Just some stuff ...

This is my new curly hair ... not sure where it came from ... but it is fun!

This is the Rhodes bread I've been telling everyone about. SO easy and makes GREAT calzones! Yumm-o.

Yes, it comes in whole wheat too ... I had 2 loaves waiting to rise ...

Some possible calzone fillings ... artichoke hearts, olives, spinach ... endless possibilities.

Unofficially ...

I am at a 10 lb loss! YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Why unofficially??? Because my loss this week was 1.9lbs ... so a stinkin' .10th is keeping me from my real celebration. A .10th of a lb is like a poop ... I am not a good pooper and couldn't before going to weigh-in this morning ... so I bet that would have made a difference. Ha.

That might gross out some people ... but shoot it's my blog and if I wanna talk about poop, then I will! Poop, poop, poop, poop and more poop. (If I would have pooped that much I might have lost 5 lbs!)

Soooo ... my in-laws are visiting. They got here at about 1:45 this morning and their flight leaves at 9am tomorrow ... so we have only one day with them. As much as I gripe about them, we've had a really nice day.

We went to Children's to get Matthew's new back brace, then ate at my favorite vegetarian restaurant on the planet and then we went to the Denver Aquarium. We had a really fun time. The kids were great ... the weather was awesome ... and now they (my in-laws) are napping.

Caloy and I are sitting on our big comfy chair together watching the NCAA tournament Final Four. Could life be better???

My unofficial 10lbs is awesome. I feel great ... my pants are too loose and I am on my way to being a more healthy mommy. Caloy and I had a "date" last night ... the kids were at church and we went to Subway for dinner ... worked out at the Y (I actually ran more than Caloy did which felt great, he was really proud of me!) ... and we went to Safeway. Can you just feel all the romance??? It was just fun to play together. I love exercising with him. I can't wait till this summer when we can get back into climbing. We want to backpack to Snowmass Lake ... in the Maroon Bells Wilderness near Aspen ... one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life. It's a 2-3 day trip ... Man, am I ever rambling today???

Weight loss, poop, in-laws and exercise ... nice. I think I need a nap.

Thank you Lord for this day. For my unofficial 10lb loss ... for my in-laws and their 24 hour visit ... for my husband who is full of encouragement always ... for my children who are playing together right now, I love hearing their little feet running back and forth ... and for the NCAA tournament, GO UCLA.
Amen.

Headaches ...

stink!

Headaches are horrible and I seem to get them way too often.

I have figured out by journaling what I eat that I can no longer have any kind of soda pop. ("soda" for people in CA and "pop" for those in CO.) If I eat anything with aspartame my head feels like it will explode!

I also get headaches when there is any kind of change in the weather.

I get a headache when I don't drink enough water and I get a headache if I don't get enough sleep.

I get a headache when I don't wear my glasses and I get a headache when I do wear my glasses.

I get a headache if my workout is too intense and I get a headache if I don't eat right.

My Ma is a big getter of the headache ... a headache-getter ... one who gets an ache in their head. Can they be hereditary? Maybe so ... I have one as I type this.

I just came home from taking Matthew swimming at the Y. Great, now I can add I get headaches from swimming ... maybe too much chlorine? The Y pool has an outrageous amount of chlorine I think ... my skin is dry enough to strike a match ... would that give me a headache too? Probably.

I have been drinking lots of water and every so often I'll cruise the internet and look for any new headache info; ways to cope, how to avoid ... on and on. I'm not a pill popper ... and I hate the need to be sucking down Tylenol all the time and I sometimes feel like I should be. Maybe Tylenol gives me a headache?

I think the worst is waking up with a headache ... that happens lots too. It's just not a nice way to start the day. I just end up coping with it ... and it sucks. Headaches suck.

Ahhh, I just saw a commercial for The Office ... starting back next week!!! YIPEEE! I just LOVE that show. The Office does not give me headaches.

Guess I better flash the lights at my husband in hopes that he will bring me some Tylenol, and then to bed I will go. Friday tomorrow ... this week has gone by fast! My in-laws are coming into town tomorrow night ... late ... then leaving Sunday morning ... early.

Thank you Lord for today, for swimming with my Matthew, for the laughter that comes from my Gracie Lou, for my husband bringing me Tylenol. Amen.

Saturday Morning

So I am home from my weigh-in and it surely wasn't what I had hoped ... 0.8 loss ... which, shoot, a loss is a loss and I'll take it. I am down 8 lbs now in 4 weeks which I need to celebrate! I had great work outs this week and I know I am on the track to a healthier me.

I am a work in progress and this transformation doesn't happen over night ... although, how awesome would it be if it did? (Joking ... kind of?!?)

I have to remind myself that I am 6 years older too than I was the last time I really committed to this weight loss journey and things slow down right? I've always had a sucky metabolism, so this shouldn't be anything new really ... My body will lose, lose, lose then hold ... and I am in a hold ... so I will really kick it up this week and hit my 10 lbs loss next Saturday. This is my goal.

I don't want to sound like I am making excuses ... being older and blah-blah-blabbity-blah ... I am a healthier than I was 4 weeks ago! My clothes fit better than they did 4 weeks ago! I am proud of myself!

Last Tuesday at my Mom's group, which I was so thrilled to be at, I really miss the fellowship with my friends ... the speaker talked about how your kids should catch you praying ... they should be able to walk into your room and see you on your knees. I related that to my better health journey as well ... I want my kids to see Mommy eating healthy and stand at the finish line to watch me run across ... I want my children to grow up in an environment that promotes exercise and healthy life choices.

I gotta get in the shower and then I am taking Matthew down to Children's Hospital to get casted for his new back brace. I am hoping and praying this will be the 1st time he doesn't cry and completely flip out.

I keep hearing in my head, "Be Still and know that I am your God" ... This is what God is telling me right now ... Be still and know that you are a work in progress and -0.8 is fabulous. Be still and know that I am already at Children's waiting for you and will give your son peace. Be still and know that this journey you are on will bless your family in ways that you can't even imagine. Be still and know that I am working in your life and other people can see me through you. Be still and know that I am your God.

I will be still God and just rest in your peace, You know, and for that I am overwhelmed with thankfulness. Amen.

I am AWESOME

Why? You ask? Well ... I went for an awesome run this morning. The weather was perfect and I am super proud of my pace and distance. I am awesome.

I got to one point and my ipod played "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire ... and I felt the need to dance. Yes, right in the middle of my workout ... I felt the groove and went with it.

Hahaha ... I am laughing out loud right now as I type this. It was awesome ... I looked around to see if anyone else was watching ... not that I cared, but it made me smile just to slow down and dance ... I danced right up to 17th and while I was crossing the bridge on 17th, I was still dancing. Two cars went by, a man and then an older woman and they both smiled so big as they drove by ... I wonder what they thought, "Look at the girl dancing ... she is crazy?!?" Maybe they smiled and I brought a little joy to their day? It felt so awesome. I love being uninhibited.

Hahahahaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ... what a fabulous way to start my day!

Thank you Lord for this day, this day only Jesus. I will not think of tomorrow or of yesterday ... I will be thankful in this day only, with my children and my husband, I will enjoy every moment ... come what may. Thank you Jesus for the dance steps in my feet, for my ability to groove when I feel the need and to know that dancing is simply good for my soul. I am so thankful for your Grace renewed this day Lord. You are so good. Amen.

Race Calendar 08

Quite a while ago I registered for my 1st full marathon ... it is on Sunday May 4th. Clearly life has had other plans for me, sickness, children, husband, work, more sickness ... and I have not been training as much as I should have been. I am thinking I will do the half marathon instead this time around and pursue a full marathon later in the year. This is all ok with me, really. Setting a goal as huge as a marathon needs my full attention and I just have not been able to give it that, so I will just adjust my plans ... isn't that how life is anyways?

The weekend after is the Title Nine 9k on Mother's Day. I did this race last year and it was fabulous. It is around the Boulder Reservoir ... I am signed up again this year and really looking forward to it.

I will do my 3rd triathlon this Summer as well ... the Tri for the Cure is in Denver on August 3. I LOVE this race and am already looking forward to it. It is a sprint Tri, which means a 1/2 mile swim in open water (my favorite part!), 12 miles on the bike and a 5K run at the end. It is all women, cancer survivors and just an awesome event. I love it!

Then Caloy and I are registered for the Muddy Buddy on August 17th. www.muddybuddy.com. We have never done this race before and we are so excited. It is 6 miles, running 3 and biking 3, switching off at every mile marker with your partner and completing some kind of obstacle together ... a cargo net, climbing wall or something ... the last obstacle is a huge MUD pit that we must do together ... hence the name, "Muddy Buddy". It'll be awesome!!!

Whew ... lots going on in the coming months ... I am glad to have blogged about this ... it helps to reignite my fire to focus on my workouts and get my body ready for all that is to come. I am a competitive girl ... is that the tomboy-ish-ness in me? I am so blessed to have a husband that is wonderfully supportive in all my endeavors. Thank you Caloy. Mahal Kita.

Lord, thank you for this day, may I glorify You in all that I do. Amen.

I'm dreaming of a

white Easter??? My Ma said this morning that the last several years we have had a white Easter ... that must really put a wrench in the Easter Bunny's plans huh?

I don't know what it is about a holiday morning but my kids sense it and are awake a good hour earlier than normal ... always. Christmas, Easter, Valentines ... they sense that there is a special something waiting for them on the dining room table.

When I was growing up my Ma always had something for us ... no matter what holiday, you could count on fun plates, something special to eat and a gift of some sort or another waiting on the table. I always looked forward to that and I am happy to be doing the same with my monkeys.

I love to decorate the light above the table, right now it has eggs hanging down at all different lengths ... its just something fun, easy and festive that I enjoy doing. The kids Easter baskets are baseballs ... Matthew's is white and Grace's is pink. They are super cutie patoootie ... thanks Target.

We did an Easter egg hunt for plastic eggs ... I am over the dying gross egg experience ... Matthew raced around and kept saying how he was winning ... Grace eventually got what was going on with the help of her bestest friend, her Da-da.

I attempted to make a Monkey Bread-ish breakfast ... although it is back in the over for a second round because it wasn't cooked all the way through. Hmmm ... it smells good, so we'll see.

This week I did take some time to explain to Matthew what Easter is really about. When I was explaining that Jesus died, his face fell and his little eyes opened up so wide ... but when I told him the reason we celebrate Easter and that Jesus lives, I wish I had a camera to take a picture of his face, I will never forget how his little face lit up ... "He is alive! I know." he said ... I love how children just believe ... there is no "but" or wanting a more in depth explanation ... it just is.

Faith like a child, isn't that what we are called to have?

Happy snowy Easter ... enjoy your day, through the eyes of your children, where nothing is greater than finding an egg and eating the ear off of a chocolate bunny ... and knowing without a doubt that Jesus lives.