No more couch potato

I have been so lazy leately. I don't know if it has been that I have had a cold for the past 2 months or if I am just lazy. For the past month Mackenzie and I would go to stroller strides, come home, eat lunch, sit on the couch from 1-2 and watch full house, fall asleep, wake up around 4, make dinner and then go to bed. Bret would come home from work and both Mackenzie and I would be curled up on the couch with nothing accomplished for the day. So Tuesday I decided that I was going to the Dr. getting an antibiotic and NOT going to sit on the couch the entire day. I cleaned the kitchen, did every bit of laundry we had including all linens all over the house, and put it all away, cleaned and vacummed our room, and cleaned all bathrooms, I then made dinner, and did an exercise tape with Bret that evening. I felt so much more energy and good that I had accomplished something that day. Wed came and I said I also wouldn't sit on the couch, so Mackenzie and I ran errands, finishing cleaning the rest of the house and then went to dinner with my dad. Thursday is here and still no couch time...yeah... Mackenzie and I did an exercise tape, spent time with friends and then went to her gymnastics. Now don't get me wrong I am not giving up my couch time at night after Mackenzie has gone to bed and I watch my shows. I just don't feel as guilty sitting and relaxing at night when I haven't been there all day already.

New Work Out Partner

Working out with daddy & mommy in her panties

A well deserved water break

So Bret and I are on week two of getting healthy, and week two of our exercise routine P90X. We have been doing the tape at 9 at night because we wait to digest our dinner and put Mackenzie to bed, but we have been dragging so we decided to try to do it while Mackenzie was still awake. She is an exercise freak, I guess it is my fault because of having her go to stroller strides with me, but it is hilarious. She can do all of the exercises. She worked out for the entire 60 minutes with us. Some of the funny things she said during the workout, "My butt is really hurting", "we are getting healthy", "we are a family that does exercise together", "are you having fun daddy, you not look like you having fun, we get all the fun out of our system", "I am drenched, this tape is killing me", "this is too hard, I am just gonna do high knees". She is hilarious, she really did get a workout, she was so sweaty and had to take a shower. So we have now adopted her as our new workout partner, we might as well get a good laugh while working out.

Happy Valentine's Day

Mackenzie & Tracy putting together Valentine's for preschool

Making sock puppets with Geeky (my mom's nickname)

Showing off her Valentine's puzzles from daddy

Being silly making valentine's cookies with mommy for preschool

Showing off all of her Valentine's from school

Valentine's stroller strides class, that is Bret in the middle, I was with him until I had to take the picture!

I hope you all had a wonderful valentine's day. We kept it simple, my sister came out to visit for a week and then my mom came on Friday for the weekend. Unfortunately Mackenzie wasn't feeling well, she had a fever and was fatigued, and then of course gave it to my sister who was then in bed for 4 days of the trip. I hate viruses, Mackenzie is just starting to feel better and has now gotten her appetite back. I had a valentine's couples class for stroller strides so Bret went with me and we started our valentine's day out with a great workout and then went to a nice lunch while my mom stayed with Mackenzie. Overall it was a lazy week, but it was great to see my family!

I hate Ear Infections

Today I took Mackenzie to an ENT because she has had an ear infection every month for the past 5 months. When she was two she had a tube put in her right ear and was great for a year until it fell out. So today I went to see if she needed to have another tube put in. The ENT said that her ears are both filled with fluid and she needs tubes put in both ears. She also has to have her adenoids taken out at the same time. They then had her take a hearing test, which showed that she has a mild hearing loss. The good news is that her hearing will go back to normal after the tubes. I know this will be good for her and it is definitely what she needs, but I am not excited about this. No one wants to see their little girl in a hospital gown and then have to go under anesthesia. She is supposed to have the surgery in about 2 weeks, I will keep you posted, but please keep her in your prayers that everything goes well!!

A Healthy New Start

The pool of water that I was dunked in face first!!

Shopping for all healthy food, look at all the produce

Making room for all the new healthy food

The Nielsen family is having a complete health makeover. For stroller strides I am running a 3 month challenge for some of my moms to make a lifestyle change and become healthier. For this challenge all of the moms including myself were dunked under water to find our exact body fat and lean muscle measurements, and then after 3 months of the challenge we will be dunked again to see our results. I didn't think it would be right to put my moms through this without me joining them so I am doing it as well. Bret decided that he needs to get healthy as well so he is joining me and we are making a family lifestyle makeover.

We first started by cleaning out the pantry, refrigerator and freezer and then I went and bought all new healthy foods. Many of you who know me well know that I don't eat anything green, so buying lots of things in the produce section was a huge change for me. I took a picture just to prove that I actually shopped there. Bret and I are also doing this fitness program called P90X, which is a 90 day fitness program consisting of cardio and strength training. It is a lot of fun to work out together, and this program is no joke, we are both drenched in sweat at the end of each workout, I know too much information.

We are currently on day 5 and we are doing well. Bret is doing awesome, he is taking his lunch to work, which is also saving money. He says that he has a lot more energy. I will keep you posted as to how we are doing on our 90 day journey, only 85 days to go:)