Girlfriends

I got a much welcomed call from Jen (thanks for calling girl) tonight. It was so great talking to her. Because my dad was in the military I moved a lot growing up and never had the privilege of having friendships that spanned more than a few years. I met Jen just before starting junior high when we were 14 years old. We clicked right away as we were so grateful to meet someone as tall as each other . The rest of the late bloomers finally caught up to us, by that time we were already fast friends. Just as our friendship became inseparable I moved to Florida, but we've always stayed in touch, being in each others weddings etc. Now, we both have two boys 3 years apart in age and each have a "Jake" that we are madly in love with. We both vowed to talk more often and as soon as I got off the phone I programed her number into my cell phone.....I'll call soon.



I also heard from Melissa, another friend I haven't heard from in awhile and we made plans to meet for dinner Thursday night to catch up. I love a good girls night out!



Here's to girl friends.

Week 2

I'm fighting the munchies a little more as I start week 3, but I did great last week and dropped another 2 pounds. That's 3 1/2 pounds I don't have to drag 13.1 miles! I'm now up to a 2 mile run which isn't as hard as I thought it would be. I have to be able to run 3 miles before I can start on an official training program. I invested in a pair of running shoes. I read about people loosing toe nails if they weren't in a good shoe. Ouch! And did you know guys have to lube up their nipples before a marathon because they'll bleed from the rubbing against their shirt. Yikes.

Olivia Update

Nate's friend Olivia is home from her surgery and doing great. What a trooper!

Brown Rice and Black Bean Casserole

Made this for dinner tonight...yum! I switched the swiss for mozzarella and used 1 cup instead of 2 to cut the fat/calories. Will definitely make this again!

A Baby Is Born

One of my dearest and oldest friends, Jen had a beautiful baby boy this morning at 8:58 a.m. Litte Jake weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz., 21" long. Jen and baby are doing well. Brother Luke is thrilled to have a baby brother.

Week One

I limited my sugar to a few dark chocolate chips a day and one splurge of chocolate cake Saturday night. I didn't have to fight off the craving too bad. The dark chocolate seemed to be just enough to satisfy me. I'm not a dark chocolate fan so I didn't want to keep on eating and eating.

Once I made the decision to run the half marathon I threw in a few short runs in between my walking on the treadmill. The first day I tried it I could only get in 2 minutes before I thought I would pass out. The next day I slowed the pace and made it 3 minutes. This morning I slowed the pace just a bit more and made it an entire mile before I had to go back to walking. I walk/ran another 2 miles after that. I'm so proud of myself. I can walk all day long, but running is a challenge.

I watched The Biggest Loser for the first time over the weekend. I was so pumped up after watching one episode. I also realized I wasn't pushing myself hard enough.

I weighed in this morning. Only a 1.5 pound loss, but I'm optimistic if I work hard enough it will keep coming off.

Best Buddies

Nate and Olivia

My mom watch the boys and Olivia today so Cheryl and I could go to lunch with Jen P., who was in town. It was great to be out to lunch with the girls. So relaxing.
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Olivia will have major ear surgery in Tampa on Thursday for a congenital disorder called cholesteatoma . I know she'll do great and I look forward to hearing the news it was a success and she's back home.
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I registered for the half marathon today. Cheryl is going to run/walk it with me and hopefully together we can motivate each other across the finish line. Cheryl's husband runs marathons so he's helping us get ready. I'm nervous, but really excited. I have a lot of work to do.

Lost Tooth

Nate lost his first tooth! It's been loose for awhile, but yesterday seemed to be holding on by a thread. He takes after his great-grandmother and Uncle Will, hates the site of blood and a splinter sends him over the edge. As soon as we started talking about the Tooth Fairy his patients with the tooth wore thin and the wanted it out NOW. We weren't about to try any of the stunts we all tried as kids to get it out thinking he might pass out so we told him if he wanted it out he'd have to pull it out himself. Before we could blink he grabbed hold of it and out it came. He was wide eyed and shocked, just holding it in his hand before slowly letting it fall from his fingers onto the bed. Jake and I started cheering, not even believing what he had just done. It took him a minute to celebrate with us. We took a look into his mouth to see the now open space along with some blood. Jake played it very cool and told him he should drink some water. I was praying the little bit of blood wouldn't trickle from his mouth or get on his hand or we might have real trouble on our hands. He drank his water and proudly smiled into the mirror....no blood in site...relief. He promptly made phone calls to his Nana, Gran and girl-friend Olivia to share the news. It was priceless.

Meanwhile I picked up the tiny tooth examining it. I was happy and sad all at the same time. I remember so clearly when that tooth made it's debut. The excitement of that first baby tooth.....now the excitement of loosing it.

5 Years Later.........

I've been thinking long and hard about how to raise money for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and also about how I would celebrate my 5 year mark. I think I found the answer to both. I know I couldn't run an entire marathon, but what about a half marathon? I tossed around the idea, then researched to see if there was one in my area. Goose bumps rose up on my arms when I found out a local marathon and half marathon is held on November 25, 2007....5 years to the day that I lost my breast to cancer and 5 days before I celebrate my 35th birthday. So, I think I'm going to take the new ta-tas for a run!

Free Movie

Nate spent the night with Jake's mom last night so Jake and I got a reminder of what it was like to only have one child. We went out to eat and found ourselves holding a conversation while Reese ate and played at the table. It was amazingly quiet. After diner we went by the pet store to get Reese another fish. Since starting our aquarium 3 weeks ago Reese is on fish number 3. Hopefully this one will live more than a few days. It's a tough little fish because it managed to survive Reese dropping the bag he was in before we even left the store.

This morning I took Reese to see Shrek 2, one of the free summer movies at our theater. It was great just hanging out the two of us. He asked me twice during the movie if it was over. I was hoping he'd make it though the entire thing because I was getting into it and really wanted to know how it ended. I'm happy to report we made it. After the movie we hopped into one of those photo booths which I've always loved. Seems like such a classic summer thing to do.

Things I Fantasize About...

1. Having abs like the women on workout commercials.

2. Having a job (outside of being a stay-at-home-mom) that I'm passionate about.

3. Living debt-free

4. The kids getting up on a Saturday morning playing/watching TV and pouring their own bowl of cereal so Jake and I can sleep in.

5. Taking a photography or cooking class.

6. Learning ball room dancing with Jake.

7. Adopting a child.

Rambling

I hopped on the scale for the first time in awhile and was VERY disappointed to see a gain (again). I'm still on the treadmill so either my muscles are really getting heavy or my sugar addiction is out of control. I'm guessing the later......so an official ban of sugar is in order. I'll report in on what the scale says next week.
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The ACS (American Cancer Society) called again today...inviting me to represent the Reach to Recovery program at a conference in September. It sounded exciting and I'm so honored they keep thinking about me. There is some sort of question/answer/presentation thingy, but it didn't sound too scary. They are paying for hotel, food etc. for me to go. I think I'll suck up the public speaking fear and go for it. This could be a great opportunity to get more involved.
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Jake grew a goatee after is trip to CA last month. I thought it looked really good, but I just couldn't get used to the prickly hair. He shaved last night, all except the mustache, came around the corner like all was normal and then the mustache jumped out at me. HORRIFYING! It was so unbelievably creeping looking, we both broke out into the crying laugh. He kept it all night. I couldn't look at him without laughing. Thank goodness he shaved that nasty thing off this morning.

More Ta-ta Talk

I know I've been doing more than my share of ta-ta blogging lately, but you have to read this! Hilarious!

Back to School Fever

I've always loved back to school season....shopping for school supplies, breaking out the warm clothes, that feeling that fall is just around the corner. OK, so it's still going to be months before we feel even a hint of fall weather in Florida, but I can fantasize for now.

We were in Target yesterday and let the boys pick out lunch boxes. Nate is being very selective for once and is still shopping for just the right lunch box, but Reese plucked a Cars lunch box off the shelf in no time. As Jake and I were heading off to bed last night we passed the lunch box sitting on the kitchen counter. We both paused......trying to grasp that our littlest owns a lunch box and is heading off the pre-school. I have happy and sad feelings all at once.

It didn't help that we had just watched Alpha Dog and HATED the ending! Made us so happy that our kids were upstairs, tucked in and safe from the world.

Making Strides

I've started my campaign for the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk coming up this October. Thanks to a huge response my team raised over $7,000 last year! This year our goal is $10,000 and I need a strategy to get there. Have any ideas? I was thinking of something like: If we reach our goal I'd....run a marathon, shave my head, flash my new ta-tas to the highest donor etc. Of course I have thought of every possible idea except something I'd actually follow through and do. I'm not athletic enough to think I could possibly run a marathon, too vein to be bald again and too modest to be a flasher. Back to the think tank......

Presidential Candidates

Found this cool link from Stacy. See which candidate best matches you.

Speechless

I've been asked to be a speaker at the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk kickoff event. This could be really cool...if public speaking didn't cause me such anxiety. This is the second time I've been asked. The first time was with very little notice so they were not shocked I declined.

As the kids get older and head off to school I've fantasized about what great things I could do with my time. Working with the American Cancer Society is on my list so it burns me up to pass on this. I just can't bring myself to add the stress this would cause. Am I a wimp?

Now I have the unfortunate task of calling them back, divulge my public speaking weakness and then offer to help in some other way. Bummer.

Years ago, before Jake and I had kids we were out with a couple who had two girls around pre-school age. At one point during the evening the mother commented on her children's whining......how it drives her crazy. I thought she was being harsh because I hadn't noticed the whining. Fast forward..........to me with a 5 and 2 year old. I CAN NOT STAND THE WHINING! If you've got something to say, say it, but don't whine! It grinds at every nerve Jake and I have. I assume at some point in child development this stops, right..........oh, please tell me it stops?

Recommended by Nate

50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth
by The Earthworks Group

Fevery 4th

We took the kids to their first parade for the 4th. It was so much fun we plan on doing it again next year. Adam is in town for some of his summer break so we all got together at our house for some grilling and swimming. Reese wasn't acting like himself and we later realized he had a fever...poor guy. We had plans to go to Islands of Adventure today, but Reese woke up with a fever so he and I stayed behind. He was so upset he was missing out. I've bribed him with a trip to the toy store, but he hasn't taken me up on it yet. Maybe he'll feel up for it later as I can feel a bit of cabin fever coming on myself and it's only 9am!

Friends

Jimmy, Nate, Samantha, Alex

July 2007

Garage Sale, Freecycle or Donate

I've been thinking about going through the entire house and getting rid of stuff we don't need or want anymore. I'm not sure I have enough for a garage sale, have too much to post all of it on Freecycle and not sure I just want to donate it. A garage sale would be good for the boys because I think it will be very hard for them to just "give away" their stuff. I've never had a garage sale. Is it more trouble than it's worth?