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Pregnancy: Week 40

Well, that Baby L had us fooled. Here I thought early; the hubs thought on time; and it’s five days overdue. Quite the test of patience for us already.

CrossFit with momma

CrossFit with momma

Despite the patience testing, it was a fun week.

Pooch is camera ready!

Pooch is camera ready!

Interview time

Interview time

Saturday we were interviewed about our CrossFit and pregnant experience. While I can’t divulge major details right now, it was a fun day. The hubs was amazing on camera and throughout the interview. We did part of it at home and the other part in Back Alley CrossFit with Coach Melissa and my non-preggers WOD pal Hadar. They were both rock stars on camera, too! We did a mix of video and still shoots. Can’t wait to see final product – stay tuned!

Coach Melissa getting interview prepped.

Coach Melissa getting interview prepped.

Hadar, Chad and Momma watch

Hadar, Chad and Momma watch

Hadar's turn!

Hadar’s turn!

On Sunday, momma, Chad, Frankie and I enjoyed a leisurely morning. We walked to brunch and popped in some shops. That evening my dad arrived and we met the aunties for an Italian dinner. Everyone kept telling me I needed to eat eggplant – so where better than an Italian joint?! I topped it with asking for it to be made spicy and they delivered … but I sure didn’t!

Monday, we went to the doctor. Still about one centimeter dilated … she stripped my membranes (not pleasant!) and told us sex-sex-sex. These docs love the sex!

Lounging with pooch

Lounging with pooch

The rest of the week was focused on R&R. Napping, reading, a pedicure, trip to the chiropractor, making yummy dinners, walking, watching movies (including “The Other Woman” HILARIOUS!), and CrossFit. All in all, a good week.

I’m just really to the point of becoming uncomfortable. CrossFit definitely makes me feel better and provides a sense of normalcy. The temps haven’t been too bad either, especially at night, so I’m not experiencing terrible sweating fits (yet!). It is supposed to be in the 100’s this weekend.

We’ve gotten many questions on inducement since I am past due. Luckily, our office isn’t huge on that. I did have a non-stress test (NST) and AFI test for fluids today. I’m dilated another centimeter; all my levels are normal; the baby is still very active; it’s all we can hope for. I prefer to try for natural options – more selfishly because I want to know what everything feels like. I have started second guessing all the movement, cramping, what I thought were contractions, etc. In the meantime, we’ll do another series of tests on Monday and meet with the doctor to discuss next steps … unless Baby L decides to come this weekend.

Week 40 WODs: Another great week of successes!

Saturday, April 26: warm up 300m row

Strength: Back Squat 3×5 + 1 – 150# – new PR. This was achieved during filming. I realized in prepping for it that I hadn’t done a one rep max back squat pr attempt since 2012. Definitely time. Unfortunately, we ran out of time with filming and photography getting in the way. Coach Melissa thinks I can definitely handle another 20-30#.

Monday, April 28: warm up

Strength: overhead squats 5×6 – 75#

Metcon: 12:50

  • 750m row 250m row
  • 25 burpees (on wall)
  • 25 push press (75#)
  • 25 air squats
  • 800m run/walk 400m walk

Tuesday, April 29: warm up

Strength: ring work in place of bench press

Metcon: 4 rounds – 15:15

  • 10 deadlifts (225/155)
  • 20 hand release push ups (on wall)
  • 10 dead hang pulls ups ring rows
  • 20 v-sits

Wednesday, April 30: warm up

Back Squat

Back Squat

Getting low

Getting low

165#

165#

Strength: Back Squat, find 1 rep max Got to 165#!!!

Metcon: 10 min AMRAP – 2+20

  • 5 back squat (953)
  • 15 box jumps (step ups)
  • 200m row
  • 5 back squat
  • 15 box jumps
  • 200m row

Friday, May 2: Warm up – 200m row

Strength: deadlift 4×6, don’t pause at top. Worked to 165#. Definitely feeling the pregnancy in my hips and low back.

Push press with the hubs

Strict press with the hubs

Strict Press

Strict Press

Metcon: 5min AMRAP – 2+5

  • 10 ring dips
  • 10 strict push press (65#)
  • 5 elevated push ups

Food: paleo, spicy, eggplant … anything to get this baby out! Seriously, been eating well. Still love icees, ice cream and iced tea!

Pregnancy Week 38

Week 38 was a huge tease. Huge.

I started cramping on Sunday during church; labor cramping to the point that we had to leave after the Eucharist and I sat most of mass. My reaction? I was immediately excited. Chad was more skeptical … and the hubs won out. Not much more happened.

38 weeks, climbing South Mountain with Heather

38 weeks, climbing South Mountain with Heather

Full Moon Hike recap

Full Moon Hike recap

Tuesday night, we joined our friend Heather for a full moon hike at South Mountain. We had never hiked this trail. It was gorgeous and very different from the trails we frequent. And watching the moon rise was spectacular. It rose as a sliver of orange and as it was cresting, the coyotes started barking and howling. That put pooch on high alert! We sat and watched it rise and transform for almost an hour before heading down. It was a magical night; the baby thought so too, because it gave me more cramping (yippee!).

Wednesday morning, at the chiropractor, the doc that adjusts my hips was confident I would deliver this week given the shift in my body and hips…

Since then, it’s been a mix of mild contractions and cramping. I’ve been trying some of the old wives tales – spicy food and long walks – coupled with CrossFit. Friday, we saw our doctor. The result? Still just one centimeter of dilation. She did say there was noticeable difference and progress from the prior week, but clearly not enough to deliver! Her recommendation? Sex. Lots of it! Quite the homework assignment!

Thursday was the final day of my work contract. I’m officially a free woman to test out my new job as a momma. So, now we wait!

Gorgeous flowers from Hadar

Gorgeous flowers from Hadar

A visit from cuzzie David

A visit from cuzzie David

cnl

Great lunch with David, Renee, Chad and Frankie

Great lunch with David, Renee, Chad and Frankie

It’s been a week of blessings from friends and family. Awesome support via cards, gifts, flowers, calls, texts and visits. Baby L is definitely the talk of our world and we appreciate all the love and well-wishes.

So many are anxiously awaiting this little person, including big brother Frankie. He’s a smart dog, but the way he’s acting indicates he really know something more is in store for him. He’s extra focused on me and seeking lots of love. Happy to oblige!

Big Brother, patiently waiting

Big Brother, patiently waiting

Week 38 WODs: Another killer week: feeling great, lifting heavy, and having a ton of energy.

Lovin from Hadar and Kim

Lovin from Hadar and Kim

The ever awesome (and patient!) Coach Melissa

The ever awesome (and patient!) Coach Melissa

Monday, April 14: warm up

strength: front squat 10-8-6-4-2. Worked to 145# (probably another PR)

metcon: 14 min amrap: 4 rounds + 100m row

  • 100m row
  • 10 slam balls (25/15)
  • 10 air squats
  • 10 push press (65#)

Tuesday, April 15: warm up

Strength: Bench press was programmed, but not recommended for preggers. I did shoulders to overhead from the back 5×2. Got to 95#x1 (probably another PR).

Metcon: 14 min amrap: 6 rounds

  • 8 deadlifts (215/135) I did 125#
  • 6 chest to bar pull ups. I did ring rows
  • 15 air squats

That night, full moon hike. ~3.5 miles. Heart rate spiked climbing up. Could definitely feel the morning of deadlifts in my back on the incline, too! Took many breaks.

Thursday, April 17 warm up: 200m run

skill: tabata row (got to 615m), bar hang (could only hang 13 of the 20 seconds), med ball cleans (14#, 33 reps)

Tabata explanation from crossfit.com: For 20 seconds, do as many reps of assigned exercise, then rest 10 seconds. Repeat seven times for a total of eight intervals. Translates to four minutes of total exercise.

metcon: 11+4 push jerks

Push Press

Push Press

  • 6 min amrap
  • 4 push press (135/95) 75#
  • 6 burpee pull ups ring rows
  • 2 min rest
  • 6 min amrap
  • 4 push jerk (135/95) 75#
  • 6 burpee pull ups ring rows

Friday, April 18 warm up: 200m run

metcon: “Dirty 30”: 22:50

  • 30 box jumps (24/20) / step ups 20″
  • 30 jumping pull ups / ring rows
  • 30 kettle bell swings (35/25)
  • 30 walking lunges
  • 30 knees to elbows
  • 30 push press (45/35)
  • 30 good mornings (45/35)
  • 30 wall balls (20/14)
  • 30 burpees / on wall
  • 30 double unders / 90 singles

Food: paleo and ice! and ice cream. It’s so stinking hot already in the Valley, that ice and ice cream offer sweet relief!

Pregnancy: Week 33

14.3 going down

14.3 going down

During the week, there was little focus on CrossFit, but a ton of focus on fun and good food!

Momma and Frankie scrunched in like sardines

Momma and Frankie scrunched in like sardines

Sending momma on her way

Sending momma on her way

We returned to the Valley on Sunday and enjoyed the final 48 hours with my mom. She was able to enjoy the sun and help us with some baby prep tasks. She took off Tuesday afternoon and that evening, we welcomed some of our favorite friends, who were escaping the Wisconsin snow for sunshine.

Aunts Kenny & Jenny watch us during 14.3

Aunts Kenny & Jenny watch us during 14.3

Their arrival prompted me to do some good, mostly paleo, meal planning. For the mornings, I baked paleo banana bread, a veggie-filled quiche, fresh-squeezed orange juice and then made daily veggie and fruit based shakes to get our day started clean.

Since it’s prime grilling season, dinners included tri tip with spinach salad and green beans, BBQ chicken with grilled asparagus and wild rice with mushrooms, and cheeseburgers with tomato salad. Makes my mouth water for more!

The nights were late and filled with talking and laughing, which didn’t really promote early WODs. I haven’t struck a great balance between getting enough sleep and my workout availability throughout my pregnancy. That and food quality/weight gain are my two greatest take-aways. I would like to take what I’ve learned this time and focus more time and energy the next pregnancy on strict-paleo and a rigid workout schedule.

Besides our awesome house guests, the hubs and I took spent some quality time together at our church on Friday night. Every Friday during Lent our parish hosts an incredible fish fry. While not paleo, it’s a fun, inexpensive meal that provides us an opportunity for fellowship.We enjoyed it so much last year and are so glad to have another year to participate.

Most recently, the church has also launched a monthly date night for engaged and married couples. We attended last month and loved it, so we attended again Friday night. It’s the perfect time to help us focus on our Trinity – God + us. This Friday, in particular, the discussion was based on trials and tribulations couples face and how to handle the decision making process. To kick-off the discussion, we attended the Stations of the Cross as a group to help focus on self-sacrifice and the need for community during tough times. Since we’ve faced a number of complicated decisions already in our short marriage, the topic was timely and useful.

We have started to build my “push playlist.” It includes everything from Lady Gaga + R. Kelly’s “Do What You Want” to REM’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It.” Looking for recommendations on songs to include. I’m approaching this like I would a WOD – intense and focused – so anything with a strong, aggressive beat is perfect. Suggestions?

Week 33 WOD:

CrossFit Open 14.3. As I previously mentioned, I didn’t register for the Open and I don’t regret that decision. However, when this WOD was announced, I knew it was my wheelhouse and Coach Melissa confirmed that.

WOMEN – includes Masters Women up to 54 years old
Complete as many reps as possible in 8 minutes of:
95-lb. deadlifts, 10 reps
15 box jumps, 20-inch
135-lb. deadlifts, 15 reps
15 box jumps, 20-inch
155-lb. deadlifts, 20 reps
15 box jumps, 20-inch
185-lb. deadlifts, 25 reps
15 box jumps, 20-inch
205-lb. deadlifts, 30 reps
15 box jumps, 20-inch
225-lb. deadlifts, 35 reps
15 box jumps, 20-inch

My score: 77. Had I not stopped to put on my 33 week sticker mid-WOD, I probably would have made it to the next round of deadlifts (185#).

For those concerned about me lifting, deadlifts are one of the olympic lifts I excel in and I had Melissa by my side coaching me through breathing, reps, and breaks. I also always wear my heart rate monitor to ensure I keep it at a steady rate; for this WOD it was between 160-165, my average for WODs. And, I haven’t jumped on boxes since the start of my pregnancy for fear of falling. I simply step up (which is recommended by many coaches/doctors for any general athlete to save on the hips and Achilles).

Melissa talking me through strategy

Melissa talking me through strategy

33 weeks

33 weeks

All smiles

All smiles

Melissa & crew coaching me on

Melissa & crew coaching me on
The hubs killed it

The hubs killed it

Pregnancy: Week 28

It was a great week focused on yoga and long walks with pooch. My body is craving the yoga. The stretching and quiet time feels amazing on my expanding body. During shavasana, the baby gives me happy flutters. That makes up for the many poses I can’t do because of the babe’s positioning.

We had our monthly check up this week and met with one of the female doctors in the practice, whom we adore. She’s a realist and clearly loves her job. She walked through what I should expect in these final weeks and we also discussed my weight gain.

I’m up 26# and with the exception of my face rounding more, I’m primarily carrying all that weight on my front. The tatas are a heavy burden! We talked about how much I’ve grown in cup size; she was shocked at the dramatic jump and rationalized that as I was implying, majority of my weight is in my chest. Glad she agreed after the scolding I received last month from another (male) doctor in the practice.

While I haven’t really restricted myself of what I’m eating, I am conscientious to make sure I am consuming enough veggies, fruit, protein and calcium. I have definitely veered far off the paleo track, but our nightly meals are centered around our traditional paleo cooking. I’m having lots of yogurt, cheese, ice cream, and grain; more than I have in a year. It’s obviously going to take a toll on my weight, regardless of growing another human. The reassuring thing is that I know with strict paleo and heavy doses of CrossFit and hot yoga, the extra gain will slide off once Baby arrives.

My paleo sous chef

My paleo sous chef

This appointment was also the time for my whooping cough vaccination, Rh factor shot and my glucose blood work. I was poked and prodded from head to toe!

To ease the eczema on my face, I found my trusty bottle of Bio Oil. This stuff is magic! After using it morning and night for a week, the dryness has subsided and the dullness/patchiness isn’t as extreme. Bio Oil is also known for working wonders on stretch marks. I’m going to start using on my belly and chest to help.

We ended our week with a date night at our church. It was a great opportunity to spend some quality, spiritual time together and meet other couples in our parish. It was much needed time for us individually and together.

Saturday was full of “nesting.” We bought some awesome furniture from a new boutique – Twigs and Twine. Then it was on to tackling the garage, which was in much need of organization and sorting. We felt very accomplished by the end of the day!

Baby L's dresser

Baby L’s dresser

Awesome new chair

Awesome new chair

Week 28 WODs:

Feb. 3 – Flow Yoga with our favorite instructor. She provides lavender soaked wash cloths during shavasana. It adds such a nice touch to relaxation! I’m going to make sure we have some of her water soluble lavender oil on hand during labor since it has such a calming effect on me.

Feb. 5 – Centered Yoga, filled with hip and pelvic openers. Many of the poses will come in handy in April!

Feb. 6 – 2.5 mile walk with pooch, enjoying the gorgeous day, and deep cleaning the house. I mean deep; I worked up a good sweat!

Feb. 7 – 3 mile walk with pooch

Yoga with these gorgeous ladies!

Yoga with these gorgeous ladies!

Feb. 9 – Yoga with my lovely ladies, outside in the gorgeous sun. Can’t think of a better way to start the day!

Pregnancy: Week 9

We had yet another appointment at the doctor’s office this week to get on their routine schedule. The appointment came equipped with a bossy, argumentative nurse practitioner, who decided my timeline from the M.D. wasn’t accurate. Whatever! Needless to say, not smart to argue with a hormonal pregnant woman.

Baby L - 9 weeks

Baby L – 9 weeks

The joy of the week was starting to share our secret! We decided to wait until I was almost through my first trimester in the event of a miscarriage. Since we’ve seen a healthy, rapid heartbeat, we’re feeling pretty good about sharing the news.

We sent care packages to our parents, the hubs grandparents and my sister. Each received a brag book with sonograms from six and eight weeks. We also sent little boxes with Hershey’s hugs & kisses. Our parents also received journals for them to write about their life to give to the baby in nine months (we’ll see who wins that!). They all thought we were sending wedding pictures – fooled them!

We also traveled to San Diego for a long weekend and were able to share our news with some friends and extended family. It’s so much more fun creating this life with joy from the people you love.

While there, both my aunts made delicious, healthy meals for us. I was in heaven eating food I didn’t have to prepare or that didn’t come from a fast food spot (while this ends up being all I can eat, it totally turns me off mentally!). The hubs was beyond ecstatic to have real, good food and lots of it! Friday night we enjoyed salmon, rice, salad and ice cream (of course!). Saturday was some delicious Mexican chicken creation. Sunday was a surf and turf spread with shrimp fresh from Galveston, Texas, gorgeous filets, caesar salad with my aunt’s secret recipe and two loafs of bread – sourdough or olive loaf. YUM! For dessert, we had apple cherry cobbler fresh from Julian with … you guessed it … ice cream! Good thing I’m getting my calcium covered!

Week Nine WODS:

Sept. 24 Warm up

Strength/skill: hang cleans got to 105#

Metcon: Four rounds for time – 200m run, 20 wall balls, 20 squats 20 over head weighted lunges (45/25) – 16:57 for 3 rounds; was feeling spent from the running and wall balls. Heart rate hovered around 164 rpm.

Food: This week is about the same as last. Craving lots of carbs and ice cream. Aversion to cooking/handling meat.

Sadly, my box in San Diego was closed for the weekend while the coaches were at a training camp. Wish I could have squeezed in another WOD or two.

Pregnancy: Week Eight

We had an appointment with our OB/GYN this week. He was awesome about everything – especially my CrossFit. He specifically said, “Everything you were doing prior to the pregnancy, you can continue. Just monitor your heart rate.”

SCORE!

He did mention that moving into the next trimesters, I will want to be careful with lifting too much because as my body and muscles expand to prepare for the birth, I can hurt myself/over-do. I won’t hurt the baby by lifting though.

This news and information made both the hubs and I much more comfortable with my CrossFit routine and what to prepare for.

Biggest changes are in my boobs. They are suddenly huge and very painful.

Week Eight WODS:

Sept. 16 Warm up 500m row

Strength/skill: weighted push ups (5×3) Got to 30#

Metcon: For time: 400m run, 50 push ups, 50 sit ups, 200m run, 40 push ups, 40 sit ups, 200m run, 30 push ups, 30 sit ups, 200m run, 20 push ups, 20 sit ups – 19:46

Sept. 17 Warm up

Strength/skill: front squats (10-8-6-4-2) Got to 115#

Metcon: 12 min amrap: 6 wall ball clean & throw (20/14), 8 box jumps (24’/20′), 6 KBS (1.5/1 pood) – 6 + 12

Heart rate: maintained around 160

Sept. 20 Warm up: core work

Metcon: “Helen” 3 rounds – 400m run (I rowed), 21 kbs, 12 pull ups – 13:46 Heart rate was 162

Food: I had an aversion to cooking this week. Poor hubs. I’ll eat anything put in front of me, but cooking/handling meat is completely unappealing.