Friday, May 30, 2008

Whew!?!

Wow, week 1 of Y Summer Camp is done ... nope, this is not the week with 200+ campers ... this is the week, er, uh ... this was the week training 30 new staff, playing games, going over a million things with extremely high energy, moving into our sites ... so much going on, I could probably be at the Y working still ...

but instead I am home, relaxing ... and having a margarita ... or 2 ... ok, 3.

I am exhausted and camp actually starts at 7:00 Monday morning.

Not sure about going to my weigh-in tomorrow morning ... sleeping in would be fabulous. We'll see.

Time to go to sleep ...

Monday, May 26, 2008

Memorial Day

It's a thunderstormy day here ... I'm sure that is the lingo that meteorologists use right? Just got home from an awesome run, well, it didn't start out too awesome. Matthew wanted to ride his bike with me, and this is a hit or miss kinda deal. He can be great and tag along, or be a pooper and give up quick ... today he was a pooper, so just as soon as we started we turned around to take him home.

I continued my run for a little over 4.5 miles ... the sky was pretty dark, but still kinda warm with a nice breeze ... it was a good run. I love my nike-ipod-thingy ... the sweet little voice that tells me how far I am, what my pace is and so on ... I had a great pace today, faster than normal, I think the weather had something to do with it. I like to run when it's cooler ... I am such a sweat ball and if it is too warm I always end up with a yucky headache ... not today though, I feel great!

Yesterday was a Divine day. The kids were peaches all day long. We went for a 4 mile bike ride, kids in the bike trailer, along the St.Vrain river greenway that goes through town ... we had a great lunch at Noodles, sitting outside in the sunshine then had ice cream too. Cold Stone has really great dairy free sorbet ... mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

We played in the yard most of the afternoon in the pirate pool and I got to mess around in my garden. We ended the day going rafting with the phenomenal Toothaker Family along the Poudre River ... the same area that I did my half marathon. We had an absolutely Divine day.

It is great to have the day off today before Y camp training starts tomorrow. I can hardly believe a week from today and Y Summer Camp will start. Where did all the time go?!?

Today I am going to make Kea's Mandarin Salad and I wanted to post the recipe because it is an amazing salad! The dressing is the best Asian dressing I've ever had ...

4-6 servings

½ cup sliced almonds
3 TBS sugar
½ head iceberg lettuce
½ head romaine lettuce
1 cup chopped celery
2 whole green onions, chopped
1 (11 oz) can mandarin oranges, drained

THE BEST Dressing:
½ tsp salt
dash of pepper
dash of Tabasco sauce
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 TBS chopped parsley
2 TBS sugar
2 TBS vinegar


In a small pan over medium heat, cook almonds and sugar, stirring CONSTANTLY until almonds are coated and sugar dissolved. Watch carefully as they will burn easily. Cool and store in an air-tight container. Mix all dressing ingredients and chill. Mix lettuces, celery, and onions. Just before serving, add almonds and oranges. Toss with the dressing.

Well, lots of random thoughts today ... Lord, thank you for the thunderstorms, for the energy You gave me during my run, for the amazing day we had yesterday with dear friends and for a day to relax and enjoy time with my family before Y summer madness begins. Bless all who take the time to read this Lord, my family and friends, continue to surround them all with your love and Grace. Amen.


Saturday, May 24, 2008

Weigh-in ... #12

I made it ... 12 weeks on WW, 12 weeks of journaling ... I am doing it! Shouldn't confetti be falling on my head? Not yet? When then? Soon???

I bought a new journal at my meeting this morning. My other is filled, every page ... it feels great to start with a new one today ... another 12 weeks ... ready? set? GO!

I lost 0.2 ... this just works into my theory of how I lose and plateau ... so that is where I am but it is great. My clothes are ridiculously loose on me ... the butt of my pants look horrid ... Caloy even said he thought it was time for new jeans ... yep, thanks for noticing babe.

So, I am still lingering on planet 13 ... 13lbs of weight lost ... 13 lbs this body will never carry again ... and it feels awesome. I am hoping to get a new passport and get to travel to planets 15 and 20 ... soon enough ... is that when the confetti will fall?

I've been having super great workouts and am excited that yesterday was my last day interpreting at the Middle School. Y Camp starts on June 2 and training on Tuesday.

This week I'm really going to focus on my portion sizes ... a cup is a cup, measure it out ... no more no less ... 2 Tbsp of chocolate chips is enough to manage that dumb chocolate craving, not a bag full ... portions, portions, portions. My husband really lags in this arena ... he was brought up to think that more is better, bigger helpings, eat, eat and eat more ... I can't go toe-to-toe with him on this one ... or I'll never leave planet 13.

Thank you Lord for this day, for my run this morning, for my Matthew and the new freckles he got today on the boat with his Poppy. Thank you for this process and all that I am learning about myself. Thank you for my beautiful baby girl and the curls in her hair. Thank you for my husband and his sense of humor. Thank you for meeting the needs of my family this past school year via an interpreting job for me, and Thank you for the coming fun at the Y, the children I will care for and the staff I will lead. The blessings in my life are more than I could ask for or imagine ... and confetti just falling from the sky when I do something great would be a real treat. :)
Amen.

Saturday morning ...

I woke up at 5:30 ... having been awake with Matthew through the night, he still gets very itchy, he wanted a band aid then a wash cloth ... and so it goes ... I am unfortunately used to this routine.

I thought to myself this morning when my peepers opened, "self ... you should go run" ... and for the 1st time in quite long time, I didn't debate it in my head ... "well, you are tired and you can sleep more" ... blah blah blah ... I just got up and I even took the beast with me.

We have one of those waist leashes ... which I had yet to use, Caloy likes it a lot ... but he is also the person who takes Savanah out most often ... so I thought I'd try it ... and it was cool. It was great to be hands free.

I ran a small loop around my development ... 1.6 miles said my nike-ipod-thingy ... We have a nice creek that runs along the east side right near Cty Rd. 1. The sun was coming up right over Union Res and the water was shimmering gold ... I was listening to Rock With You by MJ, enjoying my run, (and music) ... and over my head flew TWO HUGE BALD EAGLES! They were amazing. I stopped and watched them soar towards the lake ... phenomenal.

While I was almost home, I suddenly had the same poop dilemma that I often do while running ... if I could just get my body to cooperate before I leave the house ... but that rarely happens. I was debating if I could make it home and then I saw a port-a-potty near a new house that was being built. Gross, I know ... especially a pooper that is at for manly builders ... but shoot, when you gotta go, you gotta go. Savanah was crying while I was still attached to her and I went in and she stayed out. Hahaaaaa ... that had to look so funny.

Great morning ... I am glad I woke up early and got to see the sunrise. I can so easily spiral into thoughts like, "why don't you do this every morning ... " but I will not. I will enjoy this morning, two glorious bald eagles, a port-a-potty and a dog that ran along side of me attached to a leash that I didn't have to hold. Lord you are so good to me.

Gotta get ready for my weigh-in ...

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Whew ... what a week!

It's Sunday, finally ... and I am just so enjoying being home with my family, relaxing. I've had quite a week ...

Monday, I left work early to get Matthew from school at noon. He had his Kindergarten assessment. We came home and went to work at the Y. It's such a blessing that my monkeys can be there with me, I am so thankful for that.

Wednesday, I took Gracie Lou to her Audiology appointment at Children's Hospital. She did so great. No doubt that the prayers of my family and friends are what made the difference. It is such a surreal experience, to have sat now with both of my children in the big sound proof testing booth. I remember sitting with Matthew, and hearing a sound ... waiting for him to turn and acknowledge that sound ... but he just sat there looking forward. It was such a difficult experience. So, then to be sitting with Grace on Wednesday ... and again I heard a sound ... and when she looked toward the direction of the sound, whew ... it was amazing.

I also got a call on Wednesday from a fabulous teacher that I work with ... she was calling to tell me that the other interpreters had been documenting all my absences and they turned it in to the Principal. Hahahaaaaaaaaaaaa ... made me laugh out loud. Really!?! Unbelievable.

I met with Paul, our Principal on Thursday morning ... he showed me the paper and then proceeded to rip it up. He thought it was ridiculous. He was wonderfully understanding of my absences, we have had a lot happen in the past 9 months ... don't we always though? I am thankful that he is so supportive.

Thursday, We had Matthew's IEP meeting. My heart was just overflowing when we went through all the goals he has met ... how he is reading at grade level, his math skills are outstanding and in some tests he has made years worth of growth. Caloy and I know that every fight with St.Vrain has been worthwhile, every tear ... Matthew needs to be in Adams 12 ... our goal for him is to be fully mainstreamed with an interpreter ... and next year he will be!!! We are so proud of him!

And on Friday, Matthew had his 7th back surgery. Whew, thats a week huh?!?

Yesterday, I had my weigh-in ... I was up 0.4.

A loss or gain of anything under a half pound is just a wash I think. Deep in my soul, I am thankful for my slow weight loss. I know that sounds crazy, but I really am. I am thankful for this process, for what I am learning about myself, the healthy choices I am making, for the steps I am taking for greater health for myself, my spirit, my soul. I will continue exercising, eating right, journaling ... and will trust in my Savior, that this weight which I have carried, emotionally and physically for far too long is beginning to melt away ... slowly but surely.

So, now today is Sunday ... the weather is glorious ... I have more plants to put in my garden. Matthew is laying down resting, in between asking me to itch his back. My life is grand ... crazy week and all, a gain of 0.4lb, back surgery and dumb people at work ... I am thankful for it all.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Just for today part 2

So, I wasn't able to keep my bra off all day long. I decided to put it on when I had to go outside and get Matthew off the bus. Surely his driver would have thought I was hiding melons in my pockets ... yes, my pants pockets ... that is how far down my boobs droop. Droop, ha, that is a funny word. Droop, droop, droooooop. Hahahaaaaaa.

I did have an awesome work out ... 3.5 miles while watching Idol in my basement. Caloy tried to get me to do some horrific sit-up thing with the 8lb medicine ball ... I did a sit-up and he threw the ball at me ... How is that supposed to be fun? Whoa, not that sit-ups are fun ... ever ... but those super sucked.

Matthew then put my race bib from my 9k on his t-shirt. He said he was a racer like me. He and Grace raced around the basement. Caloy and I held up a long paper ribbon for him to run through even ... so cute.

Time to get my monkeys in bed ... we have new books to read. Droopy boobs, an awesome run and basement races ... Thank you Lord for this day, for renewing my soul and strengthening my spirit. Thank you for the opportunity to be home with Grace, to play without an agenda and nap when I wanted. You are so good to me Lord. Amen.

Just for today I will ...

stay in my jammies all day long and not even put on a bra!

Just for today I will not care that my house looks like it has been hit by a bomb and try to tidy up what an almost 2 year old will destroy a moment later.

Just for today I will not worry about my husband's job, what the future will bring, if I will be interpreting next school year and I will fully trust God's plan working in our lives.

Just for today I will
sit on the couch with my sweet baby girl and enjoy every moment that she wants to lay with her mama. We will sing songs and I will teach her where her belly button is.

Just for today I will
eat when I want to eat and enjoy what I put in my mouth. I will journal every morsel and count every point.

Just for today I will
exercise when my husband gets home from work, I will run and lift weight and sweat away all my stress and I mean really sweat.

Just for today I will surrender my concerns about our finances, Matthew's 7th surgery on Friday, our IEP meeting on Thursday and Grace's audiology appointment tomorrow.

Just for today I will remember the scripture written on my heart and recall it moment by moment to give me peace.

Just for today.