Postpartum Exercise.......

This was taken last spring when me and my little tennis champ were going to play tennis together on Mother's Day.  I don't think I'll be playing tennis anytime soon, but that's OK.  We all have seasons in our lives and I'm enjoying this one.

 I had started to write this post last week about my "usual" postpartum exercise routine.  Probably for the last 5 babies, I have used the same schedule to slowly ease back into exercise.  I  like how it helps me get some fresh air and stretching in.  I like to feel that I'm doing something to get back into shape.  Exercise is so good not only for us physically, but mentally.  I've never had a problem with postpartum blues and I think getting my body quickly moving after I feel up to it, has help prevent that.  

Well, the baby is 3 weeks old now and I'm not quite into my routine yet.  I've hit that stage where I'm kind of living in a sleep deprived state, you know, like a fog.  Patrick still has his days and nights mixed-up and while I know that I should try a little harder to keep him up during the day, it just seems like there is so much going on that it's easier said than done. That's why baby and I are writing this post at 3am! I'm trying to get back into our homeschooling routine and really, that takes priority over exercise right now.  We only have about 2 more months of school and then it will be summer. At that point I'll have more time to get out and walk and hopefully hit the gym.  For now I am trying to be content with walking a few times each week and doing some Pilates (a full 10-15 min!) in the morning.

So, for anyone who is interested, here is the routine I use to get ease back into shape post baby:

Postpartum Week 1:  Pregancy Pilates-about 15 min. in the morning or whenever I finally get clean loungy clothes on : )

Week 2:  Walk 1.5 miles 3 days a week and do Pilates 3 days a week.

Week 3:  Walk 2 miles 3 days a week and Pilates 3 days a week.

Week 4:  Walk 2 1/2 miles and add the gym one day (bike and light weights-which is what I did pregnant) this takes the place of one Pilates day.

Week 5: Walk 3 miles and add another day of gym and Pilates the other day.

Week 6:  Walk 3 1/2 miles and start to add some jogging sprints after getting the ok from OB.

Week 7: Up walk/jog to 4 miles and continue with gym or Pilates 3 days a week.

Whether I am pregnant or not, I like to have 3 days a week of cardio and 3 days a week of strength training.  The strength training days can be weights at the gym, a sculp aerobic class at the gym or Pilates at home.  This has really worked for me to keep me somewhat in shape while having this many children.  I aim for 6 days of exercise and that way I usually get in at least 5.  I always take Sunday off as my "day of rest."

Meals From Heaven

 Yes, we've been cooking up a storm since we had little Patrick!  Anna and I cooked barbecue ribs, tons of veggies and as you can see from the picture below......a homemade Angel Food Cake.....not! : )  I'm totally joking!  We have had wonderful meals coming from friends, mostly from our church.  It's one of the things I like and cherish most about the post-partum period.

Don't those ribs look nice!

 We've been so blessed this time around and I've been so shocked that people haven't shied away from bringing us meals even though there are so many of us.  I always tell people though, that they don't have to bring "Duggar size" portions.  Even though we are a family of 12, my oldest is back at college and my younger 5 don't eat much : )

Anna looks like she made this, but don't let her fool you!  It was made by a special friend who has 6 kids.

Anyway, this time around we've had some wonderful meals......barbecue ribs, as you see here....Hungarian dumplings.....Spanish brisket.......chicken pot pies.......chicken burritos....etc.

Some tips if you are bringing a meal over to a family post-baby or just to be a blessing:

1. Make sure it's somewhat kid friendly.

2. Don't worry about making a ton if they have small children, but it is always nice to have left overs or some to freeze for a later date when life is crazy.

3.  I had one friend bring over paper goods and even drinks.  That was really nice : )

4.  You really don't need a meal every night, which can get kind of overwhelming, so if you are the one organizing the meal schedule then every other night is good.

5.  Freezer friendly meals are always welcome and don't even have to be pre-planned.  You can drop that off any time unannounced.

6. A dessert is always much appreciated....my kids are spoiled and have come to expect this : )

7. If at all possible, bring your meal in a throw away container so that the person doesn't have to clean and keep track of your pots and then somehow get them back to you.

Well, I only have a few more days of meals coming, so I'm going to enjoy it.  After this week I'll have to break into my freezer meals or order pizza!

The 2 Week Marker

We've had a wonderful 2 week babymoon. And even though I like to to continue to take it easy for the next 4 weeks, the real time of "staying in" is over and it's time to ramp-up some. We will slowly ease back into homeschool this week and my older ones go back to high-school this week too. It's been so nice having nothing major going on and just enjoying the baby and the wonderful spring weather.  My mother-in-law headed back up north and my husband has gone back to work.  Those first few days alone, meaning being the only adult in the house, are always hard, but it's gone surprisingly smoothly.

  Patrick is nursing like a champ and has stolen all our hearts already.  He is keeping me up quite a bit at night, but that's par for the course, right? : ) I enjoy nursing him so much and it's so nice to have that excuse to rest and sit quietly with him nursing.  God's way is always the best way!  After having to supplement Matthew with formula, due to him having DS and not a having a strong suck, it's so nice to not have to worry about bottles and buying formula.  Speaking of Matthew, he's not really sure about the baby.  He just now tries to touch him, but is not very interested in him.  I guess that is good compared to him "attacking" him : ) Patrick gets enough of being attacked with hugs and kisses from his older sisters!

We're All Enjoying the Babymoon

Warning......this is a photo heavy post....at least for me : )

Patrick is one week old and we are enjoying him immensely.  He's been a bit jaundiced, but today he is happy cheering on the Tarheels in the ACC tournament championship! 

The sign on the front door that my precious children made to welcome me and Patrick home.

The kids were so happy to have us home from the hospital and are loving having Daddy off from work and Mommom in town to do fun things with everyday.  

I must admit, they have watched more TV than usual over the past week.  Here they are watching yet more "Andy Griffin" and we fit 7 kids on our love seat : )

The timing of Patrick's birth worked out beautifully.  Will was home from UNC on spring break and my 2 high schoolers are also on spring break.  So, they've all been able to help and get to know Patrick.  Here my oldest being silly with his youngest brother.

The 2 proud grandmothers......out with Ron and all the kids for a picnic.  The weather has been great!

Mattie climbed his first tree with Dad!  He's adjusting alright.  He's been very shy towards the baby.  He doesn't want much to do with Patrick, but I guess he just needs to warm up to the idea of not being the baby anymore.

MK snuggling in the bed with puffy post partum me : )

Can't Wait for the Babymoom

I'm just entering the third trimester and I'm already looking forward to my "babymoon."  I recently just learned this term from another blogger friend and I just love it.  I have had a babymoon, so to speak, since my second born but just didn't know this great name for it.  I learned way back that the freshly newborn phase goes by way too fast!  Also, I learned with my first, that even if you feel great, it's not the best thing for the mom or baby to get out and about too early.  I truly believe that if you plan on having a good many children, then you should protect your womb and let it heal properly.  Also, with my first, I felt so great and it was the holiday season, so I went out everywhere with him when he was still so little.  He then got a bad case of RSV and we ended up in the hospital, which really throws you into parenthood fast!

Anyway, this is basically how I spend my babymoon:
(btw, this is if you have a vaginal birth.  I did have one c-section and I added a week or so to everything listed)
My husband does take 1-2 weeks off of work and I plan ahead of time to take 2 weeks off of schooling.

First 2 weeks
     No cooking (we have a great church family that brings meals, plus I usually have a relative in town to help.)
     No homeschooling, no cleaning (if you don't have any help, tell people you want a gift card for a cleaning crew to come in about a week after baby is born).
     No exercising, except maybe a walk around the block or some light Pilate's in bed.
     No going anywhere, unless it's to the doctor or midwife.
     Kiss, hug, snuggle and nurse your baby a lot!

Next 4 weeks
     Continue no cooking (at this point I have meals in freezer if meals have stopped coming from friends or my husband picks up something or have kids cook.)
     Ease back into exercise slowly.  Add 1/2 mile to my walks and slowly add gym back into schedule with very light weights or just bike riding.
     Get help with driving.  I just tell my children we are scaling back and then I get more bold about asking others to drive my children to extracurriculars.

Enjoying my last babymoon~

Sisters fighting over their baby brother!