Tag Archives: mom

2017: Expectations, Hopes and Goals

Happy New Year!

While I certainly wasn’t up at midnight my time, I did manage to make it to midnight Eastern Time while I was finishing a riveting episode of Dateline. I can’t tell you the last time I actually rang in the new year, or even a new day for that matter, at midnight. I am quite often awake at 1:30, 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30, as those seem to be Cub’s preferred times to start screaming and send me from dead sleep to complete and udder panic.

I normally write a pre-new year’s eve post where I outline my challenges for the coming year. I decided not to do that this year. I always have high hopes starting a new year, as I do this year, but I undoubtedly disappoint myself by not being able to keep up with my aggressive challenges.

So this year, I have decided to do something a little different. I have one resolution/goal, items that I would like to accomplish but am not going to kills myself over, then I hope to have a number of smaller goals for a month at a time.

For my Resolution/Goal: To be a better mom. I am an ok mom, but there are so many times of my day where I put Cub on the back burner so I can just do one more work thing, or start dinner, or get that load of laundry in. Honestly, it can all wait, because he deserves every bit of my attention, and in 2017, I am going to do my best to give it to him.

For my smaller items I would like to accomplish: I have wanted to get this plank wall done in my living room since we moved it. I also would love to organize my storage room, write more, and organize my pantry. All in good time…

My January Goal: I want to walk Lucy more. She has so much energy, and deserves a good walk every day, and some days, I just send her in the back yard with Milton to play for a while. She’s getting a walk today, and hopefully many more days this month.

I wish you all good and happy things in 2017. The Thompson’s have big plans on the horizon, and I am excited to reveal those to you in the days to come.

Day 96/366- Driving Ms. Emotional

For about 2, if not 3 years now, I feel like I have been a woman posing as a runner. My stats have been atrocious, my runs few and far between. Becoming a wife and a mother, moving halfway across the country from beautiful, sunny Northern California to windy western Kansas and dealing with sleepless nights and so much time without Chas during wrestling season has put a damper on my athletic spirit. In my mind and heart, I am a runner, but in actuality, I am a fraud.

Last week I ran twice. It was so refreshing to wake up before anyone else and know that while everyone in Hays, KS, was still fast asleep, I was working hard and showing the world my perseverance. Morning runs are really about putting one foot in front of the other. I generally have just nursed the baby, and instead of crawling back in next to my husband, I opt for the cold, windy tundra that is Main Street at 5:30 am. I run an out and back usually, trying to complete one leg faster than the other. Pounding the pavement that earlier makes a person ponder big things, future goals, the meaning of life, etc. In a way, it makes me feel superior, the fact that I can do this, that I have the will power to do it, even if just for my usual 2 mile stretch. When I walk back in the door, I am no longer free or powerful. I am mom, Marketing Director and chef, but I feel more empowered in my daily activities, and more patient in my handling of crying babies, dog messes, and dumb emails. A run can certainly mellow a Type A personality like myself, but at the same time makes me feel more secure in who I am and what I am doing.

Besides my running lately, I have been playing in a rec volleyball league and working on some Nike Training Club workouts. On Monday, we played a team that had 3 former collegiate players on it. By former, I mean just graduated. Being 11 years out from my playing days, I am confident in my ability and skills, but am most certainly a step behind where I was when training was my life. We lost the game on Monday, and I left the facility feeling embarrassed and angry. They other team was cocky, stuck up, and not fun and light to play like most of our “Rec” league opponents. I hate that feeling. But then I started thinking about my NOW self as opposed to my 11 years ago self. When I was in the same position as the cocky girls we played Monday night, I am sure I was similar, and enjoyed beating up on older people. But I will tell you why they should be bowing down to me:

I am 11 years out of my volleyball career and I still was blocking the crap out of them.
I have the guts and moxy to put myself in that situation knowing that I am not the same 100% I used to be.
Those girls don’t know what it is like to be up all hours of the night nourishing a human being.
I created a human being with my own body!
I can work a 50+ hour week, cook, clean, and nurture my family while still looking to maintain my health and the health of my boys.
I am setting an example for my son, showing him that anything is possible and fitness is forever.
Those girls aren’t up at 5:30 to make themselves better.
Oh, and they certainly don’t know that people may not remember what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

I am a mom, a fit mom. A mom that is continuously trying to make herself a better person, wife, employee, and human. I know everyone is fighting some kind of battle, as I am. I know that there were probably days when I acted like them, but now I see the world in a different light. Someday they will too.

The New Adventures of Old Jen

Well, I have some good news, if you didn’t know already. The day after my last post (Pregnancy is a marathon), I delivered a healthy baby boy. Cub William Thompson is my new normal. At 8 lbs. 3oz. and 19 inches long, he made his appearance just as his mother wanted, very quickly. After having what I thought were just Braxton-Hicks contractions for about 12 hours, we knew that it was close to time for him to arrive. Sunday morning, June 28th, we headed to the hospital about 9:15 am, as my contractions were about 3:30 mins apart. After being checked at 10:30 am and measuring in at 3 cm dilated, the doctor broke my water, boldly predicting that I would be holding a baby by supper time. Cub had other plans.

I have been very strong in my opinion not to have drugs while I was in labor. I did not want an epidural, and knew that I had the strength to skip it. At approximately 11:30 am I looked at my husband and finally said, “if this is a 3, I need an epidural.” After discussing it with him and the nurse, she went to order the epidural and then came back to check my progress again. To everyone’s surprise, the extremely pain I was in was not 3 cm pain, but 8 cm pain. Before the anesthesiologist could even make it to the room (approx. 10 mins.) I was dilated to 10, pushing, and praying the doctor would get there in time to catch the newest member of my family.

At 12:21 pm, four pushes later, Cub came into this world with a perfectly round little head, and the cutest little cry you have ever heard. He was (and is) perfect.

I don’t remember a lot about the delivery. I remember my legs shaking like crazy, getting really hot, and keeping my eyes closed almost the entire time. It was an unbelievable experience, and the parts I do remember will never be forgotten.

Then there is this guy. Cub is the best and most challenging thing I have ever had to deal with in my life. Motherhood is constant problem solving, and I am getting better at it. I could spend all my time just looking at him. He is such a special and loved little boy.

Now that we have reached the 6 week mark, and I am almost feeling back to my normal self, I am excited to get into some sort of a routine, particularly with regards to my fitness. The healing process after birth is no joke, and I am still working on it.

The new life I am living is definitely the complete opposite of where I was just a year ago. It is still the old me, but I know I will continue to evolve, so really, it is a new me. And I like the new me.

10 weeks in and still going strong

Note to readers: this was written on Thanksgiving day, but is just being published because we feel we are now far enough along to let people know our good news.

Well, we have almost made it through the first trimester! YIPPEE!!

Wow, it has not been easy! I have had more morning sickness, more nausea, and more terrible feeling days than any expectant momma should EVER have to deal with. From about week 6 to week 9, I don’t remember doing much but sleeping and complaining, which my husband was wonderful about dealing with. Anything I needed, he was there to help with. I couldn’t be more thankful for him and his willingness to get me through all of this. He even thinks of things that are silly, but are very good points, like working on my laptop with it sitting directly on my lap, or walking down the stairs without using the hand rail… he is just the cutest sometimes.

So here we are, in week 10. Our baby is now the size of a kumquat, which I have only ever seen on the Food Network. I head to the doctor for my first appointment on December 16th, and I can hardly wait. Let’s get this baby stuff on a roll! I want to make sure everything is ok, that I am doing all the right things, and that this baby is growing the way it is supposed to. I already have a nice little belly on me, let me tell ya! Fortunately, I have only gained about 2 lbs. so far, which I guess is about right for a person my size.

The maternity pants were bought last week… oh boy was that a tough thing to do… but they are SOOOO comfortable! Totally worth the money spent. I sort of feel like once we get through our first appointment, and through the holidays that it will be time to turn on baby mode. I am hesitant to buy anything yet, as we definitely don’t want to jump the gun prematurely. Things can always go wrong, and it would be a lot more painful with visual reminders if something did happen.

It also never escapes my mind at how lucky Chas and I are. Some people try forever, and it never happens for them. We tried for 3 months, and here we are! Here go the hormones… I cry at everything by the way! This baby is going to be the luckiest baby in the whole world! Between us and its grandparents, this child is going to be so spoiled, and I am sure it will be the sweetest baby ever. It has the most caring father, and a mother that worries about everything that will make sure that it always has what it needs.

I’m sure my next update will be after my appointment, so look for something soon!