iHope there is a good announcement on 1/26/09.
Because, iWant an iTablet!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
checked out
I've mentally taken a break the last two days. I haven't done much except read bad novels on my Kindle iPhone App. I have completed two in this series. I downloaded that one (Darkfever) eons ago when it was free and I just read it. It sucked me in so I paid $6 for the second one in the series. I want to go buy the third one, but I think I'll check to see if our local library has it first.
I haven't been this sucked into bad novels for so long. It's lovely. This morning, I even skipped Zumba, mostly because of the bad dark novel. Oh, no! The bad dark novel has me under its power. I plan to go to Zumba tomorrow morning. I rode the exercise bike this morning for 30 minutes (while reading the novel) so I did something, at least. Hrm.... Maybe I can make myself ride more if I allow myself the treat of the bad novel when I ride.
So, I have this knee... I think I've spoken about it before. It still hurts. It isn't horrible, in fact, it feels a lot better than it did back in July, but I want "perfect knees." Occasionally, I still have them. Physical Therapy has helped, but there is still something wrong. Or, actually, I think there are still (at least) two things wrong with my knee. I don't know if the knee is taking forever to heal because of the weird blood test results that indicate I have antibodies showing that parts of me attack other parts of me or if it's just regular old arthritis and I am just getting older and it's never going to heal.
There's a doctor, a plane ride away, who has done a lot of research on the thing I have antibodies for, and I am wondering if I shouldn't go see him and just talk with him. As the doctor who I saw last fall told me, "You have NOTHING wrong with you, so forget it, but I'd like to see you again to educate you on what might go wrong." Um, contradictory much?
There's nothing the doctor I saw can do for me because she doesn't subscribe to the treatment the other doctor (the plane ride away) does--we'll call him Dr. PlaneRide just to keep things straight and we'll call her Dr. NICDFY (short for Nothing I can do for you). Dr. NICDFY's treatments are high risk and cause much worse side-effects than what I have wrong with me (which is nothing according to her). Anyway, Dr. PlaneRide's treatment is very low-risk, minimal side-effects, seems to work for about 2/3s of the people he treats, and is more successful when done early... I'm so early that I don't even have the problem, I just know I have antibodies....and I shouldn't even know about the antibodies in my blood (my OB/GYN ordered the test when it shouldn't have been ordered). It's weird to have knowledge like this. It could be NOTHING or it could be an early warning. Oh, what to do with the information.
Should I go visit him and see if I should do the treatment now? Or, is it to early? Do I just keep eating really well, working out, sleeping a lot and stressing as little as possible because those behaviors may prevent the "thing" from ever occurring? Is that the better treatment? Or are my knees a "first sign" that something is wrong with me? It's probably worth a phone call to Dr. PlaneRide's office, but I'm scared he won't take me seriously.
One thing I learned on the trip to see MWH's family, it's hard to eat vegan, to exercise, and to not stress while traveling*. Sigh.
Now I need to go start thinking about work again. Bleh.
*Actually, I knew all that, but I was painfully reminded of it.
I haven't been this sucked into bad novels for so long. It's lovely. This morning, I even skipped Zumba, mostly because of the bad dark novel. Oh, no! The bad dark novel has me under its power. I plan to go to Zumba tomorrow morning. I rode the exercise bike this morning for 30 minutes (while reading the novel) so I did something, at least. Hrm.... Maybe I can make myself ride more if I allow myself the treat of the bad novel when I ride.
So, I have this knee... I think I've spoken about it before. It still hurts. It isn't horrible, in fact, it feels a lot better than it did back in July, but I want "perfect knees." Occasionally, I still have them. Physical Therapy has helped, but there is still something wrong. Or, actually, I think there are still (at least) two things wrong with my knee. I don't know if the knee is taking forever to heal because of the weird blood test results that indicate I have antibodies showing that parts of me attack other parts of me or if it's just regular old arthritis and I am just getting older and it's never going to heal.
There's a doctor, a plane ride away, who has done a lot of research on the thing I have antibodies for, and I am wondering if I shouldn't go see him and just talk with him. As the doctor who I saw last fall told me, "You have NOTHING wrong with you, so forget it, but I'd like to see you again to educate you on what might go wrong." Um, contradictory much?
There's nothing the doctor I saw can do for me because she doesn't subscribe to the treatment the other doctor (the plane ride away) does--we'll call him Dr. PlaneRide just to keep things straight and we'll call her Dr. NICDFY (short for Nothing I can do for you). Dr. NICDFY's treatments are high risk and cause much worse side-effects than what I have wrong with me (which is nothing according to her). Anyway, Dr. PlaneRide's treatment is very low-risk, minimal side-effects, seems to work for about 2/3s of the people he treats, and is more successful when done early... I'm so early that I don't even have the problem, I just know I have antibodies....and I shouldn't even know about the antibodies in my blood (my OB/GYN ordered the test when it shouldn't have been ordered). It's weird to have knowledge like this. It could be NOTHING or it could be an early warning. Oh, what to do with the information.
Should I go visit him and see if I should do the treatment now? Or, is it to early? Do I just keep eating really well, working out, sleeping a lot and stressing as little as possible because those behaviors may prevent the "thing" from ever occurring? Is that the better treatment? Or are my knees a "first sign" that something is wrong with me? It's probably worth a phone call to Dr. PlaneRide's office, but I'm scared he won't take me seriously.
One thing I learned on the trip to see MWH's family, it's hard to eat vegan, to exercise, and to not stress while traveling*. Sigh.
Now I need to go start thinking about work again. Bleh.
*Actually, I knew all that, but I was painfully reminded of it.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
4
This was our fourth Christmas at our new house... I guess it's not really "new" anymore, eh? I feel so behind in blogging, and everything else. I hate feeling that way, but I'm not really going to think about it. I'm just going to write for 10 minutes to get things started...
Speaking of 10, this year was the first time since 1999 that we travelled at Christmas. I like staying home better. We went to visit MWH's family, and while I like them all just fine, I don't like traveling and I don't particularly like staying with them.
MWH did all he could to make it a decent visit for me, but I am whiny when I travel. He went and bought a vaporizer (good grief, how dry the air was), and a mattress topper for the bed (the bed is SO hard). The vaporizer and the mattress topper helped, but was I ever happy to get home to our bed! (And my shower...for some reason, the water there is VERY CHLORINATED, and the shower was difficult to take... my skin was soooo dry!)
The trip was fine. We traveled on Christmas Day and it wasn't too crowded. We came back yesterday, and again, not too crowded. I'll post pictures and do a re-cap of the day and all of the presents on "the other blog" later.
Boy, this is boring... The girls loved the trip and all of the attention. Did I ever tell you what a charmer Three-a is? Okay... end this post NOW.
P.S. I found shoes that I wanted, but then it turned out I didn't need them after all. I bought them and even though I didn't wear them I will keep them for the next occasion so I don't have to stress out over shoes again.
Also, for some reason, my knee hurt much worse on our trip than at home. Could the 10 degree cooler weather caused the pain? As soon as we got home, it felt better. Crazy! (But I'm glad it doesn't hurt as much.)
Speaking of 10, this year was the first time since 1999 that we travelled at Christmas. I like staying home better. We went to visit MWH's family, and while I like them all just fine, I don't like traveling and I don't particularly like staying with them.
MWH did all he could to make it a decent visit for me, but I am whiny when I travel. He went and bought a vaporizer (good grief, how dry the air was), and a mattress topper for the bed (the bed is SO hard). The vaporizer and the mattress topper helped, but was I ever happy to get home to our bed! (And my shower...for some reason, the water there is VERY CHLORINATED, and the shower was difficult to take... my skin was soooo dry!)
The trip was fine. We traveled on Christmas Day and it wasn't too crowded. We came back yesterday, and again, not too crowded. I'll post pictures and do a re-cap of the day and all of the presents on "the other blog" later.
Boy, this is boring... The girls loved the trip and all of the attention. Did I ever tell you what a charmer Three-a is? Okay... end this post NOW.
P.S. I found shoes that I wanted, but then it turned out I didn't need them after all. I bought them and even though I didn't wear them I will keep them for the next occasion so I don't have to stress out over shoes again.
Also, for some reason, my knee hurt much worse on our trip than at home. Could the 10 degree cooler weather caused the pain? As soon as we got home, it felt better. Crazy! (But I'm glad it doesn't hurt as much.)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Bah
As in Humbug.
I went shopping this afternoon.... I've done my Christmas shopping and most of it was done online, but I needed to go find shoes to go with a dress and I figured it would be easy. I wanted navy, silver, or gold pumps. That should be easy, right? NO...I FOUND ZERO. So then, I decided, maybe I should just get a new black dress and wear shoes I already own.
Ugh.
I felt very dissatisfied with my body after being in the dressing room and trying on the dresses. Dressing room lights are awful, we all know that, but really, those lights couldn't have made me feel less attractive. I would think that having better lights in the dressing room might make people feel better about themselves and buy MORE. How's that for a crazy idea? Hey stores, re-do your dressing rooms! Put in flattering lighting! As it was, I just wanted to curl up in the fetal position.
So, after 3 hours at a mall, I left with only a new pair of workout pants. I wasn't going to let the ENTIRE day be a waste. They were on sale! But, I have nothing to wear on Sunday. That is a problem. We may have to hit a different mall tomorrow. (Double ugh.)
The really annoying thing is that I SHOULD have just ordered shoes from Zappos last week... Why did I not think of that? Now, since I need the shoes by Sunday, I can't get them from Zappos. I waited too late. Unless Zappos has a way to do Saturday deliveries. I should call them. Hrm. They don't. Hey Zappos...You should think about Saturday deliveries.
I went shopping this afternoon.... I've done my Christmas shopping and most of it was done online, but I needed to go find shoes to go with a dress and I figured it would be easy. I wanted navy, silver, or gold pumps. That should be easy, right? NO...I FOUND ZERO. So then, I decided, maybe I should just get a new black dress and wear shoes I already own.
Ugh.
I felt very dissatisfied with my body after being in the dressing room and trying on the dresses. Dressing room lights are awful, we all know that, but really, those lights couldn't have made me feel less attractive. I would think that having better lights in the dressing room might make people feel better about themselves and buy MORE. How's that for a crazy idea? Hey stores, re-do your dressing rooms! Put in flattering lighting! As it was, I just wanted to curl up in the fetal position.
So, after 3 hours at a mall, I left with only a new pair of workout pants. I wasn't going to let the ENTIRE day be a waste. They were on sale! But, I have nothing to wear on Sunday. That is a problem. We may have to hit a different mall tomorrow. (Double ugh.)
The really annoying thing is that I SHOULD have just ordered shoes from Zappos last week... Why did I not think of that? Now, since I need the shoes by Sunday, I can't get them from Zappos. I waited too late. Unless Zappos has a way to do Saturday deliveries. I should call them. Hrm. They don't. Hey Zappos...You should think about Saturday deliveries.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
closing in
Christmas is quickly closing in on us. Highlights from the week:
1. I spoke to a friend who loves Christmas. She didn't know I was so Bah humbug-y (see the last point on that post). I think she's a bit annoyed with me now, because I really was negative in our conversation, but really, I'm not into Christmas. I keep wondering, if work wasn't so busy, would I like Christmas more... I don't know is the answer, but I don't think I would... Who knows!
2. The girls make me dislike Christmas a little less. At the beginning of the month, we took them to Target to have them show each other what they wanted for Christmas. It took up most of an afternoon. oNe loves to give presents to her sisters. Watching oNe love buying and thinking about her sisters makes me so happy. twoK is sort of starting to get it, and Three-a (4), well, she still wants to get herself a present. We're working on it. I think it's just her age. She's four. Four is a hard age... remind me to do a post on that.
3. At work, on Friday, I got an email from someone who is a "rock star" in our field. I was all a-twitter. He was asking me to do something on one of his projects. After I fainted, I consulted with my awesome current supervisor. The reason the rock star emailed me was because of former supervisor. Former Supervisor (FS) was very well-known in the field. I know the rock star would have never found me if it hadn't been for FS. It's flattering to get the email, and now I have an opportunity to interact with rock star and do good work and who knows...Hopefully good for the career!
4. I finished one project for work. Woo! It was a project that had no budget, and I finished it "under budget." I wish I would have charge 1 or 2 more hours to it, because I did work that many more, but I thought we had no more money--It turns out there was about 2 more days of money on it---ARGH! Oh well, the project lead is happy with me and he sent me a nice email. 1 or 2 hours more is not that big of a deal.
5. I have started Holiday Cards. I have a lot to do. I plan to get them all done before New Years. Someone in the blogosphere has a Christmas Card "scoring system" and points are deducted if yours arrive after Christmas. Whatevs. I'm lucky to get them sent.
6. Should go make dinner now... Spicy Peanut Sauce.... Yum!
1. I spoke to a friend who loves Christmas. She didn't know I was so Bah humbug-y (see the last point on that post). I think she's a bit annoyed with me now, because I really was negative in our conversation, but really, I'm not into Christmas. I keep wondering, if work wasn't so busy, would I like Christmas more... I don't know is the answer, but I don't think I would... Who knows!
2. The girls make me dislike Christmas a little less. At the beginning of the month, we took them to Target to have them show each other what they wanted for Christmas. It took up most of an afternoon. oNe loves to give presents to her sisters. Watching oNe love buying and thinking about her sisters makes me so happy. twoK is sort of starting to get it, and Three-a (4), well, she still wants to get herself a present. We're working on it. I think it's just her age. She's four. Four is a hard age... remind me to do a post on that.
3. At work, on Friday, I got an email from someone who is a "rock star" in our field. I was all a-twitter. He was asking me to do something on one of his projects. After I fainted, I consulted with my awesome current supervisor. The reason the rock star emailed me was because of former supervisor. Former Supervisor (FS) was very well-known in the field. I know the rock star would have never found me if it hadn't been for FS. It's flattering to get the email, and now I have an opportunity to interact with rock star and do good work and who knows...Hopefully good for the career!
4. I finished one project for work. Woo! It was a project that had no budget, and I finished it "under budget." I wish I would have charge 1 or 2 more hours to it, because I did work that many more, but I thought we had no more money--It turns out there was about 2 more days of money on it---ARGH! Oh well, the project lead is happy with me and he sent me a nice email. 1 or 2 hours more is not that big of a deal.
5. I have started Holiday Cards. I have a lot to do. I plan to get them all done before New Years. Someone in the blogosphere has a Christmas Card "scoring system" and points are deducted if yours arrive after Christmas. Whatevs. I'm lucky to get them sent.
6. Should go make dinner now... Spicy Peanut Sauce.... Yum!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Still
Start of day
I am still coughing and feel kind of bleh. Yesterday, I was worried that it was bronchitis, so I went to the doctor. The good news is my chest sounded good, so now I just wait and hope I can recover without getting sicker. I'm so tired. I hope to be all better SOON. I know I have a lot of work to do at work and the stress is not helping the situation.
oNe has the cold now and doesn't seem very sick. Three-a sounds like she has a little something going on, but she really doesn't seem sick. Apparently this virus likes to hit adults harder. MWH still sounds pretty bad and he's still tired--though I'm sad he's not 100%, it's nice not to be miserable alone.
Dinner Time
It's been several hours since I started the post and now I'm cooking dinner. I got some T-time today... Three-a and I ran an errand.
I have learned how to make Garbanzo beans (no more cans!) from scratch (not hard, but it involves A LOT of time... Last time I made them, I simmered the beans in water for about 4 hours and they still weren't soft, so I let them soak in the water in the fridge. I had them in there for 2 days before I used them--I don't know when they got nice and soft). Anyway, I'm making them again so I can make super yummy, homemade hummus this week.
Girls in bed (almost)
It's bedtime now. It's been a lazy weekend. Three-a and I ran to the mall, but we weren't really shopping. MWH and I aren't doing presents, we are getting a new _______, and I don't like to go crazy on the gift thing. I need to do cards, but I'm not stressing about them. At the moment, I feel better than I did earlier in the day. This happened yesterday too--around 9 pm, I felt GREAT. Then, bleh this morning. Bleh in the morning and good at night. I am a night owl.
I am still coughing and feel kind of bleh. Yesterday, I was worried that it was bronchitis, so I went to the doctor. The good news is my chest sounded good, so now I just wait and hope I can recover without getting sicker. I'm so tired. I hope to be all better SOON. I know I have a lot of work to do at work and the stress is not helping the situation.
oNe has the cold now and doesn't seem very sick. Three-a sounds like she has a little something going on, but she really doesn't seem sick. Apparently this virus likes to hit adults harder. MWH still sounds pretty bad and he's still tired--though I'm sad he's not 100%, it's nice not to be miserable alone.
Dinner Time
It's been several hours since I started the post and now I'm cooking dinner. I got some T-time today... Three-a and I ran an errand.
I have learned how to make Garbanzo beans (no more cans!) from scratch (not hard, but it involves A LOT of time... Last time I made them, I simmered the beans in water for about 4 hours and they still weren't soft, so I let them soak in the water in the fridge. I had them in there for 2 days before I used them--I don't know when they got nice and soft). Anyway, I'm making them again so I can make super yummy, homemade hummus this week.
Girls in bed (almost)
It's bedtime now. It's been a lazy weekend. Three-a and I ran to the mall, but we weren't really shopping. MWH and I aren't doing presents, we are getting a new _______, and I don't like to go crazy on the gift thing. I need to do cards, but I'm not stressing about them. At the moment, I feel better than I did earlier in the day. This happened yesterday too--around 9 pm, I felt GREAT. Then, bleh this morning. Bleh in the morning and good at night. I am a night owl.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Vitamin D3
It's amazing and important.
My healthy bloggy friend will tell you all about it.
If you want the very brief version, know that the Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamin D is 400 IU, but that is probably too low. The leading expert researcher on Vitamin D takes 4,000 IU a day. I take between 4,000 and 7,000 (usually around 5,000) because of my weird autoimmune issues*. If you're pregnant or nursing you probably need to supplement ('cause you're getting it SUCKED out of you--literally). You want to have plenty of it for the baby.
Vitamin D is essential for neurological (brain and nerve) functioning, a good immune system and strong and healthy bones. It has been shown to help prevent 14 types of cancer. It helps in heart disease. It can help in autoimmune disease, diabetes, inflammation/inflammatory diseases, infection, and osteoporosis. It helps repair DNA damage. And now, researchers are thinking it might help prevent autism in children. (Go read her blog post!)
It's good stuff in a little yellow pill. It's the sunshine vitamin. You can go outside and get sun on your skin and your body will make some, but probably not at this time of the year. It's winter and we don't get enough sun in the Northern hemisphere, so buy a bottle of the little pills. They aren't expensive and potentially could help a lot. The only thing you need to know is to make sure you buy Vitamin D3. If you can't remember the 3, just remember D and my favorite number.
*I'm giving the girls 1,000 IU a day too. MWH is taking 4,000 IU a day.
My healthy bloggy friend will tell you all about it.
If you want the very brief version, know that the Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamin D is 400 IU, but that is probably too low. The leading expert researcher on Vitamin D takes 4,000 IU a day. I take between 4,000 and 7,000 (usually around 5,000) because of my weird autoimmune issues*. If you're pregnant or nursing you probably need to supplement ('cause you're getting it SUCKED out of you--literally). You want to have plenty of it for the baby.
Vitamin D is essential for neurological (brain and nerve) functioning, a good immune system and strong and healthy bones. It has been shown to help prevent 14 types of cancer. It helps in heart disease. It can help in autoimmune disease, diabetes, inflammation/inflammatory diseases, infection, and osteoporosis. It helps repair DNA damage. And now, researchers are thinking it might help prevent autism in children. (Go read her blog post!)
It's good stuff in a little yellow pill. It's the sunshine vitamin. You can go outside and get sun on your skin and your body will make some, but probably not at this time of the year. It's winter and we don't get enough sun in the Northern hemisphere, so buy a bottle of the little pills. They aren't expensive and potentially could help a lot. The only thing you need to know is to make sure you buy Vitamin D3. If you can't remember the 3, just remember D and my favorite number.
*I'm giving the girls 1,000 IU a day too. MWH is taking 4,000 IU a day.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
I love PB
Have I ever mentioned how much I love peanut butter? Well, I do. I eat it every day. Usually for breakfast. Sometimes for a snack.
I love Zumba too, but you all know that.
Why am I telling you these things? I'm still recovering from my cold and I'm trying not to make that the ENTIRE blog post.
Here's the latest. I still feel not so good. I had a moment though today when I realized, I am recovering. My 1 pm (phone) meeting had just been cancelled, and for a brief moment, I though, "Yay, now I can go to Zumba." Heh. Not. As MWH pointed out, "You'd cough up a lung." I'm not actually coughing that much so I disagreed. Instead, I said I'd probably fall over though from the exertion.
Alas. So, no Zumba for me today. (But it'd be super fun!)
I'm hoping by Thursday I can make it to Zumba. I think moving around a bit would be good for me, so later today I'll jump on my exercise bike.
The weirdest thing about this cold is how much my lymph nodes hurt. You know how when you have a sinus infection, and you bend over, how much your head hurts? That's how my neck lymph nodes feel when I bend over. They KILL me. My throat isn't sore. My nose isn't that stuffy... The entire cold is in my ears and lymph nodes.
Okay... working from home today I still need to
1) Read a report on DL
2) Read some more about ___ Analysis
N3nny is sick too. The girls, knock wood, are fine, but I have a feeling they are doomed. This will be one of the first times that we've infected them. The bad thing is that we have to take care of them while they are sick, and that they get whiny. The one thing I'm hoping for is that they get sick BEFORE the holiday.
I love Zumba too, but you all know that.
Why am I telling you these things? I'm still recovering from my cold and I'm trying not to make that the ENTIRE blog post.
Here's the latest. I still feel not so good. I had a moment though today when I realized, I am recovering. My 1 pm (phone) meeting had just been cancelled, and for a brief moment, I though, "Yay, now I can go to Zumba." Heh. Not. As MWH pointed out, "You'd cough up a lung." I'm not actually coughing that much so I disagreed. Instead, I said I'd probably fall over though from the exertion.
Alas. So, no Zumba for me today. (But it'd be super fun!)
I'm hoping by Thursday I can make it to Zumba. I think moving around a bit would be good for me, so later today I'll jump on my exercise bike.
The weirdest thing about this cold is how much my lymph nodes hurt. You know how when you have a sinus infection, and you bend over, how much your head hurts? That's how my neck lymph nodes feel when I bend over. They KILL me. My throat isn't sore. My nose isn't that stuffy... The entire cold is in my ears and lymph nodes.
Okay... working from home today I still need to
1) Read a report on DL
2) Read some more about ___ Analysis
N3nny is sick too. The girls, knock wood, are fine, but I have a feeling they are doomed. This will be one of the first times that we've infected them. The bad thing is that we have to take care of them while they are sick, and that they get whiny. The one thing I'm hoping for is that they get sick BEFORE the holiday.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
wah!
I have a bit of a cold. I'm hoping it's gone soon. I had a cold back in October, if you remember... What?! You don't remember? Well, it's true, I did. You can read about it here if you want. I know you want to...
I'm HOPING it's not as bad as that cold. What, you didn't go read about it? Well, it started mildly and then lasted for a week...
It had me at home from work for 2 days. I've stayed home all weekend thus far, but I don't think I'm as sick as I was then. I can't tell if I'm "done" getting worse, or not. I don't feel better than I did yesterday, but I don't think I feel "worse." My ears are stuffy and I HATE that.
MWH had a little cold last weekend, and he didn't whine as much as I'm whining about this one. Does this mean I'm sicker than he was or that I'm getting whinier about colds?
I'm HOPING it's not as bad as that cold. What, you didn't go read about it? Well, it started mildly and then lasted for a week...
It had me at home from work for 2 days. I've stayed home all weekend thus far, but I don't think I'm as sick as I was then. I can't tell if I'm "done" getting worse, or not. I don't feel better than I did yesterday, but I don't think I feel "worse." My ears are stuffy and I HATE that.
MWH had a little cold last weekend, and he didn't whine as much as I'm whining about this one. Does this mean I'm sicker than he was or that I'm getting whinier about colds?
A friend asked....
about a laptop for her 8-year-old for Christmas.
My response is not yet. Take a look at what Common Sense Media says.
We currently have an iMac in our kitchen for the girls. They do lots with it while we're in there. It's great while I'm cooking dinner. They watch "approved" movies from YouTube on it. They visit Starfall a lot. (Most months twoK goes there and makes a calendar--she loves that. She is so organized!) This is one of their favorite sites--it's their favorite series of books.
I'm trying to get oNe to use the computer more for math flashcards, but I haven't found a site I love. (And we have a huge report due on Friday so my homework efforts have been pushed over to the report for now.) I've seen this site (like, okay) and Carrot Sticks (again, just okay).... I'm looking more for a game that does flash cards and times and isn't hard to do. I need to have oNe do them again and get her opinion... She only did them once, so maybe she'll like them better if she does them more. Suggestions?
Okay, I digressed, but it scares me to think of an 8-year-old with a computer all to him or herself that he or she can shut. Also, does an 8-year-old need all the capabilities that a laptop gives you? Probably not. Maybe some 8-year-olds would understand it and use it for good, not evil, but most wouldn't.
Let me know if you have different beliefs or great web sites that you use!
My response is not yet. Take a look at what Common Sense Media says.
We currently have an iMac in our kitchen for the girls. They do lots with it while we're in there. It's great while I'm cooking dinner. They watch "approved" movies from YouTube on it. They visit Starfall a lot. (Most months twoK goes there and makes a calendar--she loves that. She is so organized!) This is one of their favorite sites--it's their favorite series of books.
I'm trying to get oNe to use the computer more for math flashcards, but I haven't found a site I love. (And we have a huge report due on Friday so my homework efforts have been pushed over to the report for now.) I've seen this site (like, okay) and Carrot Sticks (again, just okay).... I'm looking more for a game that does flash cards and times and isn't hard to do. I need to have oNe do them again and get her opinion... She only did them once, so maybe she'll like them better if she does them more. Suggestions?
Okay, I digressed, but it scares me to think of an 8-year-old with a computer all to him or herself that he or she can shut. Also, does an 8-year-old need all the capabilities that a laptop gives you? Probably not. Maybe some 8-year-olds would understand it and use it for good, not evil, but most wouldn't.
Let me know if you have different beliefs or great web sites that you use!
Friday, December 04, 2009
Take time for blue toe nail polish
That's what twoK and Three-a have on their toes. We painted the toes on Tuesday night and I've been touching them up ever since. Three-a is especially sensitive to chips on the toe nail polish. On Wednesday morning, Three-a was asking me to fix the toes and I almost didn't make time to do it, but I did. I decided I shouldn't be so stressed about work that I couldn't take time to fix her toes.
I'm really glad I took the time. I found out today that a friend has colon cancer. I am so sad. She's young. She sounds great and has a great attitude, but how sucky is that? She's diagnosed with Stage IIIb. She has a little girl (younger than my girls). I wish her the best. Her email puts my weird blood test results in perspective. Live life, enjoy, and hope for the best. Spend time with those you love... That's what's important.
Take time for blue toe nail polish!
I'm really glad I took the time. I found out today that a friend has colon cancer. I am so sad. She's young. She sounds great and has a great attitude, but how sucky is that? She's diagnosed with Stage IIIb. She has a little girl (younger than my girls). I wish her the best. Her email puts my weird blood test results in perspective. Live life, enjoy, and hope for the best. Spend time with those you love... That's what's important.
Take time for blue toe nail polish!
Monday, November 30, 2009
It's that time of the semester
When students get whiny and stressed. All of my students are doing fine.* They are perfectionists and are worried and anything I say is the wrong thing. I have two students who have decided I'm not worthy, but I think they've decided that of all the profs in the program. It's okay. We'll all get through it. If they don't think I should teach again, I'm FINE with that. I teach FOR FUN. I have to keep in mind that many of my students have told me absolutely wonderful things this semester. I can't let a couple get me down. (Easier said than done.)
p.s. this is being backdated for the protection of student identities. The publication date is at a time when I'm not actually teaching.
*with the exception of one, but I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
errrrr.
I was going to try to post more in November, but then work got insanely busy. Isn't that the story of my life?
I'll do a quick re-cap of the holiday break. First, I LOVE 4 day weekends!!!! All weekends should be 4 days. Wouldn't that be grand?
Thursday, one of my brothers flew in to see us. He and I cooked the dish Dad always made--eggplant. It's so good. I ate way more of that than I would have eaten if we'd made turkey. I'm not a big turkey fan. I used to make turkey fajitas, and I thought that would be our tradition, but now, I'm wondering about that. I'll probably keep switching it.
Anyway, I figured out how to make sauce with the new tomato products. Basically, it just needs salt, oregano, basil, parsley and garlic, and lots of the tomato paste. It came out super yum.
My brother brought down lots of video footage of our lives. He's always taken video at all of the family gatherings. He had my graduation from graduate school and I got a copy of it. Graduation was a great day. It ranks up there as one of those really great moments. I was so young though.... 12.5 years ago.
And, my brother also had footage from a Christmas 20 years ago. OMG, I was so very, very young. The crazy thing was, as I watched, I really didn't remember *anything* about Christmas that year. I remember all of our Christmases were fairly similar, but as I watched the video, I had NO IDEA of what would happen next. It was surreal, knowing that was me, but feeling like it was someone else. It's not my life now. When I was young, I remember wanting my life to be very different than it was. I love my family, but I didn't feel like I fit.
Recently, I became friends with a person I was friends with at college (in facebook). She went back to her home town after college, got married and had a child fairly quickly. I have no idea, but I'm guessing her life is fairly similar to her life as a child there, except now she's the grown up and has the children. She hangs out with her sister and I'm guessing with friends she has had most of her life. I didn't want to be a grown up like that. I had good friends in High School, and I would love to be in the same location as them, but alas, we went to many different places. Very few of the people I was really close to are in the place where we attended high school. We clung together in high school because we felt different from most everyone else. I hope they all found their happy places too. Unfortunately, ten years ago, we found out about one good friend. She'd stayed where we grew up, and she wasn't happy (M).
Anyway, back to the video, I remember that Christmas (1989) was one of the last Christmases that I was home. I was home the next year (1990) and then I was home again in 1996, and 1999. MWH and I went to his family for Christmas in 1998. I probably should have taken everyone back there last year for my Dad, but I just couldn't. Okay, getting depressing now... I'll come back to this later.
I'm working on #2.
Loft progress
Sorted through 7 boxes
22 boxes left
This isn't counting the 3 boxes of out-of-date, hard-back text books that we need to donate/recycle
Nor the 5-ish boxes of electronics/wires that we need to sort/recycle/donate
Nor the suitcases to find a home for somewhere better than the loft.
We might make it through most of it by the end of the year--or not. We'll see.
The rest of the weekend... Friday morning I got to do Zumba--I had to work off the four bowls of pasta and eggplant from the day before. That afternoon, we had our friends for dinner. Super fun. Our friend L, though I'm not sure I should call him that any more (heh), brought a whoopee cushion for the girls. Oh my. The hijinks and hilarity. Enough said.
Okay, this is way longer than I expected it would be... I'll do Saturday and Sunday later.
I'll do a quick re-cap of the holiday break. First, I LOVE 4 day weekends!!!! All weekends should be 4 days. Wouldn't that be grand?
Thursday, one of my brothers flew in to see us. He and I cooked the dish Dad always made--eggplant. It's so good. I ate way more of that than I would have eaten if we'd made turkey. I'm not a big turkey fan. I used to make turkey fajitas, and I thought that would be our tradition, but now, I'm wondering about that. I'll probably keep switching it.
Anyway, I figured out how to make sauce with the new tomato products. Basically, it just needs salt, oregano, basil, parsley and garlic, and lots of the tomato paste. It came out super yum.
My brother brought down lots of video footage of our lives. He's always taken video at all of the family gatherings. He had my graduation from graduate school and I got a copy of it. Graduation was a great day. It ranks up there as one of those really great moments. I was so young though.... 12.5 years ago.
And, my brother also had footage from a Christmas 20 years ago. OMG, I was so very, very young. The crazy thing was, as I watched, I really didn't remember *anything* about Christmas that year. I remember all of our Christmases were fairly similar, but as I watched the video, I had NO IDEA of what would happen next. It was surreal, knowing that was me, but feeling like it was someone else. It's not my life now. When I was young, I remember wanting my life to be very different than it was. I love my family, but I didn't feel like I fit.
Recently, I became friends with a person I was friends with at college (in facebook). She went back to her home town after college, got married and had a child fairly quickly. I have no idea, but I'm guessing her life is fairly similar to her life as a child there, except now she's the grown up and has the children. She hangs out with her sister and I'm guessing with friends she has had most of her life. I didn't want to be a grown up like that. I had good friends in High School, and I would love to be in the same location as them, but alas, we went to many different places. Very few of the people I was really close to are in the place where we attended high school. We clung together in high school because we felt different from most everyone else. I hope they all found their happy places too. Unfortunately, ten years ago, we found out about one good friend. She'd stayed where we grew up, and she wasn't happy (M).
Anyway, back to the video, I remember that Christmas (1989) was one of the last Christmases that I was home. I was home the next year (1990) and then I was home again in 1996, and 1999. MWH and I went to his family for Christmas in 1998. I probably should have taken everyone back there last year for my Dad, but I just couldn't. Okay, getting depressing now... I'll come back to this later.
I'm working on #2.
Loft progress
Sorted through 7 boxes
22 boxes left
This isn't counting the 3 boxes of out-of-date, hard-back text books that we need to donate/recycle
Nor the 5-ish boxes of electronics/wires that we need to sort/recycle/donate
Nor the suitcases to find a home for somewhere better than the loft.
We might make it through most of it by the end of the year--or not. We'll see.
The rest of the weekend... Friday morning I got to do Zumba--I had to work off the four bowls of pasta and eggplant from the day before. That afternoon, we had our friends for dinner. Super fun. Our friend L, though I'm not sure I should call him that any more (heh), brought a whoopee cushion for the girls. Oh my. The hijinks and hilarity. Enough said.
Okay, this is way longer than I expected it would be... I'll do Saturday and Sunday later.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Week in review
1. I made spaghetti sauce with the new products. It needs a little more work. I knew exactly what to do with the old cans I used. I think I need 1) more paste and 2) salt. None of those tomato products had added salt. (The paste had a little, but not enough to compensate.)
2. Did I tell you I had to have two fillings replaced? I don't think I did. Anyway, the process was completed this afternoon and I'm almost not numb again. Here's a related tangent: I WISH my parents had intervened in my life in the department of food and drink more. I drank a LOT of diet coke in high school. I chewed a LOT of bubble gum. It had sugar in it. One trip to the dentist when I was like 16 turned up something like 8 cavities. Seriously. I wasn't worried about it at the time. Now, I hate it.
I really hope my girls can escape cavities. They eat healthy food, don't eat a lot of sugar, they brush well, and if I can manage to have any control over them when they are teenagers, they will NOT DRINK ANY TYPE OF COKE products. They can drink coffee or tea if they want caffeine.
3. Speaking of caffeine, I am now drinking a lot less. I just cut back to 1 cup of black tea in the morning and some green or white in the afternoon. I had caffeine withdrawal headaches this week, but I am feeling pretty good now. This is the girl who used to drink 2 cups of black tea, and 3-4 cups of coffee a day. That was my consumption rate for the last year or 2. Just to re-cap I gave it up this summer. I still can't believe I don't drink coffee any more. I don't "miss it." I like the idea of it, and have many fond memories of the taste, but I don't have any desire to drink it right now. It's crazy! I was a HARD core coffee drinker for 18 years.
4. The girls are preparing for Thanksgiving. They are going to do a play. oNe's made costumes out of paper (she's really good at that) and is writing their lines. Three-a's happy to participate, but twoK only wants to do the behind the scene's stuff--props girl.
5. Work is really busy, but I am doing better at not stressing about it. I go home and don't do much at night. MWH and I are watching some new shows on TV this season and that's helping me cut-back. We're watching "Flash Forward", "Bones", and V.
6. My back is continuing to get better and today, my right foot hasn't been numb much at all. It gets numb when I sit on a bad chair or lay down, but it used to be numb all the time. PT is very slow, but it does seem to be helping me. I am a patient patient. Slow worked for me on the diet front, and so far, it is working on the PT front. I've had to add in a lot of new exercise, but it's good for me. I'll go over that in a separate post someday.
2. Did I tell you I had to have two fillings replaced? I don't think I did. Anyway, the process was completed this afternoon and I'm almost not numb again. Here's a related tangent: I WISH my parents had intervened in my life in the department of food and drink more. I drank a LOT of diet coke in high school. I chewed a LOT of bubble gum. It had sugar in it. One trip to the dentist when I was like 16 turned up something like 8 cavities. Seriously. I wasn't worried about it at the time. Now, I hate it.
I really hope my girls can escape cavities. They eat healthy food, don't eat a lot of sugar, they brush well, and if I can manage to have any control over them when they are teenagers, they will NOT DRINK ANY TYPE OF COKE products. They can drink coffee or tea if they want caffeine.
3. Speaking of caffeine, I am now drinking a lot less. I just cut back to 1 cup of black tea in the morning and some green or white in the afternoon. I had caffeine withdrawal headaches this week, but I am feeling pretty good now. This is the girl who used to drink 2 cups of black tea, and 3-4 cups of coffee a day. That was my consumption rate for the last year or 2. Just to re-cap I gave it up this summer. I still can't believe I don't drink coffee any more. I don't "miss it." I like the idea of it, and have many fond memories of the taste, but I don't have any desire to drink it right now. It's crazy! I was a HARD core coffee drinker for 18 years.
4. The girls are preparing for Thanksgiving. They are going to do a play. oNe's made costumes out of paper (she's really good at that) and is writing their lines. Three-a's happy to participate, but twoK only wants to do the behind the scene's stuff--props girl.
5. Work is really busy, but I am doing better at not stressing about it. I go home and don't do much at night. MWH and I are watching some new shows on TV this season and that's helping me cut-back. We're watching "Flash Forward", "Bones", and V.
6. My back is continuing to get better and today, my right foot hasn't been numb much at all. It gets numb when I sit on a bad chair or lay down, but it used to be numb all the time. PT is very slow, but it does seem to be helping me. I am a patient patient. Slow worked for me on the diet front, and so far, it is working on the PT front. I've had to add in a lot of new exercise, but it's good for me. I'll go over that in a separate post someday.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
remember this?
When I posted this, she wasn't, but she is now! It turns out they started "trying" around that time. She is 7 weeks. Woo.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
2 new
I am starting in on 2 new projects this week, and needing to make progress on a third new-ish one. My head hurts a little just thinking about it tonight. I wanted to read a little bit about both of them this weekend, but instead, I think I need to go hang out with MWH.
As nature intended
No BPA! Two of the kinds are organic! I may still try to make my own sauce from tomatoes* and paste, and freeze them, but for now, this will do.
*I haven't found a recipe I love yet. I'm sure I could figure out something from what I've read on the web and how I cook. I'll keep you posted.
*I haven't found a recipe I love yet. I'm sure I could figure out something from what I've read on the web and how I cook. I'll keep you posted.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Kindergarten/first grade/second grade humor
Q. Where does the toy go to the bathroom?
A. In the toy-let.
Ask a friend to look under for something you dropped... When they ask you "under where" howl with laughter.
A. In the toy-let.
Ask a friend to look under for something you dropped... When they ask you "under where" howl with laughter.
Another thing to keep me up at night...
I was excited when my friend had a new blog post up today as I love her posts, I always learn something new. However, now I am more informed about BPA and have something new to keep me up at night. Ignorance is bliss, but the side-effects are dangerous.
After the Sigg water bottle debacle, I had wondered about canned foods and their liners and whether they had BPA in them. In the back of my mind, I guessed they did, but I hadn't had a chance to google it. The answer came to me today on the Happy Healthy Librarian's blog.
They have BPA in them.... Really, why do we have to have BPA in the liner of food cans. Why? It's BAD stuff.
We don't eat that many canned foods around here, thank goodness, but we do sometimes. You can guess that I'm taking back the cans I just bought yesterday to buy glass containers of food where possible. The one food I buy a great deal of in cans is tomatoes. Guess what? Tomatoes are very acidic and they leach more BPA than other foods. Great.
I'll be taking my tomatoes back and looking for tomato sauce and tomato paste in glass jars.
Or, here's a solution..... I suppose I could just make tomato sauce from actual tomatoes and then just freeze it. I don't think I want to can my own sauce. I don't know why, but canning scares me--freezing doesn't.
Sorry for the depressing post at the start of the weekend...it's going to light a fire under me to try cooking tomatoes from scratch.
After the Sigg water bottle debacle, I had wondered about canned foods and their liners and whether they had BPA in them. In the back of my mind, I guessed they did, but I hadn't had a chance to google it. The answer came to me today on the Happy Healthy Librarian's blog.
They have BPA in them.... Really, why do we have to have BPA in the liner of food cans. Why? It's BAD stuff.
We don't eat that many canned foods around here, thank goodness, but we do sometimes. You can guess that I'm taking back the cans I just bought yesterday to buy glass containers of food where possible. The one food I buy a great deal of in cans is tomatoes. Guess what? Tomatoes are very acidic and they leach more BPA than other foods. Great.
I'll be taking my tomatoes back and looking for tomato sauce and tomato paste in glass jars.
Or, here's a solution..... I suppose I could just make tomato sauce from actual tomatoes and then just freeze it. I don't think I want to can my own sauce. I don't know why, but canning scares me--freezing doesn't.
Sorry for the depressing post at the start of the weekend...it's going to light a fire under me to try cooking tomatoes from scratch.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
uber tired
Earlier this week, I found out that the piece of work I was doing, and hoping to continue doing until the end of the year, was out of money. Uh-oh. We still have a lot of work to do...It will get done, somehow. We always manage. There's lots of tricks--including staying up late or working on the weekend (for free). What I was more worried about was, what piece of work will pay me through the end of the year?
....
I put out some feelers, and I think, that I have three new small projects that will keep me in business. It'll still be a little bit of a stretch, and I don't think I'll manage to be at my "goal" for the end of the year, but I shouldn't be lower than 3% off, and my supervisor keeps reassuring me that it will be okay.
....
At work, there are many new people. It's fun to have new good people. There's a core of us who have been there forever, 10+ years. It's so weird to me that I'm an "old timer," but I am. It's fun to see the young ones. They are eager and energetic. One just got married. I guess she's between 25 and 30. She's young, but has a great perspective on life.
Anyway, thinking about all the young new folks at work made me think that I should try to remember and record some of the things I do remember from that era before I completely forget. This blog is for the 3 little girls (who are growing up WAY TOO FAST) and they may want to know someday.
So let's see....
I went to S___ after grad school with my new Ph.D. I'd worked at A____ for one year, as I finished my dissertation. A_____ was a super great year, but I love A_____. If I could go back to A_____, I would. But 1) there isn't really anything I want to do at A____ right now, and 2) I couldn't be part-time.
Oh, wait, trying to record how I thought/felt 10-12 years ago.
I remember starting my job at S___.... I was very impressed with my (former) supervisor M___ and my wonderful colleague P____, and the coolest thing was, they liked and respected me too. We had the best job then. It was 1997 and the dot com craze was happening. We were working in an emerging area. It was exciting. I worked many hours, but loved every single hour. We felt like we were making a small difference in the world and it felt great.
Bleh, I think I've written all of this before.
Meh, I'm boring even myself. I don't know what to write.
Oh dear and gentle reader, could you help me by thinking of a good question for me to answer that the girls might want to know someday...? Please?
xoxo.
....
I put out some feelers, and I think, that I have three new small projects that will keep me in business. It'll still be a little bit of a stretch, and I don't think I'll manage to be at my "goal" for the end of the year, but I shouldn't be lower than 3% off, and my supervisor keeps reassuring me that it will be okay.
....
At work, there are many new people. It's fun to have new good people. There's a core of us who have been there forever, 10+ years. It's so weird to me that I'm an "old timer," but I am. It's fun to see the young ones. They are eager and energetic. One just got married. I guess she's between 25 and 30. She's young, but has a great perspective on life.
Anyway, thinking about all the young new folks at work made me think that I should try to remember and record some of the things I do remember from that era before I completely forget. This blog is for the 3 little girls (who are growing up WAY TOO FAST) and they may want to know someday.
So let's see....
I went to S___ after grad school with my new Ph.D. I'd worked at A____ for one year, as I finished my dissertation. A_____ was a super great year, but I love A_____. If I could go back to A_____, I would. But 1) there isn't really anything I want to do at A____ right now, and 2) I couldn't be part-time.
Oh, wait, trying to record how I thought/felt 10-12 years ago.
I remember starting my job at S___.... I was very impressed with my (former) supervisor M___ and my wonderful colleague P____, and the coolest thing was, they liked and respected me too. We had the best job then. It was 1997 and the dot com craze was happening. We were working in an emerging area. It was exciting. I worked many hours, but loved every single hour. We felt like we were making a small difference in the world and it felt great.
Bleh, I think I've written all of this before.
Meh, I'm boring even myself. I don't know what to write.
Oh dear and gentle reader, could you help me by thinking of a good question for me to answer that the girls might want to know someday...? Please?
xoxo.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
sunday night
Three-a is styling my hair and has been for about 45 minutes. I think it's done, but she doesn't. She's using a comb and my scalp is getting sore. I just asked her to switch to a brush. Why didn't I think of this 43 minutes ago? I'm a little slow. She's giving me a makeover. She just put a flower barrette in my hair and told me I look very cute.
oNe is eating a pomegranate. She loves them. She is the healthiest eating kid I know. She has been forever. Now, one of her favorite food combinations is brown rice, broccoli, and cheddar cheese. She asks for it a lot.
twoK is melting down. She's been crying a lot all day. MWH has called her "fragile" and it's true. I'm hoping she's just tired. Yesterday, she was pretty fragile too. It's tough to be a twoK! I'm hoping she'll go fall asleep for a little while so we can wake her up, give her dinner and a quick bath... She'll probably sleep better tonight if she has a nap... Yea, it's almost 6 pm, but twoK is a sleeper now. She's making up for all the sleep she missed out on when she was 0-3 and didn't sleep.
Lunch today was at our favorite Mexican restaurant, then we played at the park. Except for all the screaming from the little girl, mostly twoK and Three-a and mostly because oNe was bothering them), it's been a lovely day. I still want to ride my exercise bike and do my exercise ball video (it's good for my core).
oNe is eating a pomegranate. She loves them. She is the healthiest eating kid I know. She has been forever. Now, one of her favorite food combinations is brown rice, broccoli, and cheddar cheese. She asks for it a lot.
twoK is melting down. She's been crying a lot all day. MWH has called her "fragile" and it's true. I'm hoping she's just tired. Yesterday, she was pretty fragile too. It's tough to be a twoK! I'm hoping she'll go fall asleep for a little while so we can wake her up, give her dinner and a quick bath... She'll probably sleep better tonight if she has a nap... Yea, it's almost 6 pm, but twoK is a sleeper now. She's making up for all the sleep she missed out on when she was 0-3 and didn't sleep.
Lunch today was at our favorite Mexican restaurant, then we played at the park. Except for all the screaming from the little girl, mostly twoK and Three-a and mostly because oNe was bothering them), it's been a lovely day. I still want to ride my exercise bike and do my exercise ball video (it's good for my core).
Friday, November 06, 2009
but...
Being Grumpy makes you do better work? But, all I could do was fixate on the issues that were making me GRUMPY. I think there needs to be more research done.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Just realized
I just realized that it's November, and November is traditionally (heh) Nanoblomo. My attempt to blog more again, that started on Tuesday, isn't tied to Nanoblomo. Maybe it was tied subconsciously, maybe on some level I knew that Nanoblomo was occurring, but I didn't read it on any one's blog until last night, and I didn't mean to make my attempt start in Nanoblomo season.
Okay... I'm having a hard time NOT blogging about PT. It's not about my knee though, now it's my back. I *think* my knee is pretty much back. (heh, a pun/joke...) I have a little arthritis in it, but it really doesn't hurt much. I'd barely notice it if I wasn't still thinking about it. It isn't "injured" any more. Whatever I injured, maybe my popliteus, took FOREVEH to heal, but now, I am declaring it 90% healed and 70-80% original strength.
Right now, my back FEELS pretty good, but it's weak. That's a dangerous place to be. Because it feels good, it makes one think one could go to Zumba and go crazy... But, that would be bad. That would make it take longer to heal. I'm trying to get into as good of shape as I can NOW so that when I'm older I'll be stronger and I'll be doing things correctly. I'm doing lots of Ab work. I am going to do more weights/strengthening stuff and less aerobics... I think I told you all this last night, but I have to keep reminding myself of the plan because CHANGE IS HARD.
Okay, shutting up now.
Here's a challenge... try sucking in your stomach and making it really tight 100 times a day. I try to do it in 20 "suck" increments, thus five times a day. It's harder than it sounds. If you suck/squeeze/harden your stomach so tight your eyes might pop, it takes a lot out of you. Try it.
See?
It's hard. Now do it 19 more times....
Now remember to do 20 sucks four more times today.
Here's a fun tidbit... oNe just learned how to spell Mississippi. I've been trying to get her to learn that for a year, and she had NO interest. Then she found it on a map on her own and got inspired. That's the thing about learning... It takes motivation. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. You can send your kids to school, but you can't make them learn.
Okay... I'm having a hard time NOT blogging about PT. It's not about my knee though, now it's my back. I *think* my knee is pretty much back. (heh, a pun/joke...) I have a little arthritis in it, but it really doesn't hurt much. I'd barely notice it if I wasn't still thinking about it. It isn't "injured" any more. Whatever I injured, maybe my popliteus, took FOREVEH to heal, but now, I am declaring it 90% healed and 70-80% original strength.
Right now, my back FEELS pretty good, but it's weak. That's a dangerous place to be. Because it feels good, it makes one think one could go to Zumba and go crazy... But, that would be bad. That would make it take longer to heal. I'm trying to get into as good of shape as I can NOW so that when I'm older I'll be stronger and I'll be doing things correctly. I'm doing lots of Ab work. I am going to do more weights/strengthening stuff and less aerobics... I think I told you all this last night, but I have to keep reminding myself of the plan because CHANGE IS HARD.
Okay, shutting up now.
Here's a challenge... try sucking in your stomach and making it really tight 100 times a day. I try to do it in 20 "suck" increments, thus five times a day. It's harder than it sounds. If you suck/squeeze/harden your stomach so tight your eyes might pop, it takes a lot out of you. Try it.
See?
It's hard. Now do it 19 more times....
Now remember to do 20 sucks four more times today.
Here's a fun tidbit... oNe just learned how to spell Mississippi. I've been trying to get her to learn that for a year, and she had NO interest. Then she found it on a map on her own and got inspired. That's the thing about learning... It takes motivation. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. You can send your kids to school, but you can't make them learn.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
uber grumpy
I am uber grumpy tonight. I'm not going to talk about it because none of it is a huge deal... Okay, it's just little stuff that n3nny does... stuff that happens to significantly annoy me and apparently, I haven't communicated exactly how much these things annoy me, but in general, she's super.
The other thing, Mr. Toyota Corolla... IF YOU ARE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO YIELD TO PEOPLE IN THE CROSS WALK, CARS GOING STRAIGHT, AND CARS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. Honking at people and cars does not, contrary to your belief, give you the right of way. You, Mr. Toyota Corolla, need to go take a driving class.
And then there's the ice pack incident. If you come to my house, DO NOT USE MY ICE PACKS without asking. I use them ALL EVERY NIGHT. I DO NOT LIKE IT WHEN MY ICE PACKS AREN'T ICY.
Oops... guess I discussed it.
Do I seem stressed? Yea, I kind of am... I DON'T KNOW WHY.
It might be that I'm not working out enough because I'm trying to take it easy so my back will heal and my right foot will stop being numb. In PT, we're working on my back. I think, we are making progress. Progress in PT is slow. My knee continues to S-L-O-W-L-Y improve, but I have to really work on it, but not work TOO hard. Delicate balance.
The PT said it takes about 6-8 weeks to build muscle. I think we've been working on my back for 5-6 weeks or so. I probably lost a week when I had my cold. Based on how long it takes to build muscle, and how long we've been working, I'm guessing I have 3 or 4 more weeks until I feel stronger/better in my back.
I'm doing LOTS of core strengthening work. LOTS. We're doing traction on my back in PT. If I don't sit, or lay on my bed, my right foot isn't numb. I'm hoping to be able to sit and lay again soon. I'm going to NOT jump in Zumba for a week or 2 and see what happens. I won't go to Zumba tomorrow. I'll do the elliptical.
Hey, wanna know something positive? I heart the Bosu ball. As soon as my back is strong enough, I'm going to try this. It looks like fun!
The other thing, Mr. Toyota Corolla... IF YOU ARE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO YIELD TO PEOPLE IN THE CROSS WALK, CARS GOING STRAIGHT, AND CARS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. Honking at people and cars does not, contrary to your belief, give you the right of way. You, Mr. Toyota Corolla, need to go take a driving class.
And then there's the ice pack incident. If you come to my house, DO NOT USE MY ICE PACKS without asking. I use them ALL EVERY NIGHT. I DO NOT LIKE IT WHEN MY ICE PACKS AREN'T ICY.
Oops... guess I discussed it.
Do I seem stressed? Yea, I kind of am... I DON'T KNOW WHY.
It might be that I'm not working out enough because I'm trying to take it easy so my back will heal and my right foot will stop being numb. In PT, we're working on my back. I think, we are making progress. Progress in PT is slow. My knee continues to S-L-O-W-L-Y improve, but I have to really work on it, but not work TOO hard. Delicate balance.
The PT said it takes about 6-8 weeks to build muscle. I think we've been working on my back for 5-6 weeks or so. I probably lost a week when I had my cold. Based on how long it takes to build muscle, and how long we've been working, I'm guessing I have 3 or 4 more weeks until I feel stronger/better in my back.
I'm doing LOTS of core strengthening work. LOTS. We're doing traction on my back in PT. If I don't sit, or lay on my bed, my right foot isn't numb. I'm hoping to be able to sit and lay again soon. I'm going to NOT jump in Zumba for a week or 2 and see what happens. I won't go to Zumba tomorrow. I'll do the elliptical.
Hey, wanna know something positive? I heart the Bosu ball. As soon as my back is strong enough, I'm going to try this. It looks like fun!
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Would you like some High Fructose Corn Syrup with your water?
And then I go all curmudgeon-y on you.
I just searched the blog, and apparently, I haven't written about my feelings towards High Fructose Corn Syrup. I am a little surprised. Perhaps, I didn't want to scare any one with how vehemently I despise the stuff. I gave it up somewhere around 2004. I work really hard to avoid it, and I've only knowingly consumed it on a few occasions since 2004. (We eat a lot of home-cooked meals around here so that we can avoid it.)
I don't like high fructose corn syrup in any product. I find the process for creating it SCARY. If you read about its production you'll find many words you can't pronounce. It's a 3-step process and involves high heat and lots of chemicals.
You can also scroll down and read about health effects. I think it's pretty rotten stuff; I believe it's far worse than sugar.
Anyway...
So, a good friend brought some of these, the "Roaring Water" variety, over to our house for a little shindig with the kids.
Um, really?
We don't drink much juice around here. We don't do soda. (The girls have tried Root Beer, made with sugar, once, and oNe has had Sprite one time at a party.) Sometimes, when we get all crazy, I give the girls a splash, literally just a splash of plain juice, in their water. I don't see the point of giving them all that sugar in a drink. I think they prefer to ingest sugar in other forms. We eat lots of fruit and I'm all about the whole fruit, complete with fiber, versus juice. Anyway, Capri Sun juice bags don't have High Fructose Corn Syrup... Neither do their morning products....
BUT....
The last two products do.
Good grief, why would you put High Fructose Corn Syrup, and Splenda in a water for kids? Why? Really, Kraft, why? They advertise, "No artificial flavors or colors" and "Low-calorie." You know what? Plain water is even more natural, and lower calorie. If your kid won't drink plain water, add a splash of pure juice.
I can't even believe this product exists. I'm also a little distraught over their tag line... Four ways to do Wholesome. What part of wholesome includes High Fructose Corn Syrup? Why feed kids all this junk?
I just searched the blog, and apparently, I haven't written about my feelings towards High Fructose Corn Syrup. I am a little surprised. Perhaps, I didn't want to scare any one with how vehemently I despise the stuff. I gave it up somewhere around 2004. I work really hard to avoid it, and I've only knowingly consumed it on a few occasions since 2004. (We eat a lot of home-cooked meals around here so that we can avoid it.)
I don't like high fructose corn syrup in any product. I find the process for creating it SCARY. If you read about its production you'll find many words you can't pronounce. It's a 3-step process and involves high heat and lots of chemicals.
You can also scroll down and read about health effects. I think it's pretty rotten stuff; I believe it's far worse than sugar.
Anyway...
So, a good friend brought some of these, the "Roaring Water" variety, over to our house for a little shindig with the kids.
Um, really?
We don't drink much juice around here. We don't do soda. (The girls have tried Root Beer, made with sugar, once, and oNe has had Sprite one time at a party.) Sometimes, when we get all crazy, I give the girls a splash, literally just a splash of plain juice, in their water. I don't see the point of giving them all that sugar in a drink. I think they prefer to ingest sugar in other forms. We eat lots of fruit and I'm all about the whole fruit, complete with fiber, versus juice. Anyway, Capri Sun juice bags don't have High Fructose Corn Syrup... Neither do their morning products....
BUT....
The last two products do.
Good grief, why would you put High Fructose Corn Syrup, and Splenda in a water for kids? Why? Really, Kraft, why? They advertise, "No artificial flavors or colors" and "Low-calorie." You know what? Plain water is even more natural, and lower calorie. If your kid won't drink plain water, add a splash of pure juice.
I can't even believe this product exists. I'm also a little distraught over their tag line... Four ways to do Wholesome. What part of wholesome includes High Fructose Corn Syrup? Why feed kids all this junk?
Monday, November 02, 2009
Routine
I kind of got out of the habit of blogging. I'm a creature of habit. If I do something everyday, it's easy. If I stop, it's hard to re-start. I floss EVERY night. If I'm ever too tired, I make myself do it anyway.
I'm still reading all my blogs, and seeing lots of things I want to write about but then I don't seem to have any motivation. I've become lazy and soft when it comes to blogging.
I sort of got out of the habit when my knee was sore because all I wanted to do was write about how my knee was doing. I spent a great deal of my time monitoring every twinge of my knee. I'm happy to report that it's getting better. Today, before I went and did a really light 40 minute work out, it felt pretty much normal! As in before July 9th normal! Woo! I'll see how it feels tomorrow. I am noticing that there are many times when my knee feels good. I'm not quite back to 100% effort in Zumba, but it is not quite ready for that. I'm doing about 80% effort each class and not experiencing set backs.
See why I stopped blogging? Once I start talking about my knee, I just can't stop. To summarize, my knee has been feeling better slowly. It has been almost 4 months since I hurt it. I'll try to limit myself to monthly knee status updates.
Oh... yea, this used to be a blog about little girls.
Let's see.... We've adjusted to school. We <3 our teachers. Miss twoK seems to really be enjoying kindergarten and she's a full-fledged reader! She's really good. I didn't push her at all, but she worked really hard on learning to read. Miss oNe didn't want to learn how to read and didn't work too much at it until she was almost 6.
Now, oNe is a super reader. She reads a lot each day and she reads at night in bed. It's so super to see her sucked into a book. Being book worms ourselves, her Daddy and I are thrilled!
Three-a is working really hard on learning to write. She's still hysterical... On Halloween, we went trick-or-treating with a bunch of kids. The littlest boy, is a really good friend of Three's. He's 3 and she's 4. She loves to take care of him. He was always slow in getting to the house, so Three-a self-appointed as his official candy getter. She'd explain to everyone how she needed an extra piece to give to her friend S____. So cute. One house wouldn't give her an extra piece. She walked away from the house scolding them saying, "I hope NEXT year you'll let me have an extra piece for my friend S____. I really hope you will." It was hilarious to S___'s Mom and me.
There's so much more to write about them, but I've been so busy and now, this time change is making me exhausted (tonight). In addition, I always feel guilty writing about them here, and not on "the other" family blog. I know the Grandmas love to read about them. If you want to see the other blog, let me know.
What else... Uggh... One of our pumpklns just bit the dust....MWH and I just cleaned it up. This is a photo from last year when our pumpkin decomposed, but this is what just happened again to another pumpkin. We carved him just 72 hours ago. Kind of sad.
There's more to write... Hopefully, I'll get back in the swing of things again. Remind me I want to write about our school, and the lovely families we've met.
I'm still reading all my blogs, and seeing lots of things I want to write about but then I don't seem to have any motivation. I've become lazy and soft when it comes to blogging.
I sort of got out of the habit when my knee was sore because all I wanted to do was write about how my knee was doing. I spent a great deal of my time monitoring every twinge of my knee. I'm happy to report that it's getting better. Today, before I went and did a really light 40 minute work out, it felt pretty much normal! As in before July 9th normal! Woo! I'll see how it feels tomorrow. I am noticing that there are many times when my knee feels good. I'm not quite back to 100% effort in Zumba, but it is not quite ready for that. I'm doing about 80% effort each class and not experiencing set backs.
See why I stopped blogging? Once I start talking about my knee, I just can't stop. To summarize, my knee has been feeling better slowly. It has been almost 4 months since I hurt it. I'll try to limit myself to monthly knee status updates.
Oh... yea, this used to be a blog about little girls.
Let's see.... We've adjusted to school. We <3 our teachers. Miss twoK seems to really be enjoying kindergarten and she's a full-fledged reader! She's really good. I didn't push her at all, but she worked really hard on learning to read. Miss oNe didn't want to learn how to read and didn't work too much at it until she was almost 6.
Now, oNe is a super reader. She reads a lot each day and she reads at night in bed. It's so super to see her sucked into a book. Being book worms ourselves, her Daddy and I are thrilled!
Three-a is working really hard on learning to write. She's still hysterical... On Halloween, we went trick-or-treating with a bunch of kids. The littlest boy, is a really good friend of Three's. He's 3 and she's 4. She loves to take care of him. He was always slow in getting to the house, so Three-a self-appointed as his official candy getter. She'd explain to everyone how she needed an extra piece to give to her friend S____. So cute. One house wouldn't give her an extra piece. She walked away from the house scolding them saying, "I hope NEXT year you'll let me have an extra piece for my friend S____. I really hope you will." It was hilarious to S___'s Mom and me.
There's so much more to write about them, but I've been so busy and now, this time change is making me exhausted (tonight). In addition, I always feel guilty writing about them here, and not on "the other" family blog. I know the Grandmas love to read about them. If you want to see the other blog, let me know.
What else... Uggh... One of our pumpklns just bit the dust....MWH and I just cleaned it up. This is a photo from last year when our pumpkin decomposed, but this is what just happened again to another pumpkin. We carved him just 72 hours ago. Kind of sad.
There's more to write... Hopefully, I'll get back in the swing of things again. Remind me I want to write about our school, and the lovely families we've met.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
don't want to write
The doctor called back about my blood work. I hadn't heard from her, and I was hoping no news was good news. It mostly was, but one of the next level antibody tests was significant. I'm not supposed to worry about it. In general, I'm not... Yes, I've googled a lot, but ... I'm not going to do what ifs...
This is a good reminder to just go with life. My friend had no warning. Just boom. Just because there's something "not right" doesn't mean it's going to be what "gets you." I googled enough to feel like I have a handle on stuff, and we'll just hope, as the doctor said, that significant blood tests without symptoms are like "chasing ghosts."
Now I can tell you more about my back and knee... except, I'm not in the mood. I <3 my PT. I had to see a different PT last week and she did something weird to me and my back hurt a lot. I got to see my regular PT today... She did stuff that made sense and I'm sore, but I don't think it's bad.
Okay... ending this post so I can stop thinking about things. I need to do a better job recording the cuteness of little girls. They make me smile. Smiling is important. Happiness is important. Deep breath and think about all the good stuff. In with the good and out with the bad. I need to get into a yoga class.
This is a good reminder to just go with life. My friend had no warning. Just boom. Just because there's something "not right" doesn't mean it's going to be what "gets you." I googled enough to feel like I have a handle on stuff, and we'll just hope, as the doctor said, that significant blood tests without symptoms are like "chasing ghosts."
Now I can tell you more about my back and knee... except, I'm not in the mood. I <3 my PT. I had to see a different PT last week and she did something weird to me and my back hurt a lot. I got to see my regular PT today... She did stuff that made sense and I'm sore, but I don't think it's bad.
Okay... ending this post so I can stop thinking about things. I need to do a better job recording the cuteness of little girls. They make me smile. Smiling is important. Happiness is important. Deep breath and think about all the good stuff. In with the good and out with the bad. I need to get into a yoga class.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
What's for dinner?
Yummy Indian! This isn't "home made" but all the packet is is spices. It's got some spices I've never heard of, e.g., ajowan seeds and anchur powder, and the spice mix made the best Indian I've ever cooked.
I will definitely order some! Thanks PS! It's always good to learn of another easy, yummy, healthy dinner!
I will definitely order some! Thanks PS! It's always good to learn of another easy, yummy, healthy dinner!
Back to my knee....
I've been analyzing my knee, 'cause that's what I do in my spare time, and I think I have about 3-4 things wrong with my knee, and that's why the pain is still there... tendonitis in the front, tendonitis in the back (popliteal), arthritis in the front, and then pain in my knee from my back--referred pain.
Despite how much is wrong, I do think my knee is getting better. It's VERY slow going, but it is feeling better. For example*, yesterday I was in a bounce house, bouncing, not jumping--shhhhh don't tell my physical therapist as she might not like knowing that--but despite my activity, my knee isn't too sore today.
Another example, at the beginning of September, I tried a bouncy thing and my knee HATED IT...Instantly it HATED IT, and complained about it for a week or so.
It's sore in the front today... arthritis or tendonitis? You vote. I'm thinking it might be the tendonitis.
*That's for you PS!
Despite how much is wrong, I do think my knee is getting better. It's VERY slow going, but it is feeling better. For example*, yesterday I was in a bounce house, bouncing, not jumping--shhhhh don't tell my physical therapist as she might not like knowing that--but despite my activity, my knee isn't too sore today.
Another example, at the beginning of September, I tried a bouncy thing and my knee HATED IT...Instantly it HATED IT, and complained about it for a week or so.
It's sore in the front today... arthritis or tendonitis? You vote. I'm thinking it might be the tendonitis.
*That's for you PS!
Friday, October 23, 2009
My friend
My friend had a stroke almost 2 years ago. She died a few days later. She never regained consciousness. She was young. She was 35. She had a little girl. The little girl was 3.
I am still sad.
My friend's husband just got remarried. I am happy for him, and I know he still misses her, but his life needs to go on.
I haven't seen him for a year and 1/2. I haven't seen her little girl for a year and 1/2. If my friend were here, we'd be discussing our experiences with our girls in kindergarten all the time. I always imagined that my friend and I would be talking about the girls and dating, the girls and applying to college, then weddings, and then of course, some day, grandbabies.
She's been gone for almost two years, and I no longer drink coffee. Life is different. I miss her.
I am still sad.
My friend's husband just got remarried. I am happy for him, and I know he still misses her, but his life needs to go on.
I haven't seen him for a year and 1/2. I haven't seen her little girl for a year and 1/2. If my friend were here, we'd be discussing our experiences with our girls in kindergarten all the time. I always imagined that my friend and I would be talking about the girls and dating, the girls and applying to college, then weddings, and then of course, some day, grandbabies.
She's been gone for almost two years, and I no longer drink coffee. Life is different. I miss her.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Fun at the doctor's office
I had my appointment with the rheumatologist today. She was a little baffled as to why I was in her office. She said, You had no symptoms to warrant the blood test for ANA. I explained my father's potential problems (lupus) and she still didn't think the blood test was warranted. I didn't ASK for the test, my doctor ordered it. I think my other doctor was being thorough. I'm sure my other doctor expected it would just be a quick blood test.
Them the rheumatologist and I discussed my past problem with TM, and she didn't think my TM was even real. Your symptoms were so mild, she said. True. But it was real. It was scary. I was TINGLY for 3 MONTHS. I forgot to tell her how EXHAUSTED I was during that time. I remember being so tired. But despite being tired, I was lucky. I didn't have a severe case. She checked the neurology department records and then she believed the TM was real. She doesn't think I have anything wrong with me. I hope she's right.
But, because the blood work showed high ANA levels she had to send me for more blood tests. I had 35.5 ml taken today. These were the vials before they were filled.
35.5 ml is a little over an ounce of blood. We're hoping that all of these follow up tests are a waste of time. We'll know more in about a week.
The best part of the appointment was probably the weigh-in before hand. Lowest weight on a doctor's scale since probably 1987-1990. I am back in high school/college* weight range.
Despite the doctor thinking I should NOT be taking up the appointment time in her office, she was very nice. We discussed kids. Her children went to the school where my oNe and twoK went to preschool and where Three-a still is. (Next year Three-a will go to the public school.) The doctor said I looked just like one of her good friends.
Did I tell you that former supervisor said I looked just like his ex-wife? It's kind of funny... When I went for my interview, I thought it went well, but it turns out, former supervisor was a little freaked 'cause I looked just like his ex-wife. Despite that, he hired me.
*I gained the freshman 15, but lost it by the time I was a sophomore... then I bounced around a little until I started dancing. I'm about at the weight I was when I graduated from college and that was a good weight!
Them the rheumatologist and I discussed my past problem with TM, and she didn't think my TM was even real. Your symptoms were so mild, she said. True. But it was real. It was scary. I was TINGLY for 3 MONTHS. I forgot to tell her how EXHAUSTED I was during that time. I remember being so tired. But despite being tired, I was lucky. I didn't have a severe case. She checked the neurology department records and then she believed the TM was real. She doesn't think I have anything wrong with me. I hope she's right.
But, because the blood work showed high ANA levels she had to send me for more blood tests. I had 35.5 ml taken today. These were the vials before they were filled.
35.5 ml is a little over an ounce of blood. We're hoping that all of these follow up tests are a waste of time. We'll know more in about a week.
The best part of the appointment was probably the weigh-in before hand. Lowest weight on a doctor's scale since probably 1987-1990. I am back in high school/college* weight range.
Despite the doctor thinking I should NOT be taking up the appointment time in her office, she was very nice. We discussed kids. Her children went to the school where my oNe and twoK went to preschool and where Three-a still is. (Next year Three-a will go to the public school.) The doctor said I looked just like one of her good friends.
Did I tell you that former supervisor said I looked just like his ex-wife? It's kind of funny... When I went for my interview, I thought it went well, but it turns out, former supervisor was a little freaked 'cause I looked just like his ex-wife. Despite that, he hired me.
*I gained the freshman 15, but lost it by the time I was a sophomore... then I bounced around a little until I started dancing. I'm about at the weight I was when I graduated from college and that was a good weight!
yum! The new rice burger version!
These are new. They are yum. In case you hadn't heard, there's a dark side to soy. Soy has been linked to malnutrition, thyroid problems, cognitive problems, cancer, and more negative health issues. I'll get into the negatives of soy later when I read more, but for now, these new vegan burgers are good to know about because they are tasty!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Kid stuff
New for kids! I just ordered it. I will get certified to teach Zumba and I will teach ZumbAtomic... Someday. As soon as there is a training in my area. As soon as I have time. Hopefully in the spring.
It RAINED today. Three trees fell down at oNe and twoK's school. Crazy. It doesn't usually rain this early where we live. The leaves were on the trees and I guess, the trees were TOO heavy with all the water. It looked so crazy at the school with all the fallen trees.
Three-a wants to go play in the rain with her rain boots and her Diego umbrella, but, I think it's cold.
Here's a milestone for you... I can now drop oNe off at Gymnastics, and leave her there. It's pretty cool. It doesn't mean I have more time to get stuff done, but I don't have to try to entertain the other two while over at the gymnastics place. I have to head back to pick her up in about 5 minutes. All I have had time to do is help twoK with something (she wanted me to print something for her) and stir my spaghetti sauce, and check in to FB and write this. I still have a HUGE amount to read tonight for work. Sigh.
Okay... All for now. I'll let you know about the Zumbatomic video when we get it!
It RAINED today. Three trees fell down at oNe and twoK's school. Crazy. It doesn't usually rain this early where we live. The leaves were on the trees and I guess, the trees were TOO heavy with all the water. It looked so crazy at the school with all the fallen trees.
Three-a wants to go play in the rain with her rain boots and her Diego umbrella, but, I think it's cold.
Here's a milestone for you... I can now drop oNe off at Gymnastics, and leave her there. It's pretty cool. It doesn't mean I have more time to get stuff done, but I don't have to try to entertain the other two while over at the gymnastics place. I have to head back to pick her up in about 5 minutes. All I have had time to do is help twoK with something (she wanted me to print something for her) and stir my spaghetti sauce, and check in to FB and write this. I still have a HUGE amount to read tonight for work. Sigh.
Okay... All for now. I'll let you know about the Zumbatomic video when we get it!
Monday, October 12, 2009
For when she's a teenager
Three-a told us that we (her parents) weren't old. That it would be a long time before we were old. We <3 that girl!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
11
MWH and I celebrated 11 years of wedded bliss. True bliss. On Friday, we sent the girls over to N3nny's house and we got to sleep in on Saturday. Ahhhhh! Then we went furniture shopping. I thought I had written about how we need to get new bedroom furniture for our room, but that SEARCH box up in the left-hand corner doesn't seem to be working. Argh. I can't find my posts with information about our need for furntiture. Google owns blogspot... You'd think they could make SEARCH work.
Anyway, we looked at some bedroom furniture, and we know what it will be hard to find what we want. We aren't typical. But! MWH took me to look at couches and we may have found new chairs for our kitchen table. And! The couch store was a store I didn't think I liked, but I like it! I do, I do!
For our day together, we also worked out, went to lunch at a yummy place with awesome salads, but we sat in a very echo-y room with kids*, then we looked for toys for the girls, had a slice of carrot cake at a bakery, and went to the grocery store. We're boring, but we are very happy. It was fun to do the "normal stuff" with just MWH. We missed the girls, but they are exhausting!
It was super fun to go browse in the toy store. So many good toys. As we browsed, we remembered we wanted some of these for the girls, but they were out at the toy store, so I came home and ordered them. The girls LOVE them and this toy 1) helps their fine motor skills, and keeps them quiet. Some would argue it helps their cognitive skills in that they have to match numbers to colors, but I'm not going that far. My favorite thing is how QUIET the girls are when they are engaged in making one of those. I think I'll make it my gift of choice for pre-kindergartners, kindergartners and first graders.
We got Three-a a jack-in-the-box because she says she really wants one. Who knows if a four-year-old really wants a jack-in-the-box or not, but I think they are cool too, so we got one!
I found out about OluKai flip-flops and will order either some of those or some Chacos for next summer. They have arch support.
Hrmmmm... I started talking about MWH and our anniversary and ended up on shoes. I think the commonality is I love both of them. (And, the toy store had the OluKai shoes.) It was super fun to get a day with MWH. I hope we can manage another date/day before the end of the year.
*We were sitting alone in this little back room and this family of four came in. A little boy, about 8, who managed to find the resonant frequency of the room. Argh. I tried not to look at them because I know I would have given dirty looks. Really, that room is echo-y and no one under the age of 16 should be allowed in it. Note to self, DO NOT TAKE THE GIRLS IN THAT ROOM.
Anyway, we looked at some bedroom furniture, and we know what it will be hard to find what we want. We aren't typical. But! MWH took me to look at couches and we may have found new chairs for our kitchen table. And! The couch store was a store I didn't think I liked, but I like it! I do, I do!
For our day together, we also worked out, went to lunch at a yummy place with awesome salads, but we sat in a very echo-y room with kids*, then we looked for toys for the girls, had a slice of carrot cake at a bakery, and went to the grocery store. We're boring, but we are very happy. It was fun to do the "normal stuff" with just MWH. We missed the girls, but they are exhausting!
It was super fun to go browse in the toy store. So many good toys. As we browsed, we remembered we wanted some of these for the girls, but they were out at the toy store, so I came home and ordered them. The girls LOVE them and this toy 1) helps their fine motor skills, and keeps them quiet. Some would argue it helps their cognitive skills in that they have to match numbers to colors, but I'm not going that far. My favorite thing is how QUIET the girls are when they are engaged in making one of those. I think I'll make it my gift of choice for pre-kindergartners, kindergartners and first graders.
We got Three-a a jack-in-the-box because she says she really wants one. Who knows if a four-year-old really wants a jack-in-the-box or not, but I think they are cool too, so we got one!
I found out about OluKai flip-flops and will order either some of those or some Chacos for next summer. They have arch support.
Hrmmmm... I started talking about MWH and our anniversary and ended up on shoes. I think the commonality is I love both of them. (And, the toy store had the OluKai shoes.) It was super fun to get a day with MWH. I hope we can manage another date/day before the end of the year.
*We were sitting alone in this little back room and this family of four came in. A little boy, about 8, who managed to find the resonant frequency of the room. Argh. I tried not to look at them because I know I would have given dirty looks. Really, that room is echo-y and no one under the age of 16 should be allowed in it. Note to self, DO NOT TAKE THE GIRLS IN THAT ROOM.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Cold update
I feel better. I am now coughing like crazy and hope I don't end up with bronchitis. I will rest and do all that I can to help my body recover. Goals for the day: to work for about 5 hours and to ride the exercise bike for 20 minutes.
so sweet
oNe's cat loves her. He really loves her. He's actually super great with all the girls. Here's a picture of oNe's cat letting Three-a hold him. Good cat! He likes it! He relaxes when they pick him up. He struggles a little when I try to hold him. I love that he loves kids so much.
Anyway, two things he did recently that make me realize how much he loves oNe. First, he was siting looking out the open door and sniffing the breeze. He heard oNe come home from school and he went racing down to see her. He LOVES the open door. He must LOVE oNe more. He was so excited she was home.
Second, the other night he jumped up to snuggle with oNe in her bed. As soon as he jumped up he started purring like you wouldn't believe. She is HIS girl. Awwww.
Anyway, two things he did recently that make me realize how much he loves oNe. First, he was siting looking out the open door and sniffing the breeze. He heard oNe come home from school and he went racing down to see her. He LOVES the open door. He must LOVE oNe more. He was so excited she was home.
Second, the other night he jumped up to snuggle with oNe in her bed. As soon as he jumped up he started purring like you wouldn't believe. She is HIS girl. Awwww.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
sick
I don't wanna be sick. I am though. I am coughing and I am very tired. I should take a little rest before I do a phone call at 3. Thank goodness for being able to work at home.
thick and fuzzy
That's how I would describe my head. I got a cold. I thought it was going to be mild and gone within a couple of days, but I feel awful. I'm coughing and have a horrible sinus headache.
I wanna be well tomorrow. I don't know if I will.
This weekend, MWH and I celebrating our 11th anniversary. We are planning to have a date and a night to ourselves. It'll be a bummer if he gets sick. Send his immune system good thoughts.
I wanna be well tomorrow. I don't know if I will.
This weekend, MWH and I celebrating our 11th anniversary. We are planning to have a date and a night to ourselves. It'll be a bummer if he gets sick. Send his immune system good thoughts.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Bike Riders
Today, I saw the cutest couple... They were probably 70+ and were all suited up for their bike ride. They were wearing bike shoes, bike pants, and even little rear view mirrors on their glasses. They looked like they were in very good shape. I hope MWH and I can do things like that when we're 70+.
(Errr...On second thought, maybe, we'll have bikes that are hooked to energy generators and we'll power our house. I don't really like riding outside.)
(Errr...On second thought, maybe, we'll have bikes that are hooked to energy generators and we'll power our house. I don't really like riding outside.)
Monday, October 05, 2009
Short One
All I am doing here is documenting a little of the last week. I'm kind of overwhelmed by all that I should be doing for work, and all I have failed to write about for home, so in an effort to get started, I will do a short blog post.
1. I made Hummus this weekend! Super yum and super easy. I made this one. I can't believe I haven't made hummus before. Next time, I'll try this!
2. twoK lost a tooth on Saturday. It was her third one. She pulled it out when it wasn't very wiggly, and it bled quite a bit. Again, this is documentation of oNe and twoK being OPPOSITES. oNe's teeth are practically rotting in her head before they come out. There was lots of root left on twoK's tooth. There is NO root ever left on oNe's. twoK and oNe set the points on the spectrum.
3. I have a slight cold. I think Three-a gave it to me. She got sick on Friday and is now seemingly all better. I got a touch of something on Saturday, sore throat on Sunday and a little sinus-sniffles today. It's not that bad as far as colds go, but I am sleepy.
4. I found out that we're going to work on a project idea again. It wasn't funded, so we'll revise it and submit somewhere else. It ranked in the top 18%, but we think they only funded top 10%. It's the story of my life. Revise and resubmit.
5. And then there's another one that is undergoing the same treatment. The one we love. We are making progress on revising it and I think it will be better this time. However, this is the last time we will do this idea. If we don't get funding this time, it's over. (We were working within the constraints of another project and that project will end, and thus our opportunity for this new research will end. More on this is documented in my work life.)
6. I got good news/bad news from the doctor on my blood tests. (Did them last Sunday.) My cholesterol rocks, but the test for antibodies that indicate autoimmune activity are significant. Bleh. I've written about a previous experience I had in 1997 if you follow this link. I don't know if the indicators are indicative of that experience, a new one, or related to my Dad maybe having Lupus. I don't know if I have a history of lupus or not.
I just searched my blog and I can't find where I ever about my Dad and his potential lupus diagnosis. The short story. When my dad was so sick, they found that he had pulmonary fibrosis (or scarring on his lungs). They didn't get to fully understand the cause for the scarring, but the first look at it indicated that he his scarring was probably from either scleroderma or lupus. I guess, from what little I've read, there's an overlap between lupus and many other disorders including scleroderma.
My Dad's pulmonary fibrosis was pretty significant, but we don't know when it started or why. When I mentioned to my doctor that my Dad might have had lupus, she wanted to run a blood test on me to see if I had any thing going on. I'd forgotten about that. When I went to get my blood taken last week, mostly to see how my cholesterol was, they ran the test. On Friday night, my doctor called to tell me that the results from the "first lupus screening" came back as positive and I needed to follow up with a specialist (a rheumatologist if you're interested in details). Ugh.
I probably should go call and make an appointment with the rheumatologist. New theme for the blog.... All I learn from the rheumatologist.
7. I made this soup last night. The ingredients sound a little odd, and that they might not combine well, but they do! Oh my! This is good. I've been fantasizing about eating this soup all day. We have leftovers. Yum!
And now for a bloggy ad for the blog of a new blogosphere friend who posted that recipe. She has a wonderful blog on health and happiness. Go read her!
1. I made Hummus this weekend! Super yum and super easy. I made this one. I can't believe I haven't made hummus before. Next time, I'll try this!
2. twoK lost a tooth on Saturday. It was her third one. She pulled it out when it wasn't very wiggly, and it bled quite a bit. Again, this is documentation of oNe and twoK being OPPOSITES. oNe's teeth are practically rotting in her head before they come out. There was lots of root left on twoK's tooth. There is NO root ever left on oNe's. twoK and oNe set the points on the spectrum.
3. I have a slight cold. I think Three-a gave it to me. She got sick on Friday and is now seemingly all better. I got a touch of something on Saturday, sore throat on Sunday and a little sinus-sniffles today. It's not that bad as far as colds go, but I am sleepy.
4. I found out that we're going to work on a project idea again. It wasn't funded, so we'll revise it and submit somewhere else. It ranked in the top 18%, but we think they only funded top 10%. It's the story of my life. Revise and resubmit.
5. And then there's another one that is undergoing the same treatment. The one we love. We are making progress on revising it and I think it will be better this time. However, this is the last time we will do this idea. If we don't get funding this time, it's over. (We were working within the constraints of another project and that project will end, and thus our opportunity for this new research will end. More on this is documented in my work life.)
6. I got good news/bad news from the doctor on my blood tests. (Did them last Sunday.) My cholesterol rocks, but the test for antibodies that indicate autoimmune activity are significant. Bleh. I've written about a previous experience I had in 1997 if you follow this link. I don't know if the indicators are indicative of that experience, a new one, or related to my Dad maybe having Lupus. I don't know if I have a history of lupus or not.
I just searched my blog and I can't find where I ever about my Dad and his potential lupus diagnosis. The short story. When my dad was so sick, they found that he had pulmonary fibrosis (or scarring on his lungs). They didn't get to fully understand the cause for the scarring, but the first look at it indicated that he his scarring was probably from either scleroderma or lupus. I guess, from what little I've read, there's an overlap between lupus and many other disorders including scleroderma.
My Dad's pulmonary fibrosis was pretty significant, but we don't know when it started or why. When I mentioned to my doctor that my Dad might have had lupus, she wanted to run a blood test on me to see if I had any thing going on. I'd forgotten about that. When I went to get my blood taken last week, mostly to see how my cholesterol was, they ran the test. On Friday night, my doctor called to tell me that the results from the "first lupus screening" came back as positive and I needed to follow up with a specialist (a rheumatologist if you're interested in details). Ugh.
I probably should go call and make an appointment with the rheumatologist. New theme for the blog.... All I learn from the rheumatologist.
7. I made this soup last night. The ingredients sound a little odd, and that they might not combine well, but they do! Oh my! This is good. I've been fantasizing about eating this soup all day. We have leftovers. Yum!
And now for a bloggy ad for the blog of a new blogosphere friend who posted that recipe. She has a wonderful blog on health and happiness. Go read her!
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Sleep
I had to get up very early (6:30 am) and go to work. This is an hour earlier than I ever get up, and boy did it get to me! All day long I was tired and confused about whether I was hungry or not. I had trouble doing everything and just wanted to go to sleep. I snacked on a lot of "bad" foods because my ability to control myself seemed to be gone. Sleep is important. I can't wait to go to sleep tonight! ZZZZZzzzzz.
agoneeeeezing
Did you get the pun? What if I said, agokneeeeezing?
I haven't been posting lately because 1) Mom visiting and 2) all I would discuss is my knee. Here's a short update on my knee.
I went to the doctor last Wednesday. After a very cursory exam, the doctor scolded me for googling, told me there was no way the numbness was from my knee, that it was from my back, and then she handed me an order for an MRI on my knee. After agokneeeeezing, I think I've decided I don't (k)need the MRI on my knee. I think my knee is getting better; I have some tendonitis to deal with, resting it will help, but we know how hard it is for me to NOT work out. I also have to continue strengthening the muscles around my knee. I do think it is getting better.
Now, I am seeing the PT for my back, and I'll write about the back later.
Quick update on my Mom's visit....Actually, no, I'll do this later.
She's fine, and the visit is as I expected, but some stuff happened back where she lives (her house was broken into) and it's awful and frustrating. I'll write about that later.
Now, back to work for me.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
n+1
My Mom is visiting and I'm feeling a bit over extended. I wrote about my parents here. My Mom is now 3-years older, 3-years slower, and 3-years more forgetful. All things considered, she's okay at 84. The osteoporosis is very bad, but she is in a good frame of mind now. Considering it's only been since January when she lost Dad, I think she's doing really great emotionally.
Anyway, there's more to write about, but I have to get some work done now. Here are some potential things I could discuss:
Our flight back
My knee (I think getting better!)
Recovery times
My back (now in PT for it)
Breastfeeding--not me this time Go read this blog post and weigh in if you like.
Second grade
Kindergarten the second time around... and the great parents in the class!
How Three-a crashed a party
twoK's latest fashion crisis
Vampires (more on this soon--really!)
Anyway, there's more to write about, but I have to get some work done now. Here are some potential things I could discuss:
Our flight back
My knee (I think getting better!)
Recovery times
My back (now in PT for it)
Breastfeeding--not me this time Go read this blog post and weigh in if you like.
Second grade
Kindergarten the second time around... and the great parents in the class!
How Three-a crashed a party
twoK's latest fashion crisis
Vampires (more on this soon--really!)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
seeing pinwheels and zig zags
If you thought, as you read the blitle, it sounds like she had an aura, you'd be right. It lasted 20 minutes and wasn't too bad. I could mostly see through it. I took ibuprofen and am hoping for the best--no headache. We fly home today. I am going to go take a quick ride on the exercise bike to to some stress relief and therapy for my knee before we leave. I think exercise helps me feel better. Go endorphins.
I think, stress and dehydration are my triggers. Last night, before I went to bed, I thought, I hope I don't get a headache, I didn't drink very much water today. I should have probably gone and drank a big glass. Oh well. I haven't had an aura since end of January, I think. Go Co-Q10.
Stressors this week:
Work
Traveling
Being away from MWH!
Being away from twoK and Three-a
Being with my Mom (love her, but it is a stress!)
The numbness in my leg (I'll tell you about that later)
Flying home and landing at 11 pm. Having to drive myself, my Mom and oNe home at that hour when we're used to being fast asleep at that time.
Okay...lalalalala... trying to put myself in a happy place.
I think, stress and dehydration are my triggers. Last night, before I went to bed, I thought, I hope I don't get a headache, I didn't drink very much water today. I should have probably gone and drank a big glass. Oh well. I haven't had an aura since end of January, I think. Go Co-Q10.
Stressors this week:
Work
Traveling
Being away from MWH!
Being away from twoK and Three-a
Being with my Mom (love her, but it is a stress!)
The numbness in my leg (I'll tell you about that later)
Flying home and landing at 11 pm. Having to drive myself, my Mom and oNe home at that hour when we're used to being fast asleep at that time.
Okay...lalalalala... trying to put myself in a happy place.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
updates
(Written 9/18, but posted 9/20)
1. Crazy week. It was a four-day week for oNe and twoK as there was a teacher learning day. Having to get homework done in 4 days instead of 5 was a challenge. Now oNe and I are on the way to visit my Mom and fly my Mom back with us for a couple of weeks.
1. Crazy week. It was a four-day week for oNe and twoK as there was a teacher learning day. Having to get homework done in 4 days instead of 5 was a challenge. Now oNe and I are on the way to visit my Mom and fly my Mom back with us for a couple of weeks.
Of course, I planned this trip in July, and now, while Mom is visiting, I'll be working on a big, new thing. Besides the big new thing, we're also trying to finish up some interviews and ARGH! Busy! When I didn't want to be! Story of my life. I do think, in general, it's getting a little more under control, but it's frustrating to be busy when Mom is visiting.
2. I miss MWH, twoK, and Three-a already. The next trip to visit my Mom will bring EVERYONE I hope. I don't like being away from the fam!
3. I've been stressed this week (see #1) and that was reflected as I stood on the scale this morning. It was 1.5 pounds lower than the day before, and probably the lowest I've seen since 1991. Seriously. I don't think the 1.5 pound "loss" was real this morning, I think I was stressed and forgot to eat, but it was fun to see. I think I've really lost about 2 pounds (not including the 1.5 that was not really a loss) since January (remember, I'm the world's SLOWEST loser). When I finally get a regular strength building program going (aka lifting weights) I expect, I'll gain a pound or two, but it will be okay. It will be MUSCLE! I'll be strong. At the gym, they have replica of what 5 pounds of fat versus 5 pounds of muscle looks like. It's pretty amazing. Oh, here's a picture of the replica I found on the web.
Fat takes up more space than muscle.
4. Got the Vita-Mix! Last night, I mixed,
1 Kiwi
~4 oz of Spinach
~1/2 cup pomegranate juice
a handful of frozen strawberries (all we had)
a handful of frozen peaches (all we had)
a little apple juice to make it less thick
a banana
and the Acai (one frozen packet)
MWH and I split it. It was super yum. Next time, I'll throw in grapes and an apple and maybe I'll get brave and try blending kale.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
not just knees
Today, my PT figured out what is the other thing wrong with my right knee. I thought it was my hamstrings because it hurt in the back of my knee. It turns out, it's probably my popliteus muscle and the tendon attached to it.
One web page tells me
When I do the "figure 4" position, I feel that I definitely have some tendinitis.
It seems that this issue could be related to my patellofemoral problems.
What else? oNe started gymnastics today. On Friday, oNe and I go to visit my Mom and bring her back for a visit. Both oNe and my Mom are so excited. I am a little stressed. Bleh. I wish I didn't feel stressed about work. I guess, that's sort of par for the course. Look for big changes in my work within the next 5 years! Seriously, nothing like planning ahead, eh? I'll fill you in about that later.
In other news, our Vita Mix arrived! I can't wait to try it out. Thursday morning, me and it!
One web page tells me
Seated ‘figure 4’ (foot resting across opposite knee) positions will highlight the popliteus that has a tendinitis, but not necessary be positive in a muscle that is suffering increased tone.
When I do the "figure 4" position, I feel that I definitely have some tendinitis.
It seems that this issue could be related to my patellofemoral problems.
What else? oNe started gymnastics today. On Friday, oNe and I go to visit my Mom and bring her back for a visit. Both oNe and my Mom are so excited. I am a little stressed. Bleh. I wish I didn't feel stressed about work. I guess, that's sort of par for the course. Look for big changes in my work within the next 5 years! Seriously, nothing like planning ahead, eh? I'll fill you in about that later.
In other news, our Vita Mix arrived! I can't wait to try it out. Thursday morning, me and it!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Things
1. The girls were really fabulous yesterday (Saturday). I took them to Target and they were so good. We went to a birthday party and again, good. Super fun day with them. We had lunch at our favorite place too.
2. The knees hurt less Saturday than riday. I am pretty sure I have an issue with my right hamstring still.
3. I have about 4 hours of work to do. Ugh. MWH's brother is visiting and I've been busy with cleaning/cooking/hanging.
4. But then, Saturday night, my knee hurt quite a bit in the middle of the night. I woke up because of our cat and needing to go the bathroom. When I got back in bed, my knee was causing me pain. It wasn't bad enough pain to wake me, but once I was awake, I noticed it. I debated about taking an ibuprofen, but that involved getting out of bed, and I don't like to take ibuprofen. I haven't taken more than one or two since March.
I did a lot of stretching and more exercises for my knee... and I played at the birthday party on bouncy mats. It was probably self-inflicted, but it still hurts and if it's made progress on healing, it hasn't made much progress. It's looking better according to the PT, but maybe now is when the clock starts for healing... Now that it's finally in a better position?
Yesterday, it hurt less and I felt good about it, and today it hurts worse and I worry, but maybe it's just the stuff I did yesterday? If I'd just sat around yesterday, I'd probably be MORE worried. I think there is pain involved in healing. What I just don't know is if it's getting worse or just normal pain from using it. Obviously, I don't want pain when I use it, but maybe it's just too soon to not have pain when I use it? Sigh. I go back to the doctor in a week and 1/2. We'll see what happens between now and then.
5. We'll go play at the park with the girls later. I'll try to take it a little easy.
2. The knees hurt less Saturday than riday. I am pretty sure I have an issue with my right hamstring still.
3. I have about 4 hours of work to do. Ugh. MWH's brother is visiting and I've been busy with cleaning/cooking/hanging.
4. But then, Saturday night, my knee hurt quite a bit in the middle of the night. I woke up because of our cat and needing to go the bathroom. When I got back in bed, my knee was causing me pain. It wasn't bad enough pain to wake me, but once I was awake, I noticed it. I debated about taking an ibuprofen, but that involved getting out of bed, and I don't like to take ibuprofen. I haven't taken more than one or two since March.
I did a lot of stretching and more exercises for my knee... and I played at the birthday party on bouncy mats. It was probably self-inflicted, but it still hurts and if it's made progress on healing, it hasn't made much progress. It's looking better according to the PT, but maybe now is when the clock starts for healing... Now that it's finally in a better position?
Yesterday, it hurt less and I felt good about it, and today it hurts worse and I worry, but maybe it's just the stuff I did yesterday? If I'd just sat around yesterday, I'd probably be MORE worried. I think there is pain involved in healing. What I just don't know is if it's getting worse or just normal pain from using it. Obviously, I don't want pain when I use it, but maybe it's just too soon to not have pain when I use it? Sigh. I go back to the doctor in a week and 1/2. We'll see what happens between now and then.
5. We'll go play at the park with the girls later. I'll try to take it a little easy.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Worst Case Scenario
I think it's EASY to immediately go to horrible scenarios... My knee, it hurts. I probably did too much in Zumba yesterday. I think there are still issues to fix. This morning, I was kind of worried and started wondering if I should stop going to Zumba and do other things. I decided, in a sad and hasty way, that my knee would NEVER be better. In a more logical frame of mind, I don't think I should give up so easily, and I do think my knee will heal more.
In the grand scheme, something that's hard to remember, I've only been in PT for 4 weeks. The doctor thought I should take 4 weeks off of Zumba and get all healed. The PT folks thought I should keep the strength up and do light Zumba after 2 weeks of rest. Doing light Zumba didn't hurt too much, but it hurt a little. I do think my knee is making progress in the grand scheme. It hurt a little after Tuesday, but it felt pretty good on Wednesday. Now, it hurts more today after the more bouncy, intense Zumba I did yesterday. I have to keep in mind that it was the first heavy Zumba I've done in about 6-8 weeks. I am weak still.
If I think back, I think my knee is a little less sore than it was when it first got hurt. I don't think we've quite addressed all the issues and I think I might need to take Zumba a little lower for a few classes and work up a little more. We'll see how quickly the pain from yesterday's class subsides. I'm icing now to reduce inflammation. If my knee feels NORMAL tomorrow, this is really good. If it hurts but less than today, it is still really good. If it hurts worse tomorrow, then, that's not good, but I'll cross that bridge if it shows up tomorrow.
Healing takes a long time. A lot longer than doctors say. I need to be more patient (pun intended) and keep working to build strength and not freak out.
(updated to add: Today, I took pictures pointing to where it hurts. It doesn't HURT hurt, it feels "hot" inside. I've been trying to think of how to describe it and hot and a little "intense" is how I can best describe it. Yesterday, I asked her if she thought it was my meniscus and she said, no, it would hurt "HERE." Today, it is hurting where she pointed, but I don't know if that's because I am very suggestible or if it truly hurt there. I don't remember it hurting "there" on a sustained basis before. I am very suggestible.)
In the grand scheme, something that's hard to remember, I've only been in PT for 4 weeks. The doctor thought I should take 4 weeks off of Zumba and get all healed. The PT folks thought I should keep the strength up and do light Zumba after 2 weeks of rest. Doing light Zumba didn't hurt too much, but it hurt a little. I do think my knee is making progress in the grand scheme. It hurt a little after Tuesday, but it felt pretty good on Wednesday. Now, it hurts more today after the more bouncy, intense Zumba I did yesterday. I have to keep in mind that it was the first heavy Zumba I've done in about 6-8 weeks. I am weak still.
If I think back, I think my knee is a little less sore than it was when it first got hurt. I don't think we've quite addressed all the issues and I think I might need to take Zumba a little lower for a few classes and work up a little more. We'll see how quickly the pain from yesterday's class subsides. I'm icing now to reduce inflammation. If my knee feels NORMAL tomorrow, this is really good. If it hurts but less than today, it is still really good. If it hurts worse tomorrow, then, that's not good, but I'll cross that bridge if it shows up tomorrow.
Healing takes a long time. A lot longer than doctors say. I need to be more patient (pun intended) and keep working to build strength and not freak out.
(updated to add: Today, I took pictures pointing to where it hurts. It doesn't HURT hurt, it feels "hot" inside. I've been trying to think of how to describe it and hot and a little "intense" is how I can best describe it. Yesterday, I asked her if she thought it was my meniscus and she said, no, it would hurt "HERE." Today, it is hurting where she pointed, but I don't know if that's because I am very suggestible or if it truly hurt there. I don't remember it hurting "there" on a sustained basis before. I am very suggestible.)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
5:00
It's 5 pm and I'm just getting to work. I'm doing some work at home. I have to work 10 hours in the next 2 days. It's do-able, but I just need to start. I'll get 6 hours of time tomorrow before 1 pm... I'll probably get 2-3 hours tonight, and then 6 hours and I can do one more later tomorrow night. Okay. Aren't you glad I shared?
Today was extra busy because Three-a had her four-year-old check up. We got really sad news. Our pediatrician is leaving the practice. We are happy for her because she'll get to spend more time with her kids, but sad for us because we're losing a WONDERFUL doctor. I almost cried when I heard the news. Seriously. Now we have to find a new pediatrician. Sigh.
Three-a is 40 pounds and 41 inches tall. I think she's super smart, and she makes people laugh all the time. She got two shots today (polio and MMR). The doctor said she looks great. She has my ligaments.... VERY LOOSE ligaments. Her feet toe in a little, and the doctor thinks the right one is fine, but we might as well get the left one checked out as it turns in a little more readily. My best guess is that the specialist will ask her to wear "good" shoes with lots of support.
We bought her proper shoes last winter but she didn't like wearing them that much because they were slightly big. Now they fit, and I'm just going to have to require her to wear them. It's hard for me to make her wear "shoes" in the summer and not crocs because I just want to wear crocs, but crocs are bad for my feet/legs and I'm guessing since her legs are so similar to mine and her ligaments are loose, they aren't the best for her.
As much as I love crocs, I think their era may be over in our house. I think twoK can wear them some, but oNe and Three-a probably shouldn't. I'll have to watch MWH's feet too. I must give them up.
Okay, so besides the doctor's appointment, this morning was busy because, I hung with the girls. I do ALL the mommy-stuff on Thursday mornings (and Monday mornings). I take oNe to school, then come home and get twoK ready (MWH helps), and then today Three-a and I went to her doctor's appointment. Normally, she and I will get a little quality mommy and T time afer we drop twoK off, but as mentioned above, today was the doctor.
At noon, n3nny took over with Three-a and they ran some errands and I went to Zumba! I got to do it "full-on" today. I jumped very lightly. (Actually, on two songs that are tough on the knees, I took it easy, but 50 minutes of "full-on" is more than I've done in 5 weeks!)
So far, so good with my knee. After Zumba, I went to PT. The PT said it felt a teeny-eeny bit swollen, but that the kneecap is in much better position and is "gliding" better. It feels "better," but not all the way better. I am hopeful that I have learned some new strengthening exercises to help. (Four weeks ago, she had me work on loosening my IT band, and strengthen my VMO and hamstrings. Now, the last session and today, she's starting to help me build up my hip strength.)
Now I'm home and should be working, but here I am blogging. MUST GO WORK. I have 45 minutes left.
Hope you're having a great day! Zumba love to you all! (Zumba really gets the endorphins going!)
Today was extra busy because Three-a had her four-year-old check up. We got really sad news. Our pediatrician is leaving the practice. We are happy for her because she'll get to spend more time with her kids, but sad for us because we're losing a WONDERFUL doctor. I almost cried when I heard the news. Seriously. Now we have to find a new pediatrician. Sigh.
Three-a is 40 pounds and 41 inches tall. I think she's super smart, and she makes people laugh all the time. She got two shots today (polio and MMR). The doctor said she looks great. She has my ligaments.... VERY LOOSE ligaments. Her feet toe in a little, and the doctor thinks the right one is fine, but we might as well get the left one checked out as it turns in a little more readily. My best guess is that the specialist will ask her to wear "good" shoes with lots of support.
We bought her proper shoes last winter but she didn't like wearing them that much because they were slightly big. Now they fit, and I'm just going to have to require her to wear them. It's hard for me to make her wear "shoes" in the summer and not crocs because I just want to wear crocs, but crocs are bad for my feet/legs and I'm guessing since her legs are so similar to mine and her ligaments are loose, they aren't the best for her.
As much as I love crocs, I think their era may be over in our house. I think twoK can wear them some, but oNe and Three-a probably shouldn't. I'll have to watch MWH's feet too. I must give them up.
Okay, so besides the doctor's appointment, this morning was busy because, I hung with the girls. I do ALL the mommy-stuff on Thursday mornings (and Monday mornings). I take oNe to school, then come home and get twoK ready (MWH helps), and then today Three-a and I went to her doctor's appointment. Normally, she and I will get a little quality mommy and T time afer we drop twoK off, but as mentioned above, today was the doctor.
At noon, n3nny took over with Three-a and they ran some errands and I went to Zumba! I got to do it "full-on" today. I jumped very lightly. (Actually, on two songs that are tough on the knees, I took it easy, but 50 minutes of "full-on" is more than I've done in 5 weeks!)
So far, so good with my knee. After Zumba, I went to PT. The PT said it felt a teeny-eeny bit swollen, but that the kneecap is in much better position and is "gliding" better. It feels "better," but not all the way better. I am hopeful that I have learned some new strengthening exercises to help. (Four weeks ago, she had me work on loosening my IT band, and strengthen my VMO and hamstrings. Now, the last session and today, she's starting to help me build up my hip strength.)
Now I'm home and should be working, but here I am blogging. MUST GO WORK. I have 45 minutes left.
Hope you're having a great day! Zumba love to you all! (Zumba really gets the endorphins going!)
Got an email
Asking me what my favorite "boy names" are....
If we'd have had a boy, we probably would have named him after MWH and would have called him either "Cole" or "Niko" to prevent confusion between the names being the same.
We probably would have used my father's first name and MWH's dad's middle name (Joseph) as the middle name for a little male baby. We used the feminine version of my father's first name and MWH's dad's middle name for Three-a's middle name.
We never finalized "boy names" because each time, we knew we were having a girl by the ultrasound around 15-18 weeks. (With oNe, we were only 80% sure she was a girl, because her legs were crossed.)
You didn't ask, but there you go.
If we'd have had a boy, we probably would have named him after MWH and would have called him either "Cole" or "Niko" to prevent confusion between the names being the same.
We probably would have used my father's first name and MWH's dad's middle name (Joseph) as the middle name for a little male baby. We used the feminine version of my father's first name and MWH's dad's middle name for Three-a's middle name.
We never finalized "boy names" because each time, we knew we were having a girl by the ultrasound around 15-18 weeks. (With oNe, we were only 80% sure she was a girl, because her legs were crossed.)
You didn't ask, but there you go.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Green / Goals
I was taking a look at my 2009 goals the other day.... I know, I know, I had too many. Here's an update on one of them.
5. Work on being more green. (Yea, I use re-usable shopping bags, SIGG bottles (so I don't have to use plastic water bottles), a re-usable coffee cup, and do some other things (I should do a post about this) but I know I can do more. I need to think more about this. If you've made decisions about how to be more "green" what are they? Please post a comment if you have ideas!
(MWH tells me he can't believe with how "green" I am that I forget to turn off the lights all the time... I am embarrassed about this... Sigh. We have lights on timers and on motion detectors, so that helps, but still I should be more responsible--especially where we don't have times/detectors!)
First, in case you didn't know, SIGG is taking exchanges on bottles. I was VERY upset when I learned about this. They have BPA in the lining of older water bottles. They say their bottles don't leach BPA into the water, but heck, for the longest time they wouldn't admit they had BPA in their bottles, so I'm not convinced. (You can read more about the SIGG bottles here.)
I took my bottles back and our Whole Foods was nice enough to give a store credit for 7 Sigg water bottles. I bought 3 plain Stainless Steel water bottles. I'm just a little too upset about the SIGG thing to buy another SIGG bottle. We'll see if they can re-gain my trust.
Okay, now the new idea.
I eat a lot of pre-cooked frozen brown rice. It comes in a plastic bag. If I make my OWN rice, I'll be cutting down on packaging and plastic, and saving money to boot. You can buy a LOT more uncooked rice in a plastic bag than cooked rice. This is my new goal...dig out my rice steamer and start steaming my own brown rice. I'll try freezing some too and see if that works for emergencies. A little google search told me you can do it and that it tastes good.
I'm still thinking about other green things. I'd like to figure out how to not have to use the plastic containers at work. They say they are compostable, but work doesn't having composting... (Or maybe they do... Must look into that.) Someday, I'd like to start composting at home, but I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet. The girls are still little. Maybe next year.
5. Work on being more green. (Yea, I use re-usable shopping bags, SIGG bottles (so I don't have to use plastic water bottles), a re-usable coffee cup, and do some other things (I should do a post about this) but I know I can do more. I need to think more about this. If you've made decisions about how to be more "green" what are they? Please post a comment if you have ideas!
(MWH tells me he can't believe with how "green" I am that I forget to turn off the lights all the time... I am embarrassed about this... Sigh. We have lights on timers and on motion detectors, so that helps, but still I should be more responsible--especially where we don't have times/detectors!)
First, in case you didn't know, SIGG is taking exchanges on bottles. I was VERY upset when I learned about this. They have BPA in the lining of older water bottles. They say their bottles don't leach BPA into the water, but heck, for the longest time they wouldn't admit they had BPA in their bottles, so I'm not convinced. (You can read more about the SIGG bottles here.)
I took my bottles back and our Whole Foods was nice enough to give a store credit for 7 Sigg water bottles. I bought 3 plain Stainless Steel water bottles. I'm just a little too upset about the SIGG thing to buy another SIGG bottle. We'll see if they can re-gain my trust.
Okay, now the new idea.
I eat a lot of pre-cooked frozen brown rice. It comes in a plastic bag. If I make my OWN rice, I'll be cutting down on packaging and plastic, and saving money to boot. You can buy a LOT more uncooked rice in a plastic bag than cooked rice. This is my new goal...dig out my rice steamer and start steaming my own brown rice. I'll try freezing some too and see if that works for emergencies. A little google search told me you can do it and that it tastes good.
I'm still thinking about other green things. I'd like to figure out how to not have to use the plastic containers at work. They say they are compostable, but work doesn't having composting... (Or maybe they do... Must look into that.) Someday, I'd like to start composting at home, but I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet. The girls are still little. Maybe next year.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Really?
When you order shoes from Zappos, they ask if you want to post it to your status in Facebook. Heh.... I'll share that I order shoes here, but not in Facebook. Different audiences, different audiences! I have quite a few of my professional colleagues in Facebook. I like them a lot. Some, I like so much that they come here too. But not all of them. Not all of them would care that I just ordered some new shoes.
If you care, I got both of the pairs of shoes I linked to in this post. I rarely shop so much, but I got them for my knees and my knees are worth it. I want to keep using them for jumping and dancing for a long time! I think better shoes will help. I think I have to go shopping for new Zumba shoes too.
If you care, I got both of the pairs of shoes I linked to in this post. I rarely shop so much, but I got them for my knees and my knees are worth it. I want to keep using them for jumping and dancing for a long time! I think better shoes will help. I think I have to go shopping for new Zumba shoes too.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Blend!
Spinach
+
Watermelon and ice
=
Simple, light, frothy, delicious, nutritious, and perfect for a summer morning
I just ordered a new Vita-Mix Blender. I am very excited. I have been blending all sorts of stuff in my very cheap Osterizer blender. I've had it for about four years. We use it pretty much every other day. I put whole fruit, frozen fruit, and ice in it all the time. It takes a while, and the poor motor! You can hear it strain, and sometimes you can smell it. I've been waiting for it to blow out (or up!), but thankfully it hasn't. It's hard to clean and it leaks. I think it's earned a rest. I can't wait for the new Vita-Mix!
Before the current Osterizer, we had another blender from the 1960s. It had belonged to MWH's Mom. It also blended lots of frozen fruit and made smoothies for me. (Really amazing considering it was 30 years old, and not designed for such tasks!) It was the blender I used when I was pregnant with oNe and was making a fruit smoothie every morning*. I used yogurt, berries, peaches, bananas, and a little fruit juice. It wasn't until about 2 years ago that I started adding veggies to the smoothies.
One tip on the watermelon drink, use seedless watermelon. I usually make it with seedless, but on the day I took these pictures, I made it with seeded watermelon ('cause that's what I had).
Since, I knew it was okay to eat watermelon seeds, I just blended the watermelon without removing the seeds. Big mistake! The watermelon seeds added a very sand-like quality to the drink. Ugh! I ended up having to strain the little bits out. I won't do that again! Seedless, with the little white seeds is fine! Those seeds aren't gritty.
*Someone should explain to me why I was the one who was getting up to make the fruit smoothies when I was pregnant while MWH stayed in bed. Hrm. Seems wrong, doesn't it?
+
Watermelon and ice
=
Simple, light, frothy, delicious, nutritious, and perfect for a summer morning
I just ordered a new Vita-Mix Blender. I am very excited. I have been blending all sorts of stuff in my very cheap Osterizer blender. I've had it for about four years. We use it pretty much every other day. I put whole fruit, frozen fruit, and ice in it all the time. It takes a while, and the poor motor! You can hear it strain, and sometimes you can smell it. I've been waiting for it to blow out (or up!), but thankfully it hasn't. It's hard to clean and it leaks. I think it's earned a rest. I can't wait for the new Vita-Mix!
Before the current Osterizer, we had another blender from the 1960s. It had belonged to MWH's Mom. It also blended lots of frozen fruit and made smoothies for me. (Really amazing considering it was 30 years old, and not designed for such tasks!) It was the blender I used when I was pregnant with oNe and was making a fruit smoothie every morning*. I used yogurt, berries, peaches, bananas, and a little fruit juice. It wasn't until about 2 years ago that I started adding veggies to the smoothies.
One tip on the watermelon drink, use seedless watermelon. I usually make it with seedless, but on the day I took these pictures, I made it with seeded watermelon ('cause that's what I had).
Since, I knew it was okay to eat watermelon seeds, I just blended the watermelon without removing the seeds. Big mistake! The watermelon seeds added a very sand-like quality to the drink. Ugh! I ended up having to strain the little bits out. I won't do that again! Seedless, with the little white seeds is fine! Those seeds aren't gritty.
*Someone should explain to me why I was the one who was getting up to make the fruit smoothies when I was pregnant while MWH stayed in bed. Hrm. Seems wrong, doesn't it?
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Is it wrong?
Is it wrong that, from a mysterious status update in Facebook, I hope a friend (recently divorced, but with a guy she thinks is "Mr. Right") is pregnant?
I have NO idea if she is or not, but her status update was, um, questionable. Since this blog is my anonymous venue, I ask, is it wrong that I hope she is? She LOVES kids. She wants them (someday). She'll be a fabulous Mom. Her kid(s) will be beautiful. She's not getting any younger (31). Since she's in my Zumba class, we'll probably know pretty quickly!
File this under how rumors start.
Also, tell me whether you hope she is or not!
I have NO idea if she is or not, but her status update was, um, questionable. Since this blog is my anonymous venue, I ask, is it wrong that I hope she is? She LOVES kids. She wants them (someday). She'll be a fabulous Mom. Her kid(s) will be beautiful. She's not getting any younger (31). Since she's in my Zumba class, we'll probably know pretty quickly!
File this under how rumors start.
Also, tell me whether you hope she is or not!
Friday, September 04, 2009
It's the weekend... (EDITED)
But it doesn't feel like it. I left work today with about 3 hours of work left to do. If I work this weekend, and get it all done, I will 1) feel better and 2) have a jump on next week.
Here's what I should do:
1. Finish editing/writing the thing for JR (estimated time 1.5-2 hours)
2. Write up notes from T/I interview today (estimated time 1-1.5 hours)
3. Send out emails to the four R__s (estimated time 1 hour)
4. Read articles for new project (estimated time 4 hours, but this is best done over multiple days, so an hour a day would be good).
Tasks 1 & 2 will get done. Task 3 isn't that hard, but I don't want to do it, so it's harder. Task 4 seems daunting, but I should start it. Who knows if I will.
I want a weekend. A whole weekend. I guess it's too much to ask. Sigh.
Updated Saturday morning... Task 2 is done! Woo! It feels good to cross it off. I'll do Number 1 tomorrow. Need to start in on #4 today.
Here's what I should do:
1. Finish editing/writing the thing for JR (estimated time 1.5-2 hours)
3. Send out emails to the four R__s (estimated time 1 hour)
4. Read articles for new project (estimated time 4 hours, but this is best done over multiple days, so an hour a day would be good).
Tasks 1 & 2 will get done. Task 3 isn't that hard, but I don't want to do it, so it's harder. Task 4 seems daunting, but I should start it. Who knows if I will.
I want a weekend. A whole weekend. I guess it's too much to ask. Sigh.
Updated Saturday morning... Task 2 is done! Woo! It feels good to cross it off. I'll do Number 1 tomorrow. Need to start in on #4 today.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
At some point...
she's gotta snap, right? Go read the article. I'll wait.
19... Whoa.
But then, that pales in comparison to 69. Comments? Or are you all without words?
19... Whoa.
But then, that pales in comparison to 69. Comments? Or are you all without words?
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
knees, shoes, and schedules
1. The knees don't hurt much (really not much at all) but they aren't letting me do all the stuff I want to do. They will get back, but it will take a while. I need to go sign up for 4 more weeks of PT. Sigh.
The injury seemed "sudden" but it wasn't. It was YEARS of my overuse of some muscles, and not others. It was also probably due to wearing crocs... I heart my crocs, but I have to get some new shoes with better arch support. (Oh darn! Heh.) I could tell you about the annoying sales man at the shoe store, but I won't because that would be negative, but he made me mad. He snubbed his nose at my crocs. He sneered at some of my questions. Not a good approach for me to want to buy shoes from you. He did know a lot about shoes, but that's no reason to make me feel like a loser. Okay... that's enough.
I think I'm going to get these shoes.
Maybe these?
2. Schedules... I'm trying to get my schedule kind of in-place. I'm going to work at work M, W and most (some) Fridays and try to not work too much on T/Th. I'll check in and do some reading (and then when we work on the new project I'll write at home on T/Th). That's the plan. In the past, plans and schedules NEVER worked out, so I gave up planning. We'll see what happens this time.
I still have to try to figure out volunteer time in the girls' classrooms. I think T/Th mornings will be my school times.
The injury seemed "sudden" but it wasn't. It was YEARS of my overuse of some muscles, and not others. It was also probably due to wearing crocs... I heart my crocs, but I have to get some new shoes with better arch support. (Oh darn! Heh.) I could tell you about the annoying sales man at the shoe store, but I won't because that would be negative, but he made me mad. He snubbed his nose at my crocs. He sneered at some of my questions. Not a good approach for me to want to buy shoes from you. He did know a lot about shoes, but that's no reason to make me feel like a loser. Okay... that's enough.
I think I'm going to get these shoes.
Maybe these?
2. Schedules... I'm trying to get my schedule kind of in-place. I'm going to work at work M, W and most (some) Fridays and try to not work too much on T/Th. I'll check in and do some reading (and then when we work on the new project I'll write at home on T/Th). That's the plan. In the past, plans and schedules NEVER worked out, so I gave up planning. We'll see what happens this time.
I still have to try to figure out volunteer time in the girls' classrooms. I think T/Th mornings will be my school times.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Where do you want to be in 5 years?
Whoa... I missed my fourth blogoversary. It looks like I missed it last year too. Oops. The problem with the blogoversary is that it's so close to Three-a's birthday. This year, the problem was that EVERYONE got sick right after Three-a's birthday.
Anyway, back to the question in the blitle. I always hated that questions on graduate school applications. They were usually phrased as: Five years after completing your Ph.D., where do you want to be, and what type of research do you want to be doing?
Mostly, I had no idea, and now, still, I'm not sure. Some things never change! I don't plan to "quit my day job," but I do want to think about a few other things. Fortunately, my supervisor is the coolest and she likes to think about other things too. As long as my day job lets me keep working 1/2 time, it'll all be good.
So here's what I'm thinking about... Bet you're not surprised by the next few paragraphs.
1. Get certified for Zumba. I'm teaching dance/aerobics in oNe and twoK's classes (for sure oNe's and maybe twoK's). I want to help the girls make exercise and dance a big part of their lives. I'm still a little scared to get certified for Zumba. I wrote about my dilemma about certification here. I think I am leaning towards getting certified. I'll never be S____ but I do think I could teach kids and I think I could be very good at it. I think it would be a blast.
2. Get my thoughts around nutrition and food organized. Maybe take nutrition classes? Maybe try to write something about food? Maybe change focus of this blog to food? Start a new blog? I'm not sure. For now, I'll just write about food/nutrition here. (I'll keep writing about the girls here, though I write about them less here and record many of the memories on the other blog).
I rationalize it's okay to write about food here because my interest in food and nutrition grew after the girls were born. (I started all of them off with the best food (breast milk!) exclusively for 6 months. oNe nursed for 15 months and twoK and Three-a for 3 years each.) After they started solid foods, I wanted to feed them the best foods! I knew some good foods, but I also had many questions about "the best diet." I still do. The three little girls definitely inspired me to learn more about healthy foods, but I still have a lot to learn.
Who knows where these two interests will lead, or if they will lead anywhere other than the benefit of my girls (and MWH and me). I'll probably be talking about these two topics more and more. Hope you don't mind. I'd love to have you stay around for the journey and see where we go. Happy Belated Blogoversary to me.
Anyway, back to the question in the blitle. I always hated that questions on graduate school applications. They were usually phrased as: Five years after completing your Ph.D., where do you want to be, and what type of research do you want to be doing?
Mostly, I had no idea, and now, still, I'm not sure. Some things never change! I don't plan to "quit my day job," but I do want to think about a few other things. Fortunately, my supervisor is the coolest and she likes to think about other things too. As long as my day job lets me keep working 1/2 time, it'll all be good.
So here's what I'm thinking about... Bet you're not surprised by the next few paragraphs.
1. Get certified for Zumba. I'm teaching dance/aerobics in oNe and twoK's classes (for sure oNe's and maybe twoK's). I want to help the girls make exercise and dance a big part of their lives. I'm still a little scared to get certified for Zumba. I wrote about my dilemma about certification here. I think I am leaning towards getting certified. I'll never be S____ but I do think I could teach kids and I think I could be very good at it. I think it would be a blast.
2. Get my thoughts around nutrition and food organized. Maybe take nutrition classes? Maybe try to write something about food? Maybe change focus of this blog to food? Start a new blog? I'm not sure. For now, I'll just write about food/nutrition here. (I'll keep writing about the girls here, though I write about them less here and record many of the memories on the other blog).
I rationalize it's okay to write about food here because my interest in food and nutrition grew after the girls were born. (I started all of them off with the best food (breast milk!) exclusively for 6 months. oNe nursed for 15 months and twoK and Three-a for 3 years each.) After they started solid foods, I wanted to feed them the best foods! I knew some good foods, but I also had many questions about "the best diet." I still do. The three little girls definitely inspired me to learn more about healthy foods, but I still have a lot to learn.
Who knows where these two interests will lead, or if they will lead anywhere other than the benefit of my girls (and MWH and me). I'll probably be talking about these two topics more and more. Hope you don't mind. I'd love to have you stay around for the journey and see where we go. Happy Belated Blogoversary to me.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
TTTTTTransition
Fall is full of transition and I don't like it. I'm tired.
Okay... new spin on this post, 'cause it's already bringing me down.
Onward with the power of positive thinking...
This morning, Three-a (who is four!) came in to snuggle with me. She's a great snuggle-bunny in the morning. She's my sweet-T! I was really exhausted, but she let me kind of doze. It was so nice.
Tomorrow, Three-a starts school--Pre-K. I can't believe it. My littlest baby is not a baby.
twoK LOVES kindergarten. She had her first bit of homework and did it the second she got home from school. So cute!
oNe seems to like her class, and that's really all I know so far. This week has "back to school night" and we'll learn more and I'll get to sign up for volunteering. I love being in their classroom. Just call me NOSEY Mom!
Oh, yea, there's another transition occurring. A frolleague....(colleague and friend, but more friend than colleague) has asked me to do something with her and a group of others in our field. It's a new consulting gig. I said yes, and now we're starting to do some things. I am 1) nervous, 2) hopeful, and 3) worried about this endeavor. There's really nothing else to say yet.
Today, we head to Costco... MWH thought I might want to buy clothes for the girls there, and maybe. I should see if they have winter coats there. We need one for oNe and Three-a. My neighbor just sent over a ton of clothes her little girl had outgrown so Three-a is pretty set. oNe always needs clothes and twoK always WANTS clothes. I'll see if they have any good jeans for me. (Ah, my endless quest for comfortable, good fitting, stylish, CHEAP jeans that make my legs look long and thin and my butt small. Heh. They probably don't exist. A girl can dream, right?)
Okay... new spin on this post, 'cause it's already bringing me down.
Onward with the power of positive thinking...
This morning, Three-a (who is four!) came in to snuggle with me. She's a great snuggle-bunny in the morning. She's my sweet-T! I was really exhausted, but she let me kind of doze. It was so nice.
Tomorrow, Three-a starts school--Pre-K. I can't believe it. My littlest baby is not a baby.
twoK LOVES kindergarten. She had her first bit of homework and did it the second she got home from school. So cute!
oNe seems to like her class, and that's really all I know so far. This week has "back to school night" and we'll learn more and I'll get to sign up for volunteering. I love being in their classroom. Just call me NOSEY Mom!
Oh, yea, there's another transition occurring. A frolleague....(colleague and friend, but more friend than colleague) has asked me to do something with her and a group of others in our field. It's a new consulting gig. I said yes, and now we're starting to do some things. I am 1) nervous, 2) hopeful, and 3) worried about this endeavor. There's really nothing else to say yet.
Today, we head to Costco... MWH thought I might want to buy clothes for the girls there, and maybe. I should see if they have winter coats there. We need one for oNe and Three-a. My neighbor just sent over a ton of clothes her little girl had outgrown so Three-a is pretty set. oNe always needs clothes and twoK always WANTS clothes. I'll see if they have any good jeans for me. (Ah, my endless quest for comfortable, good fitting, stylish, CHEAP jeans that make my legs look long and thin and my butt small. Heh. They probably don't exist. A girl can dream, right?)
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