Rhabdomyolysis

My friend invited me to try out crossfit. It was guest week and they put us in groups of 4 and our group had to complete 300 pull ups, 400 push ups, 500 sit ups, and 600 squats. I feel like I'm in pretty good shape and felt somewhat confident in the workout. I knew my arms would be my weakest area. I ended up doing 70 pull ups (which is more pull ups then I've ever done in my lifetime...ever). The push ups were hard also because my arms felt so weak from the pull ups. I did great on the sit ups and squats. After I finished I felt really shaky and felt like I had no control over my arms. It was a weird feeling. The next day was Friday and I was sore but nothing too beyond normal. Saturday morning I woke up and my biceps were very swollen and I couldn't bend or extend my arms. I started researching my symptons and decided to go to the walk in clinic at my doctors office. I was in a lot of pain and she tested me for rhabdomyolysis and gave me a really strong anti-inflammatory. We went to Minersville that weekend for Bret's family Christmas party. Bret had to help me blow dry my hair and he took care of the kids for me. Saturday and Sunday were miserable and my urine turned a brownish color. I knew I was in bad shape, and I spent all day drinking water. Dr. Taylor called me on Monday and said to come back in to get more tests done becuase my CK level was at 10,000 when it should be at 100-300. I was feeling much better on Monday night. Tuesday I went back in and my levels were up to 64,000. He said if I were elderly, I'd be in the hospital with kidney failure. Anyways, he tested my kidneys and liver 4 times total and finally gave me the okay to start exercising/running again after two weeks.

I had no idea I could do that much damage by pushing myself physically. I will be much more careful in the future, and I definately want to go back to crossfit but take it slower. It sucks that this happened to me, but I'm glad I'm aware of it and will take better care of myself in the future.

Also, yes my team won that night and we finished first at 31 minutes. (it wasn't worth it)

Stroller Rides

My friend loaned me her double stroller and I LOVE IT. I'm unsure why I didn't buy one as soon as I found out I was pregnant with Adah. I love going for walks with the kiddos. Emmett thinks its so neat that him and Adah can both ride in it together. Except he refuses to let me buckle him in and tonight he jumped out 3 times and I ran him over each time. I felt awful but come on....you'd think he'd learn. I learned...I learned he's getting buckled in tomorrow!

I'm still doing my wellness challenge. I didn't do so hot last week but I'm re-committed this week. I'm going for a full 70 score. I've been getting anywhere from 64-67 points each week. I do great with my exercising, drinking water, reading scriptures, writing in journal/blog, etc... I really struggle with not eating after 8pm and the sugar. Man I am totally addicted to sugar. I have to chew gum after my meals to help with the cravings. How pathetic is that?

Separation Anxiety

A lady in my ward told me I must do some amazing bonding with my children because it's not normal for my 3 month old baby to be that attached to her mom. Adah just started not letting other people hold her, which makes my life very hard. (She'll let Bret hold her but that's where it ends.) I remember Emmett doing the same thing! We went to Zions with Bret's family when Emmett was 3 months old and he wouldn't let ANYBODY hold him but us. How pathetic! Ohhh and my softball games...Emmett cried for almost 2 hours straight while my mom held him. I hated that season. Adah's much better at the softball games then Emmett was. Speaking of softball, I absolutely love that sport. I love playing with my family, I love getting out of the house, I love exercising, I love when we win, etc...

P.S. I'm having to drop out of the St. George Marathon this year. I just couldn't bounce back fast enough from this c-section. I'm still having problems healing up, but I go back to the doctor tomorrow and I'll see what he says. Jill keeps telling me they left a tool in me, not likely :)

Family Summer Camp

It was time for the annual Albrecht Reunion in the Beaver Mountains. We had a great time, and it was the first year since I've been that it didn't rain. Wahoooooo!!! Adah and I slept in the camp trailer and Bret and Emmett slept in the tent. Adah slept through the night just like she does at home. She did cry an awful lot in the car on the way there and back. A crying baby in the car is so frustrating for me. I hate feeling helpless with helping the baby. We made several stops and the drive took forever. Emmett had the time of his life. He loved playing with his cousins and especially loved singing and dancing while Grandpa Calvin played his accordion. He was the hit while singing "Home On The Range". I'll post the video soon. It's hilarious.

Family Picture

First Day of Camp...explains why my hair still looks great. I cut bangs again!

Baby Deer

Emmett's new best friend, Ashlyn. Isn't she a doll?

We also went to Bret's 10 year high school reunion. We were really late because Adah and a crying attack but I'm glad we made it. We both wished we would have been there sooner. He has great friends!

Aaron Marshall, Luke Toby, Bret Albrecht, Justin Smith, Travis Gillins, and Dale Bowden.

Challenge

Jill and I have started this challenge: www.youcanbethebestyou.blogspot.com It's a 12 week challenge to better your health and wellness. I think it should be a lot of fun and I'm glad Jill is doing it with me, at least we'll have each other. There are 10 tasks you have to complete each day and you get a point for each one. I'd rather not explain all the rules/details as you can read about them in the link above. My hardest challenge will be No Sugar and my easiest will be drinking 48 oz of water a day. I figured this would be a great way for me to lose the last 8 lbs of pregnancy but also better my lifestyle. I've decided to not run the St. George Marathon this year. I'll save my registration until next year when I plan to train for my PR (personal record). I'm just too far behind in my training and recovery from the c-section was dealthy slow. I'm still having a few problems from it. One of my daily tasks is to write in my journal or blog each day, so I will be blogging more often then normal. I can't promise daily posts as sometimes I blog on my personal/journal blog, which only Bret has access to :) but I will definately be posting more often.

June 2011

It's been a fun month. Summer is finally here and we can enjoy being outside. Bret's mom came and stayed with us for a few days, and I really appreciated her help. I'm finally gaining confidence that I can manage two. We've been to the pool a few times, and I've been able to play on my women's softball team. I've missed over half the season, which is heartbreaking. I love to play. I've also started running and really running. I signed up for St. George but I'm really behind on training. I'm going to give it my best through July and then evaluate where I am and decide if I'll do it or save it for next year. There isn't anything like running a marathon when you're not prepared.


Emmett sure loves his sister!


Adah's cute smile! Adah smiles all the time now and it's so fun. She gets so excited to see me or Bret. She doesn't get too excited to see Emmett, and thats probably because he's an inch from her face and usually putting some of his body weight on her. The kid doesn't understand what "be soft" means.

Dad and Adah

Emmett still needs to grow before he can fit that kids saddle.

Can't turn your back for a second.

Fishing

I just love this little girl. Isn't she just beautiful? Larry and Geniel gave her this outfit, and Larry actually picked it out. Good going Larry!

Adah in the bath tub. She has the cutest marbled skin. She looks cold but she's not, her skin always looks that way. She's my little giraffe!

Emmett sleeping on his favorite buddy! He loves Grandpa Albrecht.

We took Emmett fishing last week at Burston's Pond. We didn't catch anything but we had a great time. Emmett was sure Bret was going to catch him a shark. P.S. Look at that nice rear in those wranglers ;)

Buddies

This picture is staged, like I'd actually be fishing holding a baby like that. Good thing I started running, I'm round. I think baby weight on a new mom is so cute for the first little while, and I'm being serious. I love that we sacrifice and change our bodies for a baby. Totally worth it! I am also glad to be exercising again for my mental and physical state!

Birthday Girls

Emily and I had our 27th and 29th Birthday last month. Her's is on the 11th and mine the 13th which means we ALWAYS have a joined party and we love it. Jill said she loves birthdays, especially her own and offered to make our cake and have a little party at her house.

The cake was delicious. We all thought Bret was the one who made it because he seems to know his way around the kitchen, but come to find out she has greatly improved on her cooking skills. On a side note Bret has the best chocolate chip cookie recipe I've ever had. The bad news is they only taste good when he makes them, which isn't often enough.

I've been really spoiled lately. The girls gave me a big mirror for my living room. It's beautiful!! I just need Bret to hang it for me. My mom got me a gift certificate to the Corn Wagon Quilt Co. and Nana gave me a scarf & hat. Bret had to work that night but I took the day off of work and we went shopping together and out to eat. I ended up buying a few wants/needs and had a great time with him. Here are a few more pictures from our party:

Emmett and Carly

Mom & Emmett

Halle & Max. (they're adorable)

A few more random pictures:

Jan 2010

I just love this face. I can't get enough of him!!

Emmett is really good at puzzles (takes after his mom). He sometimes mixes up the animal pieces on purpose and then thinks he's funny and says, " i fix it" as he puts the pieces in the right spot.

P.S. Also the other night Emily and I went to a digitial scrapbooking class/event and my mom watched both of our boys. They were both sick so we felt kind of guilty leaving them but Jude managed. We had the best time together and I'm working on Emmett's baby book. It's turning out really cute. We are using Heritage Makers, and we both love it. I just love getting together with Emily. We were so giggly, I haven't laughed that hard in a while. I only laugh that hard once every few months. (Makes me miss Joey, I used that laugh that hard almost daily with him.) We got home and my mom had quite the night. Emmett slept on and off and cried a few times. I asked him if he had fun with grandma and he said, "i cry". I asked him why and he said, "Emmett cried". My mom also said she went in to change his diaper and he grabbed her arm and said, "thanks mom". He's so cute lately and says so many things.

Christmas & New years Eve 2010

We went to Minersville for Christmas this year. Bret got off work early at 11:00pm on Christmas Eve, so we packed up the car and drove to Minersville that night. The fog was really thick so we had to drive slower then usual ,but we made it and by the time we unpacked the car and set up Christmas it was 4:00am. Bret is used to staying up that late but it took a toll on me. Emmett understood the concept of opening a present but didn't get the magic of Christmas. He loved his toys and also fought with his cousins over the toys. One point during this weekend, Grandpa Calvin was watching the kids and said, " I've never done so much refereeing in my life." (hard to believe). Emmett got a tricycle, doodle board, Ice Age movie, a few farm animals, clothes, etc... He loves those hard plastic animals from IFA or CalRanch. They're expensive suckers but they'll never break. Max and Maverick both got these big stuffed horses to ride and Emmett wouldn't get off of them. This was the number 1 toy they all fought over. At one point I thought Emmett was going to fall asleep on it.

Ireceived a new camera from Santa ;) I got a Nikon D3000. I have no idea how to use it but I'm learning. I know nothing about photography but I wanted a camera that will take a pic fast enough to catch the moment or have a picture with Emmett's eyes open.(the flash on my old camera bothered him so he always closed his eyes)

We went sledding down by Milford on Monday. The kids loved it and it was fun watching them.

We also did some horse carriage rides. These horses are huge, the picture doesn't do them justice.


New years Eve was fun, we went to Emily's house and Shayne made Stromboli. I wasn't feeling that great that night so didn't eat as much as I originally planned. I love that dish. I stayed at Emily's house until about 9pm because Emmett was tired and asked me if we could go home. How cute!!! Bret had to work but surprised me again when he got off early and made it home at 12:02am. Isn't Max the cutest baby? I think he looks like Emily more and more everyday. I just love his brown eyes, which you can't see in this picture due to the tears. I'll find another picture of him to post soon.

Grandma Jude with the Emmett, Carly, and Max

I was working on the puzzle and Emmett yells at me from downstairs, "mom...hold you". Meaning he wanted me to hold him. I walked to the stairs expecting to carry him up and found him laying on the stairs. I walked down to get him and he said, "night night" and then kept saying "home". I guess walking up 13 stairs is too much when you've been partying that much.

Later that night Carly kept telling Emily, "Emmett made me nervous." Emily asked her why and she said,"he wanted to go night night on the stairs."

Incase you're wondering...yes we do workout!!!!

St George Marathon & Utah State Fair

First things first..I LOVE THE ST GEORGE MARATHON. I love everything about it, the course, the organization, time of year, spectators, etc... Everytime I'm in St George in the fall I can almost smell the marathon in the air. (not meaning sweaty runners...its hard to explain) Unfortunately I didn't register for it this year...hmmm...anyways, but I did go down to support my running buddy of 8 years Larry Evans. This man is an animal. I have no idea how many marathons he's run but its a lot. He's a great runner and still kicks my butt. Bret and I spent about an hour and half cheering on runners waiting for Larry and another friend Kurt Evans to come through. I got teary eyed about 4-5 different times watching these runners. You can see the pain and agony in their faces and it's so motivating. There is nothing like end of a marathon. I love turning the corner and seeing the finishline 5 blocks away. I love how you want to stop so badly and the end can't come soon enough. I love when they block the crowd from the road and everybody is cheering for you. I love knowing I can stop running after 26 miles, and I pushed my mind and body beyond what I think its capable of.

One day in the near future I will blog about my St George 2007 experience..its exciting!!!

We went to the Utah State Fair this year. It was actually really fun. Emily had no idea what a fair was about and why people were receiving ribbons for fruits/vegetables they had grown. Bret rolled his eyes and took the time to explain to Emily a little bit about farming and fairs.

We paid $4 for Emmett to ride a pony, which is just silly since we have horses in our backyard. He wanted off the entire time until I took him off, and then he wanted back on.

I would be scared too if a turkey was eye level with me!

The Albrechts

Our baby chick

Random picture of Grandma Jude with Emmett and Max. This was the day my mom told me red wasn't really Emmett's color. I was slightly offended ;)

18 Month Pictures

Emmett had his 18 month pictures taken. Emily's sister-in-law Jenae Blanchard took them. She was taking Halle's pics so it worked out perfect for me to get Emmett's done too. I can't believe Emmett is a little boy now and no longer a baby. I think he's been that way for a while but these pictures really made me realize that. I'm also growing out his hair, I like it getting a little shaggy!

I had to post my favorite picture of Halle. She doesn't even look real, she looks like a little doll.

Bret and I wanted to go hike Timp on Labor Day. We slept at Emily's house the night before so we could get up at 5am, and Emily was going to watch Emmett. We ended up staying up late watching, "I Shouldn't Be Alive" on the Discovery channell. That's a great show. They're pretty intense episodes and one made me cry. I get sucked into dramatic stories. Anyways, we finally got to bed and Emmett woke up at 3am and wanted a snack, so I gave him some crackers and tried to put him back to bed. (we were all sleeping in the same room) Then he decided to act like a monkey for over an hour. He laid between us and kept making monkey sounds and actions. We tried to ignore him hoping he'd eventually fall alseep. Then he said, " I a monkey" and we both started laughing. It was outrageous. Anyways, he went back to sleep at 4:30am and we decided to not do a 17 mile hike on 2-3 hours of sleep. Maybe another time.

Zoo

I took work off last Thursday and we went to the zoo. Jude came with us and that made me happy. She and Emmett feel asleep on the way up there, and I wish I would have taken a picture of them. It was cute. Emmett loved the monkeys, and we spent a lot of time watching them. We ended up buying him a stuffed animal monkey and he wore it around his neck all day. I love buying that kid stuff. I could spend all my money on toys, clothes, etc... for him. I guess thats what moms do.

On Sunday Emily, Shayne, Max, and Jude came down for some home cooked chili. I know it's July and who eats chili when its 100 degrees outside, but its Bret's favorite!

This picture is for Cory. Bret and I scrubed our kitchen floor. I usually clean it with the swiffer wet jet ,but it still needs a good washin on your hands and knees. Doesn't it look nice???

Lastly, Brinley and Austin came over the other night ,and we let the kids run in the rain. They had a blast. I love summer rain storms, wish we had more of them :)