocks, back and shoulders feel almost bruised. I know this will settle in a couple of days, but man, is it ever sore today. I did sleep better after my chiro adjustment. My hip seems a little better.

I emailed V & J to see what we could do about tonight’s PT session. I didn’t want to back out, so I asked if there were exercises I should avoid altogether or do differently to make sure that I didn’t aggravate my hip and lower back.

When I rocked up to the Centre, it was full of people! J and I settled in behind the desk and went through my diet journal and my experience of the detox diet. I told her that it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be – once I got over the caffeine withdrawals! I miss having fruit with my yogurt in the mornings, and lunches are more complicated. I can’t just throw something together at the last minute. 

J gave me some tips on how to make lunches easier. We discussed other sources of protein (I’m really missing red meat- not that I eat it often, but I think now that I’m restricted, I want it out of spite!). J suggested that I add some eggs and more lentils and veggies to my diet.  In addition, she also thought it might be a good idea to try a pea protein powder. It’s gluten free, for one thing. And it’s in a form that is readily absorbed by the body.  I think she sold me on it when she reminded me that protein builds lean muscle, and lean muscle is a very effective fat burning machine.

J even showed me groovy app for my iPhone called gomeals! It has a large database of foods and their compositions. So, I can select a food, and it already has the carbs, proteins, etc  listed so that I can keep track of what I’m eating! Too cool!

By the time we finished talking, our hour was almost up! So, J took my measurements. Still losing centimetres! Hooray!! Progress! Since we hadn’t done any exercise, I agreed to hop on the treadmill when I got home.

I was still dressed in my workout gear when we got home, so hopping on the treadmill was easy. I’m loving the new interval program that I found! It’s brilliant.  Despite my lower back, I decided I’d give jogging a try! So, each time the speed jumped up to 8kms/hr, I stepped up my pace! And, most of the time, I was able to jog for the full 2 min interval! I was pretty darn impressed with myself!!

Then it was salmon for dinner and time to watch Packed to the Rafters!

Monday Feb 21 Detox Day 6

Hmmmm it’s Monday. The start of another 5 day work week and counseling. Normally I look forward to counseling, but I’m feeling a little apprehensive today. I haven’t been able to shake our last session. Should be interesting.

I’m impressed with myself for sticking to the detox on a weekend where we had S staying with us! For the past few months, it’s been hard enough to stick to my normal diet when she’s around, let alone one that’s much more restrictive! Only one more day and I’ll have survived my first whole WEEK!! Now that’s discipline!!

I don’t know why I worry about counseling. I should know by now that regardless of what happens, we’ll always be able to sort things out.  We started out a little rocky, but V is very patient and persistent. It didn’t take long for the air to be cleared and for us to get back on track.

As tough as this counseling gig is, I am so grateful that I have V to help me sort through my stuff.  I can’t imagine trying to do it on my own.

My hip and lower back are really giving me grief. I’m pleased that I thought ahead and booked a massage to fill in the time between counseling and my chiropractic appointment.

R is a great massage therapist! His table was so comfortable that I almost fell asleep whilst he was massaging my legs. That changed quick-smart as soon as he progressed to my gluts and my lower back. Then I was WIDE awake…and griping the edges of the table! Things did not improve when he made his way up to my neck and shoulders. I knew I was going to be sore the next day, but I was hoping that it would make my chiro adjustment easier.

My chiro was a little unimpressed that it had been almost 3 months since my last visit, but he was quick to do what he could for me. My right hip didn’t click quite as much as we had hoped, so he told me to wait until Wednesday, and if the pain was still present, to book in for an appointment on Thursday.

Between the adjustment and the residual effects from the massage, it was a bit of an uncomfortable drive home. 

Week 1 of the Detox Diet

Saturday Feb 19  Day 4

We made it just in time! I scouted the gymnasium to see if I could spot S, but she was no where to be seen. When they did arrive, S was not dressed in her gymnastics gear. C told us that S wasn't feeling well today and wasn't up to doing gymnastics. Both of us clarified with S that she was still interested in doing gymnastics - just not today. It was important to do this, because today was the deadline for paying for the term. 

I was disappointed that we wouldn't be able to watch S do her thing, but it did mean that we would have a little extra time together. I hope that isn't the reason that S decided not to participate today.  

We have another brunch date in Newtown with our good friend today. We've packed some movies to keep S entertained whilst we chat. K was lovely enough to make it 'Detox Diet' friendly! I brought my own GF bread and helped myself to 3 poached eggs on toast, steamed spinach and some plain yogurt. It was very difficult to pass up the freshly toasted croissants! They're one of my favourite things- especially with butter! K even had some home-made strawberry jam to go with it! Torture!! 

Coffee. It's everywhere. Good thing I brought my dandelion & chicory root 'coffee replacement' tea. Fortunately, K had soy milk that I could add. All in all, we had a wonderful visit and a wonderful meal. The star of our brunch was Lola the puppy! She's a tiny black pug with the best personality! All of us thoroughly enjoyed playing with her.

Gosh, I'm so tired. We headed home to relax and watch some TV.  S picked a movie and we settled ourselves on the couch. Without caffeine and sugar to artificially stimulate me, I was unable to keep my eyes open. I'm not normally a cat-nap kind of girl, but man, did it feel good today!

S was just as tired as me. A quick bath, dinner and a story and she was in bed. G and I weren't far behind her!

Friday Feb 18  Day 3

I don't know if it's just me, but man, am I ever ravenous!! I'm not eating anything that I'm not supposed to be eating.  But when it comes to snack and meal time, please don't stand between me and my food! I'm so hungry! 

I don't seem to be as thirsty as I was before. It's getting harder and harder to get down my 3 litres per day. Most days, I'm lucky to polish off 2. Sometimes, I manage only 1. Very strange. I figured on a detox diet, my body would crave more water to help it clean things out. 

At least the caffeine withdrawal headache seems to have disappeared and I'm able to function at work. I still don't get as much work done as I wanted. Oh well, it's a start.

We caught the train in to work today to save money on parking. So, we strolled through the park on our way to the station. It's a nice 7 minute walk from where I work. 

Home for dinner and an early night. We have to be up early tomorrow morning to head over to Castle Hill to watch S do gymnastics. I could sure do with a sleep in!

Thursday Feb 17 Day 2

Ok, so all of that good stuff that I was feeling yesterday- where is it!? I’ve only just opened my eyes and already my head hurts.  It’s hard enough to get out of bed on Thursday mornings when I’m feeling ok. Today it was especially tough.

J has organised new circuits.  I glance around the room apprehensively. Warm up, stretches and then J leads us through the new circuits:

Tricep:

Hip ext with tiny ball between the knees- totally feel this in the groin and inner thigh

Back extension: on the weight bench

Triceps dips- 20!! How am I going to do 20?

Standing row- leading with the elbows

Jump squats

20 squat & hold for 5 secs

Biceps:

Biceps curls on the ball one leg up, both arms simultaneously

Semi lunge and shoulder press

Hamstring curls

Push ups (on my knees)

Ice skating

Steps with weights

Oh heavens. I feel awful. Part of me wants to plop down onto the floor and burst into tears. Instead, I swallow hard and imagine the impact crying would have on my throbbing headache.  This must be the beginning of the caffeine withdrawals that I expected yesterday. Not good.

I feel like death warmed over even after my hot shower at work.  This doesn’t bode well for the rest of the day. I can’t focus on a task for any length of time. I feel scattered and vague. Oh what I'd give for a coffee! How am I going to cope tonight? G & I are celebrating Valentine's Day tonight with dinner out and a movie. I hope I can get it together for that!

By the time we get to our special cafe, the thought of having a decaf soy latte is perking me up a little. There's not much I can eat. In the end, I chose pan fried salmon with roast veggies with rocket salad (no dressing). It paled in comparison to G's chicken schnitzel with fries and salad (with dressing)! But the hardest bit was watching her drink a REAL coffee! 

I Am Number Four. I don't think it quite takes over from Harry Potter and Twilight (like the reviews suggested) but it was a neat movie! I enjoyed it! And, I suppose I'm even looking forward to the sequel.  Most of all, it was wonderful to spend the evening with G. It seems like it's been ages since we've had time out together.  Perhaps 'Date Night' should be on the menu more often!

Wednesday Feb 16 Day 1  Dr Joshi’s Holistic Detox Diet (check it out or google it!)

And so it begins. Day 1 of the detox. What on earth am I going to have for lunch? After rummaging around in the fridge, I settled on tossed salad with lemon juice, raw carrots and 2 slices of gluten free (GF) bread toasted.  Should be an interesting 3 weeks!

My morning coffee. Let’s see, I could have a decaf soy cappuccino. No. Strike that. Not allowed to have the chocolate sprinkles. Got it! Large decaf soy latte! Sold!!  Then, a mug of hot water with lemon juice when I get to work.

Missing my usual Jalna, but now that I’m on the full cream plain version, I know that I’ll survive. The fat-free plain was too much of a change. Even with muesli, honey and a banana, I could hardly stomach it!

Well, I survived my first day at work on the detox diet. Now I’ve just got to psych myself up for tonight’s role play! I have to play a manipulative client. It should be interesting!

Our role plays were fantastic! It’s amazing how much we learn both as part of the role play and as observers! I think this term is going to be very interesting, very challenging and very educational!

Home in time for The Fringe and a late dinner.

Tuesday  Feb 15 – last day before detox

This is it-the last day of my diet. Who would have thought that I would be sad to be off this diet? Certainly not me. But when I think about the restrictions of the new Detox Diet, I’m already filled with nostalgia for the ‘diet’ food that I’m no longer ‘allowed’ to eat.

What will be left if I can’t eat: gluten, dairy, sugar, caffeine, red meat and alcohol?? I told J that I’m happy to give up alcohol—after all, I almost never drink! Giving that up would be easy! Caffeine, on the other hand, is going to be killer! Right now, a cup of tea at night or that first morning coffee.  Sigh. They are the highlights of my day!

I’m not keen to give up gluten and dairy either.  Gluten lurks in the weirdest of places!  And if it’s gluten free, odds are it has dairy and/or sugar. Oh well, I’m still open to the idea. After all, it’s only for 3 weeks, or 21 LONG days! Let’s see what J has to say.

The Centre was full of people so we huddled around the front desk to chat quietly. We talked about things that I ‘could’ eat. That seemed to change something in my head. I’d been focussing heaps on the food that I wouldn’t be able to eat.

The time passed very quickly! Before we knew it, it was almost 6pm and we hadn’t even stretched! J took my measurements and I hopped on the scales. The scales are different to the ones I’ve got at home, so I try not to pay too much attention to what it says. The measurements are looking good. J is pleased.

If tomorrow is ‘D’ day, then I’d best head off to Woollies to pick up some supplies: soy milk, rice pasta, salmon, lemons, veggies, bananas,  Jalna yogurt without any fruit flavouring, and more dandelion & chicory root tea –hyped as a great caffeine-free coffee replacement. Even shopping is different. I spent most of my time reading labels! It’s like watching a foreign film with subtitles. It is tiring and time-consuming.

Just in time for Packed to the Rafters. So tired.

MONDAY FEB 14  VALENTINE’S DAY

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

My dance card is jam-packed today! The alarm goes off at 5.20am – even though it’s my day off and I could simply roll over and go back to sleep, I’ve decided to put in an extra day of group PT.  I got ready in the bathroom and made my way out to the kitchen.  Poking out of my black bag was a red envelope. Then G padded down the hallway to give me a big Valentine’s Day cuddle.

Not to be outdone, I handed her a red jacket book on The Strand –a beautiful, old historic building in downtown Sydney. G was surprised and touched! A great start to the commercialised celebration day of Love.

It was weird to be at the Centre on a Monday! It was a good work out! We went back to the original circuit that I started with. Man! I sure felt it in the arms!! 3 mins of Bliss. Then I had a quick chat with J about out upcoming Detox diet. I’ve been stressing about it for the past couple of days, and as it approaches, I’m becoming more and more apprehensive.

J eased my mind and told me that we’d talk more about it on Tuesday. She mentioned that she has a few things that she wants to clarify and re-iterated that we’d be doing it together. That made me feel better.

Cruising against traffic, I made my way home to shower and prepare for the next task on my schedule.  No time for breakfast. Gotta get to Parramatta by 9.30 to drop the car off for its scheduled service.

Just made it! Plan for the rest of the day while I’m waiting for the car to be ready? Hanging out at Parramatta Westfields (huge shopping centre). First on the agenda? Buy a ticket to a movie, grab a coffee and get something to eat for breakfast. But, it didn’t quite go to plan. I ended up with a latte (no sugar) and a small popcorn for breakfast! Not ideal, but not a bad way to indulge before the Detox diet begins on Wednesday.

The movie was ok, but I’m glad I only spent $9 on it. Then I sat for a while to play Plants vs Zombies on my iPhone.  I downloaded it a couple of days ago and I’m hooked! Unfortunately, it does suck the juice out of my battery. Off to JB HiFi to browse through cds, movies and iPhone accessories.

I only have 20% battery charge left and I still haven’t heard from the car service centre. Off to the food court. It took me a bit to decide on what to have, but I finally settled on a Mexican beef wrap. Tasted almost like a fajita. Yum! I scouted the food court until I sourced a table that was close to a power point. I finished my lunch and settled in to continue my game of Plants vs Zombies while my phone charged.

I had an interesting chat with the driver of the courtesy car. He told me about his plans for Valentine’s Day and other things that he had done to surprise his wife. I was so engaged that I felt a real sense of disappointment that I wouldn’t know the ending to tonight’s surprise.

Home for dinner, TV and some quality time with my Valentine.

Gymnastics & Vegetarian Yum Cha

Sunday Feb 13 

Lazy day today. Overcast, cool, and likely to rain. Not ideal weather for outdoor activities. So, S and I do some colouring, make some craft,  and set up the Zhu Zhu pet spiral slide that we picked up yesterday with S's birthday money from Grandpa D. I'm not always the most patient person, and this plastic toy set nearly got the best of me! It doesn't help that once it's set up, S only really wants to play with it for another 10 minutes. Sigh. 

So, we move into the back room to play Barbie online games and Barbie Island Princess. Over lunch, the 3 of us finish watching Fantasia. Then it's back to the computer room for a bit more Barbie until S reminds me that I said she could watch a movie. So, we managed to squeeze in "Barbie in a Mermaid Tale.' 

I'm feeling stressed about the Detox diet. The more I think about having to give up caffeine, gluten and my favourite Jalna yogurts, the more I crave carbs, sugar and comfort food.  I even ate 3 lollies today: 2 toffee chews and 1 Starburst chew. Usually I can manage to control these urges. I think I'm going to have to talk to J about it. 

I feel really bad. I did agree to do the Detox with her, but it just seems to involve so much extra work- like meal preparation. And I can't seem to master that eating 'normally', let alone being super careful to stick to the diet.  Maybe I'm not ready for a detox yet. Part of me thinks that I'd be able to give up caffeine (which I know won't be pleasant) but I'm not convinced about the gluten or the normal dairy. I wonder if I could ease into it? Not go straight into the detox, but give up a few things at a time. I've mostly given up sugar, but on this detox, I wouldn't even be allowed to substitute with Xylitol.  Sigh. I don't know what to do. Well, that's not entirely true- I know what I want to do, but I don't know how to break it to J. 

Instead, I snuggle S in closer to me as we watch the movie. That's the best bit about watching movies with her -holding her close and just having her with me. I don't even mind watching the same movies over and over. 

Before I know it, the day is over and it's time to pack up and head off to meet C. S has a big week ahead of her. School, swimming lessons on Monday and of course, gymnastics on Saturday. I want to make sure we meet C at a reasonable time so S can get a good night's sleep. 

Today, as I gave her a hug & kiss good-bye she said, "I'm not going to cry today, Mumma Jay''. 

I rumpled her hair, smiled at her and said, "Good girl! Cuz you know you're going to see me again really soon, right?'

She nodded. "Yes! I love you!' 

I stood and waved as they drove out of the parking lot. No guarantee that I wasn't going to cry. Aside from a few tears, I was ok. She is growing up so fast and I am so proud of her. 

Saturday Feb 12  Vegetarian Yum Cha 

Up at the crack of dawn, just like a work day. The poor cat doesn't know what hit him! He raises his head, squints a blue eye open just a crack and gives me a funny look as if to say 'but it's Saturday', before lowering his head back down onto his paw. I hop into the shower. G goes to the kitchen to turn the kettle on. We're ready to go by 7.10am. Off to watch S do gymnastics! 

GPS gets us to our location without too much drama and we're even 10 minutes early! It's a huge complex with a pool at one end, the gymnastics gym in the middle and a fitness gym with all the usual equipment at the other end. There are people everywhere! Welcome to Saturday morning sport, I think to myself! S & C arrive about 5mins past 8. S runs up and leaps into my arms! I swing her around and relish the tight grip she has on me. I've missed her just as much as she's missed me. Her group is lining up on the mats, so she pulls off her shoes and runs to join them. 

I can't believe how fit these kids are! 12 yr old boys with abs like Brad Pitt! Amazing!! C jokingly tells us she'll be enrolling S's baby brother in gymnastics as soon as he's old enough so that he can have a physique like them! I laughed and joked back, telling her it's just so she doesn't have to spend her Saturdays on the cricket pitch!


It was wonderful to watch S with her group. I couldn't believe some of the things she is capable of doing. She could hang from the lower parallel bar and draw her knees to her chest and just dangle there until her instructor told her she could drop. I want core muscles like that!! And she climbed the rope like a little monkey!! Amazing! I'm so proud of her.


Then it was off to The Green Gourmet in Newtown for vegetarian yum cha. Talk about yum! It's probably more carbs than I should be eating, but it tastes so good! It was a lovely treat for the three of us. S loves it too.


We stopped by Broadway Shopping Centre on our way home. Grandpa D sent S some money for her birthday and since her birthday is so close to Christmas, we thought it would be nice for her to choose what she really wanted. She was in her ELEMENT! It took her awhile, but she finally settled on 3 items. 


Then it was home to relax. S was pretty tuckered out after her first full week of school and an hour of gymnastics! We played with her new 'Barbie Glitterizer'. Then, we watched a movie, ate some dinner, gave her a quick bath and tucked her into bed. G and I weren't too far behind! I knew S would be up early tomorrow.

Friday Feb 11 

Tuckered out. I can't seem to get enough sleep these days. It doesn't matter when I go to bed, I'm exhausted when I wake up. We decide to catch the train today. Normally, we'd take the car so I could race off after work to meet C to pick up Sophia. We decided that it would be a better idea this weekend to let her sleep at C's tonight. It's the end of her first full week at 'Kindergarten'. By the time I make it to Castle Hill through the traffic, it will be at least 6.30 pm. Then it's another 40 minutes to an hour to get to our place. Even with a quick catch up and dinner, it will be 8.30 at least by the time we tuck her into bed. 

If we didn't have to worry about getting up the next morning, that would be fine. S has enrolled in gymnastics on a Saturday morning and her class starts at 8am. That would mean getting up at 6am and leaving by 7am to get her there on time. I think it would be asking too much of my little girl to do all of that racing around.  So, I decided to forfeit Friday night, so that she could be well-rested. 

It's my day off the phones and I'm working hard to get through as many of my cases as I can. 

Thursday Feb 10 

Tired this morning. Even though I only have 1 class on a Wednesday night now, by the time I got petrol, groceries and made my way home, it was 9.30pm -just in time for Fringe. I needed to wind down, so by the time my head hit the pillow and I fell asleep, it was probably close to 11pm. Not ideal when one has to crawl out of bed at 5.20am the next morning. But, crawl I did. 

Due to a vehical breakdown blocking one of the lanes of the CityWestLink in the Lillyfield area, I'm about 5mins late for training. Not happy. I jogged up the stairs (knowing that I probably missed the actual 'warm up'). Sure enough, both guys were sitting on gym balls stretching their neck extensors. I took my spot in the middle and joined in. 

I can keep pace with A, but B runs circles around both of us!! Sometimes I find that inspiring -something to strive for. Other times, I find it demoralising. Today it was both in equal measure! But I managed to get through the triceps circuit twice (bar the chest presses) in 15 mins. Pretty cool! And the biceps circuit I was short getting through it twice by 10 hamstring curls. Not too shabby! 

I didn't think it was possible, but these circuits are finally becoming manageable. I know not to get too complacent though because J is already talking about mixing things up again! 3 minutes of Bliss. Roll up the yoga mat and it's time to dash off to work to have my shower and get ready to face the workday. 

G is donating blood tonight so my intention is to get through as much of my work as possible in the extra hour that I'll have in the afternoon waiting for her to be finished. My day went mostly to plan- aside from hearing back from HR about my application for the Emerging Leadership course. Sigh. I didn't get in. And, surprisingly, I was quite bitter about it- even disappointed. Although I hadn't been overly desperate to get in, the fact that I was knocked back upset me. I guess I still perceive it as a rejection, no matter how logically I can view the situation. 

I'm desperate to eat comfort food today- maybe the 'rejection' is contributing. I mentioned it to 2 of my friends at work. One told me that I should order what I want-without the noodles. I laughed at her and told her that what I wanted was a 'noodle' dish and it would be pointless without the noodles. My other friend didn't say much, but later when I met her in the lunch room around 3.30 to eat my 'healthy' lunch, she told me that her section had ordered Thai (just like they always do on a Thursday) but she completely avoided asking me! Normally, she'll ask, knowing that I'll say no. Today she didn't, knowing that I would have said 'yes'. Now, THAT is the mark of a good friend! 

I dropped G off at home, stopped by Office Works to pick up some school supplies and Franklins to pick up potting soil for a cutting of a plant that I brought home from work today. G helps me pot the plant in a clay pot that we have around the side of the unit and then it's time for salmon. Yum! The Good Wife & Desperate Housewives (well part of it, cuz I know I need to get some sleep). Great end to the day. 


Wednesday Feb 9  First Night Back at College 

3rd day driving to work in a row! First day of college tonight. I'm excited and not excited at the same time. I know my good friends won't be coming back this year and I'm really going to miss them. I feel a bit sad about that. 

Good thing I got to college early. They changed the building that our class is in. Tonight, it's in the yoga room- where we had our weekend intensive last December. I plunked myself down on the staircase, opened my lunch box, took out my nectarine and my sunflower seeds and dug in. It's tricky to read and eat a nectarine at the same time! 

Wasn't long before one of my classmates appeared. We started chatting about our summers and discussing how many people were likely to be in our class tonight. Our lecturer walked in a few minutes later and answered that question. 5. Wow. Only 5 of us tonight. 

I thought back to our term 2 Tuesday evening class. We only had 5 people then too, and I loved it! And we had the same lecturer tonight as we did back then. Should be good! 

Straight in no kisses, as my friend Dom would say! We were given 2 pieces of homework tonight that are due in next week! And, the dreaded video camera made it's debut! We will each have 2 sessions that are recorded and then we will have to critique ourselves on how well we thought we did. WOW! Should make for a very interesting TERM!! 

Petrol, groceries, Fringe, dinner and then bed. 

Tuesday Feb 8  Workout 


Another good night's sleep without the fan on. My legs are a little sore from last night's exertions on the treadmill. Should be an interesting training session this arvo. It's time to take new photos and measurements today.  J shows me some new stretches and some new exercises to strengthen my knees. Then it's on to the normal circuit. 


Working out with J is now an experience that I look forward to -especially since I don't seem to have the same motivation at home that I used to have. J pushes me beyond what I think I can do and as much as I grit my teeth and wish it was over, when it is over, I feel like I've truly achieved something.


Monday Feb 7  

Finally the heat wave has passed! I think it will take more than simply one night to catch up on a week's worth of sleep, but man, did it feel amazing to sleep without the fan last night! 

Today was a typical day at work. Not too much to mention. 

Tough counselling session tonight. Still not too sure how I'm really feeling about it. Prolly take a few more days to process. 

So, to help me get through the funk that I'm in, I decide to give the treadmill a go. Just for fun, I tried the 'personal fan' that comes with it--and believe it or not, when it's not +40 degrees, I can actually feel a breeze! Liking it a lot!  I flipped through the booklet and found a program that suits my fitness level. It starts at 4kms/hr for 2mins, then 6kms for 2 mins, then 8kms for 2mins. Then, it's 4mins at 6kms, 4 mins at 8kms, 4mins at 6kms, 4 mins at 8kms. Then it drops back to 2mins at 6ms, then 2mins at 8km, 2 mins at 6kms, 2 mins at 8kms and finishes at 6kms for 2mins. All up, it's a 32 minute session.  Perfect for me because I still have to push myself and I don't have to keep reducing the speed. 

I'm pleased with my efforts. My knees are a bit sore. I'm hot and sweaty-but that's nothing a quick shower can't fix. And I know I'll be able to sleep now without tonight's session playing over and over in my head.

Our Last Monday, 12 yrs in Oz and the Heatwave!

Sunday Feb 6


It's still SO hot! It was 28 degrees at 11pm last night! Our poor fan is just blowing warm air around! So hard to sleep. So tired. It's been over a week since this heatwave set in. However, they are promising a cool change for early afternoon today. Can't wait!

Breakfast and then it's time to head up the coast to visit some friends.

The traffic isn't too bad on a Sunday! The temperature gauge in the car says it 33 degrees. I'm so hanging out for the cool change; it simply can't come soon enough! We're set to have a BBQ outside, but none of us are keen to leave the air-conditioned lounge room. About 12.45, the rain starts. Still not the blessed 'Southerly'.


Then it comes bucketing down!! At last!! And the wind sprung up out of nowhere, bringing with it the Southerly all of us had been longing for!! Relief!

We had a wonderful visit with our friends. And it was so lovely to get out of Sydney for the day.

I decided that I would relax my eating a bit for today. So, I ate some water crackers with chive cheese and a few pieces of cabanossi (BBQ nibbly staples!). And, when P came in with a plate full of Kranski sausage and haloumi freshly grilled on the BBQ,  I couldn't resist. It was absolutely beautiful!!

Lunch itself was fairly healthy. I settled for a piece of steak, a small serve of home-made Singapore noodles, 1/2 a piece of corn on the cob (no butter or salt) and garden salad with cherry tomatoes, 'apple cucumbers' (I'd never seen these before! They looked like a miniature white Australian footy and boy were they tasty!!) and green capsicum (no dressing).

About an hour later, we were offered coffee and dessert. I always bring Xylitol with me for occasions just like this! That way, I can sweeten my coffee and not feel guilty! We had brought some soft, chewy cookies- some with mini-M&Ms and some with Snickers pieces. They are beautiful and very reminiscent of the cookies you can buy at Subway. I didn't eat any. However, I could not resist the thin slice of Rocky Road. It was 'melt-in-your-mouth' divine. I savoured it. But, after about 15 minutes, the sugar headache set in. I felt heavy and yucky. Sigh...ripped off.

By the time we got up to leave, all of us were feeling a bit chilly, but none of us were game to say anything after whinging about the heatwave! I was glad to get into the car and out of the wind. Home to a very light dinner, blogging a bit of TV and then, bed, glorious bed!! I'm so looking forward to sleeping tonight!! It's been over a week since I have had a decent night's sleep.


Saturday Feb 5

Too hot to get a decent sleep in. Even staying up late wasn't enough to help me sleep past 8.30am. Breakfast, shower and then it's off to Marrickville Metro to get a haircut. With weather like this, it's tempting to cut it short, but I settle for just a trim of my bangs/fringe.

We spent a bit of time looking for movies at Sanity. I'd read on line that Disney had re-released Fantasia and I knew G was keen to get her hands on a copy. We walked out with more than just Fantasia! I've downloaded a movie app for my iPhone which means we won't ever buy the same movie twice!

Subway for lunch. We shared a foot long Tuna Sub-no sauce, no cheese on brown bread. Yum!! I love Subway- fresh, tasty and as long as I don't make bad choices- guilt-free! We shared a bottle of water. All in all, it was a good outing.

The temperature outside was +45 degrees Celsius!! Not an ideal day to drive a BLACK car!! Everything we touched was smoking hot! Even the poor air-con was struggling. I think everyone in Sydney who doesn't have air-conditioning at home was out either at the shopping centres or the movies! I was grateful to be one of them!

We stopped at Office Works on the way home to pick up some supplies.  College starts back next Wednesday night and I wanted to be ready. I have a huge weakness for stationary. I think it comes third behind food and music.  If I had the budget, I think I'd buy one of almost everything in there. It's heavenly!

Then it was home to change out of our sweaty clothes. I settled down to write some of my blog with a steaming hot cup of 'coffee replacement' (dandelion & chicory root), 30g of sunflower seeds and 15g of sugar-free 70% cocoa chocolate with Acai berries.  The chocolate was surprisingly yummy- for dark chocolate. Mostly I'm a milk-chocolate kinda girl.

G made us some yummy pizzas on our new pizza maker. Except for the processed ham, it's definitely a healthy option. I always feel way better after eating one of our pizzas than I ever did after Dominoes or Pizza Hut.

A few episodes of Dexter and then it was definitely time for bed.

Friday Feb 4

Considering the workout yesterday, I wasn't nearly as sore as I expected to be! My arms must finally be making the adjustment to the new Thursday killer routine. I feel great about that! I know that muscle soreness means I've worked really hard, but to work that hard and not feel sore means progress in no uncertain terms! I can feel it in my core muscles though! Feels like I've done a few sit ups too many! But that is bearable!

Still so hot. I have an interview at work today and I couldn't face going in all hot and sweaty on the train. We elected to drive in.  I spent the first few hrs worrying about the interview. The original meeting invite  was for 2-3pm. Due to all of the changes that had happened in our division and due to illness, the interview was pushed up to 11am.

I don't know how I went. 76 applicants for 25 available positions. Steep odds. If I am successful, I know I'll get a lot out of the personal & professional development side of the program. If I'm not successful, I can chalk the interview up to experience. Interview experience is always a good thing to have under my belt. So, I guess either way, it's a win-win.

The number of calls really picked up in the afternoon. It's a good thing I sorted out my banking just after my interview. We only had 4 out of 8 staff on today. Let me assure you, I was happy to shut my computer down come 4.30pm.

A quiet night at home with G awaits! G'night all!

Thursday Feb 3  'My 12yr Anniversary living in Australia'

Today is the 12yr Anniversary of me arriving on the shores of Australia. 12 yrs ago, I didn't think I'd be here for longer than 4yrs (the duration of my Naturopathy course). Now look at me! I understand what people are saying 97% of the time! I know my way around. I understand that an 'r' in the middle of a word is 'silent'! That's not something I can master without thinking about it first and I'm sure that the 'r' s are the things that give me away as a 'foreigner' the most! Some days, I feel like a stranger in a strange land - stuck between 2 shores. I don't quite fit in here and I no longer fit in back home in Canada.

5.20am. Time for me to roll out of bed and head off to group PT. Sunflower seeds and a small nectarine in the car should be enough to see me through this morning's session. Since eating a 'pre-breakfast', I haven't felt sick after training. That's enough of a convincer for me.

I was the only one who turned up for group today! I lucked out! It's nice to have the boys there to egg me on, but it's equally lovely to have J all to myself! The flip side of being the only one there, is that J can focus all of her attention on me. That meant TWICE through the triceps circuit--completely! All of the reps. Yeah, that's right-a total of 40 triceps dips!! Insane! It did mean that I didn't have enough time to make it through the biceps circuit more than once.

I felt great afterwards. There's something about spending an hour in the gym, working hard at +40 degrees that gives me a huge sense of achievement.

Off to work.

After work, it's time to fill up on supplies-particularly yogurt, fruit and a few new additions. Since talking with Jules on Tuesday about trying a detox diet, I've decided to stock up on a few things. So, 2L of soy milk, dandelion & chicory root 'coffee' replacement (caffeine-free), bananas and some cabbage. I'm a little worried about giving up coffee. Caffeine withdrawal will not be pleasant. Surely it can't be too much worse than giving up sugar. Can it?

Home for fresh broiled salmon, The Good Wife and then bed.

Wednesday Feb 2

Feeling a bit stiff in the legs today, but considering it's been over a week since I've had a true workout session I'm amazed that I'm not feeling it more. Apparently, I have built up some fitness over the past few months. That's certainly not to say that I want to make a habit out of not exercising. I'm keen to make this change.

G has already tested out our new treadmill. I decide even though the temperature is still hovering in the mid 30s I need to get my gear on. I settled on the interval training. It seemed the least scary of them all. Each training session lasts for 32 mins. This program starts out at 6kms/hr, then 8kms/hr, then 10kms/hr. I lasted the 2 mins for each of these. But when it shifted between 6km/hr and 10km/hr for the next 24 minutes I knew I couldn't cope. So, instead I slowed it down to 8. Then finally settled on 7.5km/hr. My intervals went 2mins at 6kms/hr then 2 mins at 7.5kms/hr. This lasted for 24mins.

Without J there to cheer me on, I had to rely heavily on my iPod to see me through. Once I found a song that had the perfect beat for 7.5kms/hr, I kept repeating it. I was sweating like a pig by the time the 32 minutes were up. My legs were sore. But I was elated! I'd done it!! 3.5kms on the treadmill in hot weather! That's awesome!!! As I get fitter, I'm sure I'll be able to increase that second interval. Bring it on!!

Luke-warm shower, dinner, TV and bed!


Tuesday Feb 1

Still reeling a bit from yesterday's emotional farewell. I try to push the thought of it out of my head but I'm not very successful. When J asks me how I am, tears well up instantly. It's so hard for me to even talk about it; it's still so raw. I understand how to turn anger into an energy to exercise, but I find grief and sadness very heavy. I just want to curl up in a ball somewhere and sob my heart out.

But that's not what I'm here to do. I'm here to face up to J and tell her that I haven't done any exercise since last Tuesday's session. I was expecting a flogging 'Biggest Loser' style. But J isn't like that. Instead, I knuckled down and gave it everything I could. I concentrated during the warm up to avoid injuring my calf muscle. And I took the extra laps without a groan or a whimper.

Today is 'B' day:  core muscles and, all up, 90 squats. The first set is always the toughest physically. It's like the muscles need a chance to prepare themselves and warm up. The last set is toughest mentally. Exercise is mental and physical. I think my mental muscles tend to give out first. I need to toughen them up!

At the end, J mentions a detox diet. Now, in my studies as a Naturopath, I've come across a few detox diets. I give J a sceptical look. She tells me that this diet has been developed by an English Doctor with an Indian heritage. Apparently his work is sought after by celebrities. People claim to feel amazing on this diet. It lasts for 3 weeks. J says his clients have had excellent weight-loss results. Only 5 weeks to go until my birthday; I could use some excellent weight loss results!!

J tells me that I'd have to forgo alcohol but knows that I almost never drink! Then she hits me with the big guns. "You'd have to give up caffeine."

Caffeine!?? Aw heck! I only just managed to give up SUGAR!! How am I going to live without caffeine for 3 solid weeks?! I think longingly of that first morning coffee and that hot cuppa tea before bed. This is gonna be ugly. Withdrawal city. Poor G.

J laughs at me and tells me that we can do it together.

I shrug and thing, aww why not!? What have I got to lose aside from some toxins and some kilos!

J tells me she'll bring the book to Thursday's group session so I can have a read of it over the weekend.

Monday Jan 31  'Our Last Monday'

Hmmm how does one spend the last Monday we have together before Kindergarten starts? Well, S woke up when G went in to her room to say good-bye. She crawled into bed with me for our morning snuggle. Then it was time for breakfast: Nutella on toast (and I had my usual muesli, yogurt & fruit).

After my shower, we decided it was Mosaic time!! S received a box 3 with Disney Princess Mosaics for her birthday. She settled for Belle and gave me Cinderella. It wasn't too hot outside yet, so we set up our stuff at the out door table and got started. We chatted a little bit about school and what it was like. I told her how much I loved school as a kid- and even as an adult! She wanted to know if her Uncle T liked school as much as me, and told her that I don't think he did--but even he went back to school as a grown up to become a pilot. She seemed satisfied with that!

About 10.30, the courier arrived with our NEW TREADMILL! Whoo hoo!! Unfortunately, the courier was only prepared to take the treadmill up the drive. It was up to me to shift the 90kg box from the backyard into the lounge room. S offered to help but I assured her that she would be safest making cookies & cakes out of playdoh at the kitchen table. It took a lot of wriggling and manouvering, but I finally got it into the lounge room. Crazy!!

Then I joined S at the kitchen table to assist with the playdoh baking! She received the baking centre for her birthday too. It's really neat! You can squeeze playdoh out so that it looks like icing and there are lots of different molds! Too cool!

About 1pm, we decided it was time to gather our things and head over to  Castle Hill. First stop: Lollipop Playland for some serious sliding, climbing, playing and perhaps even a little lunch! Then, it's straight to swimming to watch S at her lesson! It is so hot today. 38 degrees. Too hot for this Canadian!!

There's a super steep green slide that S is keen to try out. After stowing our shoes and my bag, we climbed up to the slide; S settled herself on my lap and we were off!! OMG! Talk about steep and FAST! S LOVED it!!! Again, Mumma Jay?? I think we managed to go down about 7 times while we were there! Heaps of fun!

S had a vegemite & cheese sandwich and a handful of fries. I settled for ham, cheese, & tomato on 'brown' bread (really, it looked more like white bread with wheat freckles!!). Half a sandwich later, I lost interest. I could have eaten the rest of the fries, but stopped myself after 10. Prolly could have tackled a pre-schooler for a Coke, but I had a cappuccino with xylitol instead. It wasn't the same.

Swimming. It was soo splash-tastic to watch S in the pool! She's like a little mermaid! But, boy was it hot and humid sitting there watching her! I was prolly just as wet as she was!! She did flutter kicking (face in and face out) and even dived to the bottom to collect her goggles.

Dropping her home proved to be a very emotional experience. I hung around whilst S and C went through my iPhone to look at the games that I've downloaded for S. C has agreed to download a few too. I played with S's little sister. As 6pm rolled around, I figured it was time for me to be heading home. S clung to me and refused to let me go. C had to pull her off, and even then, she squirmed and wriggled trying to get free of C's grasp. She was crying; I was crying.

I asked her what was wrong, and she looked up at me and said,"when will I see you again, Mumma Jay?'

I tousled her hair and told her that she would see me in 2 weeks just like always. I gave her another hug and left. It broke my heart. I knew it was going to be hard, but this was so painful. I sat in the car and cried for a bit. Then, backed down the driveway and headed for home.

G had managed to haul the treadmill from the lounge room to the back room and had it completely unpacked by the time I walked in at 6.45. The bedroom was strewn with cardboard and plastic bags. G was dripping with sweat. There's no airflow and it gets so hot in our unit. My first act was to turn on the fan. She took one look at my face and gave me a big hug.  Then we busied ourselves connecting leads and bolting the frame together. It has a longer running track than our old one, a wicked digital display, heaps of programs, speakers and a personal fan!

Dinner, TV and bed. G heads for bed sooner than I do. I intend to stay up until my eyes can't bear to remain open any longer. Otherwise, the events of the day will play over and over in my mind.

Sunday Jan 30

S sleeps in until 7.20am & then climbs into bed for a snuggle. G is exhausted, so we leave her to sleep and head out to make breakfast. All of us were pretty tuckered out after yesterday's festivities, so we mostly took it easy.

S and I played her new Disney Princess computer games, played with her new Strawberry Shortcake cafe set, played with the Playdoh cake & bakery set and watched some TV. It was too hot to go to the park or play outside.

We decided to have a bath before dinner to cool down. Then, it was time to settle in to watch Disney's  Mulan. Unfortunately, S was a little hesitant to continue watching Mulan once she decided to take her father's place in the Emperor's Army. I think she was worried that Mulan would come to harm. On top of that, S was very, very tired.  So, we turned off the movie, brushed her teeth, chose a story and assumed our usual 'story time' position. The fan was still in S's room from the night before, so we turned it on. I kissed her, gave her a big hug, and tried very hard not to think that this was one of our last Sunday night 'tuck ins'.