Diet Plan

Here's the new plan:

• 2 protein
• 2 dairy
• 2 carbs
• 2 fruits
• 3 or more vegetables

So what's that going to mean for me?

• Breakfast - Bowl of cereal with milk (carb and dairy)
• Mid-Morning Snack - Piece of fruit (fruit)
• Lunch - Large salad (2 vegetables) with some kind of protein like tuna or chicken (protein)
• Mid-Afternoon Snack - Some other kind of fruit (fruit)
• Dinner - Hot vegetable or two (vegetable) with whatever protein I make for the family (protein)
• Evening snack - Bowl of cereal with milk (carb and dairy)

I'm addicted to my carbs, especially cereal, so maybe planning things out this way will help, knowing I would still get my bowl of cereal, will help me avoid all other carbs.  I think I'm still going to allow myself my one can of Coke a day as a splurge.

Tomorrow I'm going to a BBQ.  As far as I can tell, everything would still stay the same except for dinner.  I could cut up a hamburger as my protein and bring some kind of veggie side dish/appetizer to make sure I stay on track.

Alright, sounds like I've got a plan!

The Perfect Storm

My goal yesterday was to get everyone's lunches finished way before bed, cook and clean up from dinner, cook and clean up a healthy lunch that I could take to school the rest of the week, make a grocery list, go grocery shopping, and put said groceries away.  In between trying to do all that, I would make sure the girls stay alive, get the boys to do their jobs and finish their homework, drive J to dance class, and then feed the kids their dinner and put them to bed.  I also was able to keep calling DuPont (a children's hospital in Delaware) until I finally got through to a live person in order to schedule appointment for both boys to be evaluated by the developmental pediatrician.  We're on the books for an appointment in NOVEMBER, but are also on the cancellation list, so I'm hopeful we can be seen before then.  I'm not complaining; that's just the kind of day it was.  And I managed to do everything on my list.

DH's responses? 
When I returned from the grocery store: "Did you remember my O'Doull's?"
When he was leaving to return to school for an awards ceremony (after I returned from J's dance class but before I fed the kids dinner):  "When I get back I'm going to head upstairs because I'm really tired, so I won't be able to help clean up anything.  Do you think you can get it all?"
Separate conversation, also before he left for school:  "Could you please try to pick up a little before I get home from work tomorrow?  Maybe vacuum the rug, too?"

In case DH pops on over to this blog and has just read my take on his responses, please understand that he is an incredible husband and father.  He pitches in all the time.  In fact, when he got home from the awards ceremony, he did clean up some of the stuff I hadn't gotten to yet.  He is a great guy!

However, after having rushed around all afternoon to accomplish all that I did, it pissed me off to no end to not hear, "Wow, this place looks great!" or "Thanks for making us dinner!" or "I know how tough it was to get appointments for the boys; thanks!" or even just to see a smile when he walks in the door before he sighs and starts picking stuff up.

I try really hard to straighten things up before he gets home.  I totally understand how stressful it is to walk in the door and see crap everywhere.  I am working on getting things more organized so that it won't be like that when he comes home.  But sometimes, in my effort to do some other important stuff, it doesn't happen.  And those are the days that he just happens to be extra tired, or he had a bad day, or whatever, so it creates this perfect storm of sighs and passive aggressive behaviors that are really hard to take, especially when I have not just been sitting on the couch eating Bon Bons (or on Facebook playing Tetris)!

Ahhhh, that felt good to get off my chest.  And when he gets home in an hour, since he was out last night and will not be home late Thursday night, I will be taking my computer and going out to focus on end of the year school stuff and other important tasks (again, Facebook, Tetris, you know).  So in reality, it's all good.  But every once in a while, I have to blow off steam!
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My goals for the rest of the afternoon, which is rapidly slipping away:

1. Put in a load of laundry and fold and put away the load that is currently in the dryer.
2. Fill small, snack-sized containers with snacks for the kids. 
3. Make lunches for tomorrow.
4. Begin dinner.
5. Clear off DR table and put out a snack for the boys for them to eat while they do their homework.
6. Do a quick sweep through the LR, DR, and kitchen to straighten up.

Six Secrets of Organized Moms

This is what I'm talking about!

Menu Planning

Menu planning is key to making sure I don't go crazy. Tonight I didn't plan ahead, but at least last time I was at the store I stocked up on some last minute meals the kids like, so we had frozen ravioli with sauce. I have the chance to run to the grocery store alone while J (my daughter) is at her dance class and A and B (my sons) are home with my DH. I am going to try to make my menu plan based on what we already have at home, as much as possible. Here's the plan for the rest of the week:



For my lunches this week: Quinoa Vegetable Salad

* I bought all the ingredients for this last week, so do not have to buy anything new.

Tuesday: Peanut Butter Vegetable Chicken Soup

I never made this before, but it got lots of stars on Allrecipe and it sounds REALLY good. For my children who are not as adventurous as I am, I will serve them some of the already cooked chicken and some of the cooked veggies and potatoes that will also be in the soup. Our rule for new food is they have to at least try it. I refuse to make an alternative meal for them, but have no problem separating the basic parts of any soup/casserole for them as long as they try it in its original form.

* Already have every ingredient!

Wednesday: Tuna Casserole

I have tuna, I have mac and cheese, I have peas, put it together: Yum!

Thursday: Sour Cream Chicken Quiche

Can you tell I have some cooked chicken to use up? This is another one I have never tried before, but not only does it sound so good, I have all the ingredients for this, too!

Friday: Shabbat dinner at my parents

Every Friday night we get together at my parents' house (they live about ten minutes away): my family (5), my sister and her family (4 + any of the many extended family members from my BIL's family that might be staying at her house at any given time), and my parents (2 + up to three foreign college students that they host) - just a nice, quiet, cozy dinner.

Saturday: Mish Mash

Otherwise known as "Eat all the leftovers in the fridge."

Sunday: I've going out to dinner with my mom and sister; DH and the kids can fend for themselves.

I'm Sick and Tired and I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore!

<------- This is me. Almost every day. My hair is brown, and you won't catch me in a skirt most of the time, but you get the picture. I may not be pulling out my hair on the outside, but it's the way I feel so often on the inside.

This is FLYlady. ---->

FLYlady is the reason I did not become stark, raving mad when I made the choice to stop teaching elementary school and stay home to raise my twin boys. And a year later started also watching my new-born nephew full-time. And a year after that give birth to and began raising my daughter. And two years after that started also watching my new-born niece full-time. It's a good thing I had my twins first before I knew any better!

And then my boys went off to school, followed by my nephew, leaving me with just the two girls all day. And my synagogue's preschool had a teaching opening. The pay was hardly worth mentioning, but it was at my synagogue, which I consider to be my second home having been a member there since birth, and it would be my own classroom again. And the school's teaching philosophy was fabulous, completely based on the current research in child development. PLUS it was only from 9-12. Sold!

Of course, since both girls were also at the preschool, they came home with me for the afternoon. So now I was working all morning, in charge of the girls all afternoon, and once my boys came home at 3:30, responsible for getting both boys to complete their afterschool chores (hang up their coat, put away their lunch box, take out their papers for me) and then focus on their homework. Did I mention that both boys have special needs making this very challenging for all three of us? No? Well, let's just throw that into the mix.

My darling husband (to be known as DH forevermore) is incredible, but he is a secondary school teacher, which requires a ton of planning and grading on his part. Plus, until this year, he also was co-directing the shows at the high school which required him to be at school for lots of additional hours, leaving me at home with all the kids, attempting to keep my sanity.

Which brings us to the here and now. I'm tired of feeling like I'm constantly playing catch up around the house and with the kids. I'm tired of being overweight and not getting enough any exercise. I'm tired of feeling like we have this black hole of debt, never enough money to do what we want. I'm tired.

This blog is my attempt to get to the other side, to find the light at the end of the tunnel, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, fill in any other cliche that might fit. I'm not totally sure how to get there, but I have to try. One of the big ideas I have clung to from FLYlady is that when I am feeling overwhelmed, set my timer for fifteen minutes, pick a task, and just do it. So that's what I'm going to do.

Feel like joining me on this journey? Please leave a comment and say hello!