Long lost blogger

Why hello there!  I am such a blogger slacker.  No real excuse cause it's not like I am not on my phone (or iPad or laptop).  :)

January always means new things to better myself.  Time and time again I have had good intentions but failed in my follow through.  At the beginning of the year God spoke the word Thrive to me.  The word was already in my head.  You see, I am attending a conference for my Young Living business in February this year.  (www.thethriveconference.com)  We've been talking about the word Thrive and what it means in our Facebook groups.  It's made me think deeper on it.  So much so that I am making 2015 my year to Thrive.

What does that mean?
This means
*that I am working harder to create, protect, and KEEP my quiet time with Bible reading along with completing the Bible in a year.
*that I am getting back to the gym (took a break a few months ago when I was sick and never got back) and sticking with it!
*that I am focusing more on my family.  Because of this I am taking a Facebook break right now for at least 21 days.  I chose this for our church-wide fast because I am horrible at being on Facebook way too often.  My house and parenting (along with marriage) shows for it too.  So it was something that needed to go.  I will have to set boundaries for sure after the fast is over.
*that I am living life to the fullest.  Making memories like it's the only day I have.  Tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
*that I am going to be a completer, finisher, conqueror this year!  I am tired of not completing what I want to finish.
*that I am doing this all with lots of accountability to keep pushing me forward

What about you?  Where can you focus on Thriving in life?  What goals do you want to complete in 2015?

Changes in our household

I am now the mom of a kindergartener!  Keelan started kindergarten last week.  He is loving it.  It still feels out of routine to not have him at home with me.  Will take some getting used to I am sure.  :)  Keelan loves to ride the bus.  Each morning he runs across the street to the neighbor girl's house so he can talk to her.  She's probably 5 years older than him, but they get along most of the time.

Corgan has started playing football so our lives have been occupied with practice 4 days a week.  He has his first game tomorrow morning.  Can't wait to see them all in their uniforms and pads running around.  So cute at that age.  He is 7 and one of the oldest on the team but is one of the smallest.  He got a position playing on the line.  He amazes me at how tough he is.  I hope he enjoys it!

Marshall and I just celebrated our 10th anniversary yesterday.  We got to get out while my parents watched the boys.  We went to The Melting Pot where we indulged in a 4 course meal!  Wow, didn't think that was that much food until we were eating it all.  We were so full!  We were also given 6 chocolate covered strawberries since I had a coupon with their fondue club.  Everything about the whole thing was great!  We will definitely have to treat ourselves to it again...just maybe not 4 courses!  :)

I am still working full-time in real estate.  Things are going well there.  Stretching myself for sure most days, but it's rewarding.  :)

I am still heavily involved with Young Living Essential Oils.  It is still rocking our world!  It has provided financially in a great way.  I have also made some amazing friends.  I love hearing more and more testimonials on how they (the oils) are helping so many people!  It is mind blowing to me.  I make it a point and goal to use a new oil as much as I can so I have a good product knowledge.  I am preparing now for a big expo event at our local civic center next month.  I am eager to see how it helps my business.  If you, or anyone you know, are interested in information send me a message.

Tonsillectomy - Day 1

I wanted to keep a record of the days for my personal record and to help anyone else about to have a tonsillectomy.  I am 31 years old, almost 32. I am overweight and not as active as I would like

Stayed up til at least 11:30 last night eating and drinking. The last couple weeks I have had a cough so I was worried about not being able to have water after midnight.

I was up by just before or right at 5 am.  I got ready and then got the boys up. We dropped Corgan off at a neighbor's house so he catch the bus from their house for school.

We got to the hospital at 6. They were pretty quick getting me registered and in to pre-op. Our pastor came and prayed with us. (Thanks Pastor Nick!) I wasn't in pre-op long at all before they took me back. I remember wheeling in the hall and waking up in post-op. That is all I remember. The first thing I remember in post-op was coughing and them telling me to stop. They ended up giving me morphine to stop the coughing. I was talking with asking how my vitals were since I had issued with them with my septoplasty (08/2007). Everything was perfect....such an answer to prayer.

They got me wheeled into a room so Marshall and Keelan could come see me. We were only in that room maybe a half hour and then I was discharged and sent home. We dropped by CVS to give them my list of rxs. Knowing it would take some time we ended up running by Kroger for a couple of my requests - banana Popsicles and chicken noodle soup. I got my first bout of nausea. :(  Marshall then took me home so he could get my rxs. I ate some soup and got a good nap.

CVS wasn't able to fill my pain med without talking to the Dr. So it was a few hours before I was able to take another dose. I used the lidocaine to numb my throat.  It made me extremely drowsy so I laid back down.  Marshall was then able to get my loratab for me. He then went out to get my miracle mouthwash.

I have another episode of nausea that was worse so I took phenergan and rubbed on DiGize. Hasn't quite helped but is better now. Making sure to staying hydrated. The pain isn't too bad today.....but I am hoping and praying it stays like this. I will stay on top of drinking lots of water, eating protein, pain medication and essential oils.

Starting line...again

I'm back at the starting line...and I'm not proud of it.  I am proud that I am able to admit my fault and start over though.  Today I am starting a 5 week challenge.  To learn more about it and to join me visit link below.

Mamavation 5k

I’m running a virtual 5K with #Mamavation on March 30th. Would u like to join me? http://bit.ly/YGWaHR #mamavation5k

January results

I challenged myself to complete Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred in January.  I can say that I completed it.  Was it exactly as planned?  No, but I did it!  I completed 17 out of 30 Days.  There were a few days where I did other exercises.  I also had a few days off due to a bout with tonsillitis that landed me in the emergency room getting a CT scan.  (Luckily, it was not an abscess like my Dr thought...but I will end up getting my tonsils removed at some point this year.)  So I give it a completed sticker and a thumbs up!  I was noticing results within 3 days!  That really helped me to keep pushing through.  If I had to have a complaint about the program it would be the lack of a status bar telling you how much longer you had.  Maybe I'm spoiled having seen those in other programs but I find it helps me push if I can see just how much longer I have left.  Then again the planks and jumping jacks were hard enough.

So how were my results?  Well....I lost 5.2 lbs total and also a total of 7.75 inches all over!  4 inches off my waist alone!  I was very excited about that one.  My stomach is one of my trouble areas that I don't like.  I need to get to eating even better so that I can continue to lose inches there and get some lean tone.

Also in January I weighed in for Scale Back Alabama again this year. I did it last year and was able to lose over 20 lbs. In the last year I gained 10 of that back. I plan to lose at least that 10 and more for the program this year. I'm keeping my exercise programs changing to keep it fun. I'm also using varying foods so that my body doesn't get used to any one thing.  I would love any healthy recipes that you want to share!  As a working mom (well part-time at least) now things are a little harder.  I'm still learning the balance of working, having a child in school, and keeping house.  2013 is going to be the year I manage a lot of things better!

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Bring on February!!  I am starting a new exercise program tonight!  I am starting Slim In 6.  I have done this in the past but never completed longer than 2 weeks.  I am going to go the full 6 weeks this time!  The plan is to workout 6 days a week with a rest day.  I will still be doing doing family walks to help Marshall.  I will not allow the walks to be an excuse not to do Slim In 6.  That will be an add-on so that I am not only teaching my kids the benefits of exercising, but doing it with them.  Usually on our walks I push Keelan in the stroller and Corgan rides on Marshall's shoulders.  Towards the very end they both are antsy and ready to run a little bit.  We both enjoy running with them.  It's a good burst of energy at the end.  I love that our kids are loving to work out with us.  Now to get them more on board with eating good.

I'm back!

I'm back to blogging again.  I plan to do it consistently from here on out.  I really enjoy it, plus it's a release for me.  Getting stuff written, or in this case typed, out releases me from thinking about it for so long.  It also helps to solidify dreams and goals when I write them down.  It's a new year.  There are lots of things that I hope to do and see happen this year.  I don't call them resolutions because those are easily broken.  I choose to look at them at lifestyle changes to get what I dream about.  I've always heard, "fail to plan, plan to fail."  So a new year means new plans.  No failing for me.  It doesn't have to be for you either.  Take time each day to plan.  Dream big and allow God to use you.

One Year Challenge

I joined a One Year One Ton Challenge with a local group a few weeks ago.  I'm down 1.8 in the last 2 weeks.  Not ideal, but not bad.  Just time to push it a little harder!  I plan to start up Slim in 6 tomorrow and do it for 6 days along with walking/jogging a 5k on Saturdays (as I can).  Rest days will be Sundays.  The One Year One Ton Challenge is for all of us to lose 100 lbs.  It's a big goal for me (cause that puts me right at if not a little below my goal weight).  I am going to do my best to attain the goal anyways!

Been having some pain in my knees with jogging lately so I've been walking more than jogging.  I'm hoping the Slim in 6 will help build up my muscle strength and help lengthen my jogging times.  I feel like I should be further along in running...and I probably should...but it's been a long hard process.  Gotten to at least Week 5 of C25K three times now.  Got to Week 7 at the beginning of the year when I got bronchitis.  It's still a goal to complete the whole program sometime!  I refuse to beat myself up over it though.

Looking through the calendar of 5ks here locally to see which ones I can do.  I have a few that I really would like to do.  Now to get the money!  :)

Runner's high

Finally!  It is finally back!!  My runner's high that is....and maybe my blogger's high too (well maybe!).  Marshall was ordering pizza for supper tonight.  I knew that if I was going to eat it that I needed to run.  So I made myself get on the treadmill while the pizza was on the way.  I got in a quick 1.25 miles.  Most of that I ran too.  I pushed myself a little harder.  I had a little bit of arch pain and a cramp in my side.  So I focused on breathing, technique and drinking some water.  It helped the pains go away and I was able to run more.  I also got my MOTOACTV finally calibrated for the treadmill.  Now I can make sure to use it more when I do my treadmill runs!  I have a feeling that there will be lots of those this summer.  It's been so crazy hot here lately.  Course tonight was nice and cooler with a breeze.  Made me want to get out and do another run.  However there was some lightning nearby so that wouldn't have been a good idea.  :)

Both of the boys aren't feeling good.  Chest/head colds.  Coughs, snotty noses, gagging from drainage, and wheezing cries.  *sigh*  Poor babies.  I hope they both get to feeling much better!  Already seems like a better day today.  At least Corgan will take something to help.  They're both a bit whiny lately too....probably just from not feeling good.

So ready for a new goal so I'm challenging myself to lose 5 lbs by the 21st.  That's 2 weeks.  I'm going to be strict on myself again.  Eating much better, counting calories, drinking at least 95% water (the occasional coffee and tea....no carbonated drinks), and exercising regularly.  I have got to get my butt back in gear.  I think it will help my back and neck pain I've had for almost 2 months now.

11 weeks til Warrior Dash!!!  I WILL commit to finishing an exercise program whether it be Slim in 6, 30 Day Shred or Couch 2 5K.  That's another goal to have done before Warrior Dash.  I would love to be down 20 more lbs by the WD.  I can do it!!

*singing* Don't stop...Don't give up

Yes I am singing in that title.  Keelan is quite fascinated with Yo Gabba Gabba lately.  One of the songs on there is called Don't Give Up.  It's a quite catchy song....as they all are....and I find myself singing it.  Guess it could be a theme for me with my getting healthy journey.  I'm trying my hardest to get out of the slump but it's just getting harder and harder...and the days til Warrior Dash are getting closer and closer.  It doesn't help that I've been dealing with back and neck pain pretty bad for over a month or two now.  I, however, will not allow that excuse to validate an end to my journey!  It's NOT over!  So until I breath my last breath I will continue to sing "Keep trying.  Keep trying. Don't give up. Never give up."