There goes that time again…E2E and more…

I just don’t get it. When you’re waiting for the doctor, the deposit to go through, a train…time seems to drag on but when you’re doing the everyday normal stuff it flies by. It is amazing it’s already Wednesday.

First thing, mama had her endoscope yesterday and they found nothing that wasn’t already there and no reason for her to have such low hemoglobin. There is some place she is bleeding so next Tuesday they will do a colonoscopy to see what’s there. The doctor just doesn’t understand why all of this is happening so he’d doing a good job looking for the reason. It’s just lots of wait time. Mama is feeling pretty spunky from the transfusion so is enjoying getting some sewing done and house work she just hasn’t felt up to doing. My mama is an excellent seamstress and is making herself a spring blouse.

My challenge update, I’m still struggling to get it all done or at least all my ducks in a row and though I haven’t given up I have got to pick and choose right now. I got one run in last night, my calories are a bit higher then I’d like but need to plan ahead a bit for meals, I don’t think I’ve made it to 10 of you guys yet this week but I have written to and received a note from my buddy. All in all just maintaining but figured after our Wyoming trip next week, getting Mike organized, packed and off to college in April then I’ll get back to me. For now me is just hanging in there.

I now pick up Joss after my am bus run so it’s been taking some getting use to but it’s really working too. I know exactly what time she’ll be here and if we need to do any errands we’re already in town. Like today I need to stop and pick up two cards. One for the bus driver I am subbing for, he’s very, very sick and missing “his” kids so we are going to sign a card for him and I’ll get that either delivered to him or mailed. Also my grandma lost her beloved dog yesterday so found a pet card to take to her today. I felt awful for her because now she is truly alone in her little home. She lives in an attached apartment to my uncles house so there’s people for her but it’s not the same as a pet who no matter what loves you, curls up to you, watches you, follows you and is your companion (especially since grandpa is gone). Her name was Kelly and she really was a great dog. But life and so goes on but still lots of tears. I forgot to pick up milk so will have to do that either tonight after my pm run or tomorrow because on Friday will be our big birthday party because there’s just a 1/2 day of school and the perfect time to celebrate Rachel and Mike.

Mark, my uncle, has the goat farm and Joss has been asking every day when we go by there to stop and see the baby baa’s so we did yesterday and again today. See…

 

                    

So there we have the first part of my week. Driving bus, daycare, family, not much friend time (gotta do something about that), hanging out clothes finally, planning our trip next week, fretting about things I can’t do a thing about but still worrying, enjoying the sunshine but not the mud, trying to take care of me (sorta flunking there but I know it’s not forever, just a bit longer, except my long, sunshine filled bird singing walk/run yesterday), getting excited to see Mike’s school next week and spending 5 days with Mike traveling but then knowing it will just be 4 weeks until he’s gone (28 very short days…especially the way time has been flying by), surviving but in a good, excellent, blessed way!

I hope you all are taking some time for yourself, even if it’s just a wee bit here and there, it does do the body and soul good. I will do my best to stop by and visit you and leave you some love. I will do my best to find time for my friends too. I need to write my aunt, it’s been way to long since I’ve done that. Oh well, better get this posted, the clothes on the line, Joss some lunch, the kitchen floor mopped and then ready to hit the road. It’s sunny and beautiful today, another great walk/run is in my future.

Blessings my friends!! Thanks for stopping by, thanks for your encouragements, prayers and love.

E2E update and my weekend…

My quotes:  "If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." --John Bingham

And: "If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it." -Priscilla Welch

Maintaining, that is all that I’m doing. Weight is still 180, waist is still 39”, exercise is still 3 times a week walking/running and fish flopping exercising. And my book, well haven’t taken the time to read more about running since I’m just sorta at a stand still with what I’m able to do. So the challenge for me is not going anywhere’s. I didn’t start the shred last week but hoping to do that this week, however mama has some medical stuff going on so we’ll see how time works out for that. I am planning on hitting the gym 2 for strength training, 3 times out here running and some home exercises so maybe if I can get that in and keep my calories near 1200 that scale will move some. But has anyone noticed that it costs .99 cents for not good for you food and $4.00 for good for you foods? My budget is so limited right now that it’s hard to buy all the right stuff though I did get some stuff today to aid in the calorie part.

I won’t complain though, really about any of this, because I have not gained for a few months now (nothing but a pound here and then lost) so that means I am learning something. This  challenge for me was really about learning to run and really I’m doing that to the best of my abilities. So all is good, just not great. I want to get back into the 170’s so have just a few more weeks to do that and I really like to be there for my 50th birthday. So it’s onward and downwards I go.

Remember this last weekend?: All bundled up and cross country skiing? Well this weekend I have got out walking/running  twice Once with daddy in just a sweatshirt and once in a t-shirt. Minnesota has such different weather from one day to the next. Today we did this: unloaded a load of coal. Should be the last one for the winter.

I had very late daycare Friday night, midnight to be exact but we had a blast. There was Rachel, Abby, Anton plus Scott and Mike were here so we all played on the wii for a few hours. We also did a scrapbook page of our evening (at like 10:00 at night because they wanted to do a project) so I used this picture.   Soon Mike will be gone and Scott will be busy for the summer so group pictures are very precious to me right now. This is “my” Rachel,  I have had her since she was 4 weeks old and she is turning 12 next week. It is just so amazing to watch her grow up. We are having hers and Mike’s birthday on Friday. They have shared a birthday for the past 12 years and this will be their last one together because Mike will be in school for his next one and then I am sure off and running to a new life.

So there is my update, my challenge and my life. All in all I wouldn’t trade any single part of it for a million bucks. I’ve done good, I’ve raised the most awesome son, I have helped raise the most terrific daycare wee ones and I have been there for my nephew through all the teens stuff and family problems and they are all the most wonderful kids ever. I am blessed beyond anything I could of ever imagined.

So a new week, new challenges, busy work schedule and some dieting that needs to be done. It’ll happen, just one day at a time, one issue at a time, some days just a minute at a time. Please remember my mama in your prayers. She is feeling a bit stronger with the new blood running around in her and we’ll find out Tuesday what’s what on the aneurysm, we aren’t borrowing any troubles, we’re not guessing ahead, one day at a time, that’s all we can do and also thank God for.

Blessings my friends. I’ll be stopping by as soon as I can to see how you’ve been doing. Have an awesome evening and a truly productive and exciting week. 

Mama, E2E update, finding time, college….

So the first and foremost for today is mama. She had a blood transfusion today and it went just fine. It was very long, they (mama and daddy) got to the hospital at 7:30, I got there at 8:45 and I left at 2:15 (I had to drive both am and pm routes so my day started at 4:45 and Mike is working late so will be up and doing until at least 11:00) and they left about 3:30 but it went good. She didn’t have any problems with the blood, no body rejection or anything, she ate very well even though it was hospital food and she even got a nap in. I took a picture but I am pretty sure if I showed what a sleeping mama looks like at her worse she’d kill me :o). I went shopping tonight for them because I just didn’t have time to make them a decent supper so I picked up chicken, tators, salad makings and a half a pie. Mama was sleeping when I got there but daddy was happy I came by. I probably should of stayed and visited a bit but I had to get home to chores, the fire and our supper. I’ll check in later on before bed. I took daddy to the Cobblestone cafe in the hospital and daddy loved their beef barely soup and strawberry/pineapple smoothie. All in all mama will feel a bit better for a while. Next Tuesday she goes in for her endoscope to find out how bad the aneurism is and …. well then what.

My update for the E2E challenge is just plain maintaining. I can’t handle anything else at the moment and I have sorta given up trying to do it all. Not given up such as eating anything I want, not exercising, not taking care of myself. More given up trying to calculate it all and think ahead. I am never going to quit, just find time.

So speaking of finding time. Even though my weight is just staying the same and my measurements aren’t changing I am still trying to at least get some exercise in. The main thing I get done during the week is a run 3 times. I think this is what is helping me maintain for now. I have done a couple days of the 6 pack March but think it’s going to take me all of March, April and May to get anything that will look like a smoother stomach. Heck it’ll be a long time really since I’m full of lumps and bumps. But I am finding 10 minutes here and 5 minutes there and 30 minutes when I get home to get some exercise in. It’s hard and I will say a lot of time I don’t give it 110% but I do push myself but I know that I can push harder but right now….well I'm doing the best I can. No where near perfect, heck not even 1/2 mast perfect but things will calm down, things will improve and then I can put more of my all into me.

And for college, Mike will be going. I have been talking to the school a lot this week and we have managed to get all the ducks in a row and have been approved for a loan that will take care of tuition and housing. Mike is still applying for grants and scholarships but there just isn’t many to be had for less then 2-4 year colleges and for a young man that waited until he was ready to go. But it’s still good news so that means from the 21st-25th Mike and I will be away from home. We are leaving the 21st after work (about 7pm) and heading to Wyoming to visit, tour, site see and learn. It’s a 20 hour drive but with two drivers one will sleep and one will drive or need be we’ll nap here and there. We don’t know a soul down there so will be staying in the suburban most of the time except for Thursday night we’ll get a room so we can be ready for the school on Friday. It’ll all work out because if feels right but just so much to try and handle and do along with everything else is thrown at me/us.

So there, it’s already 7:00 Thursday evening and I need to fix some supper, carry in some wood and I am positive there is a load of clothes in the dryer waiting to be folded plus the dish washer is clean and the sink has dishes waiting. Mike is working late, Jim is in his garage so I better just get these things done before I come unglued.

Tomorrow is no school, no 4:45 wake up, I get to sleep until 6:30. There is a full day of daycare with school kids and Joss but it’ll be a terrific day.

Take care my friends and thank you so much for you kinds words, your support, your prayers and love. I appreciate them very much. Blessings to you all!!

Mark your calendars…..

So I decided that since I’m turning 50 April 23rd that I’m going to give someone a present but first you have to run/walk/trot/swim or ski with me. You don’t have to do it “with” me, you just have to share with me that you did it. I don’t care if your slower then a turtle or as fast as a hare, I just want you to share in getting healthy with me, so you just have to get out there and move your behinder. It doesn’t matter if you live in timbucktoo or Siberia or in-between I am asked you to join me and if the random doohickey picks you I will have a present to send to you.
Between Sunday the 22nd and Sunday the 29th of April you can e-mail me and tell me what you chose to do. I don’t care how fast (unless you want to tell me) and you don’t have to share a pictures (though it would be really cool if you wanted too) I just want to know that there are others out there that want to help me celebrate turning 50 and learning to become the healthiest person you can be.
Anyone interested?
Blessings my friends. Take care and enjoy your day!!!

mama update…and…

Mama’s Hemoglobin is even lower, average 11-18 and hers 6…ugh!!! She has a aneurysm on her aorta near her stomach that is leaking, it’s not something they can fix at this time but she does has an endoscope next week to see how bad the leak is and what might be next. She has a blood transfusion on Thursday that she’s scared to death of so I am taking the daycare day off (I am driving bus because she doesn’t have to be there till 8 and I am available after 8:30 so close) and going to be with her and daddy through it all. There is nothing else I can say about this cuz just don’t know much more. She’s very tired but can’t sleep. Her breathing is difficult but they did a chest x-ray and didn’t find anything there so not sure what’s up there. So more wait and sees and lots of praying.

On a good note….mama and I went out for dinner and a movie. She was so tired but said the “what if it’s the last one” and she was going to go come hell or high water so we went. We ate at KFC and then to see the movie Journey2, Mysterious Island which was an excellent Disney movie. It was a shorter movie so we were home by 9:30.

I love my mama and just can’t even begin to imagine the what if’s. Not going there, just going to keep reminding the Lord we need her and hopefully he doesn’t need her yet.

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To add to the stress…..

We can not get a student loan for Mike’s college. Our bank doesn’t recognize WyoTech, they do universities and colleges, not votechs. I have a question to ask anyone. Why are scholarships, grants, loans and so on only good for 2+ year colleges. What about all the people that go to trade schools. Doesn’t anyone recognize that a huge portion of what they drive, live in, work in, use, play with and more is made by a blue collar worker that has none or some college? Oh I know we need the higher ups too, heck they design, take care of us, protect us and more but the normal every day joe would really like to get ahead too with just a little bit of help. How about this too, Mike spent years and years in scouts and he earned his Eagle at 15, has been a very big part of our troop and he’s not even eligible for the Eagle scholarship.  This sucks!!!  We don’t have the funds, my family doesn’t, Jim’s family doesn’t … we live in a very depressed area. We try are very best just to make it from paycheck to paycheck. I work many different jobs and two full time ones. Mike works full time, Jim does also.

Thank goodness for the Pell grant and hopefully the college can work with us but Mike just might not be able to go and that totally bites the big one. There isn’t another college/vo-tech that offers anything close to what WyoTech does for what Mike wants to pursue. Another thing, because Mike waited two years after graduation to go to school there isn’t any type of parent’s help for a college student either. I know at 20 everyone is suppose to be where they want to spend the rest of their life but really, how many kids know exactly what they truly want to be at 18?

So does anyone have $30,000.00 they just have laying under their mattress to send a very intelligent, creative, promising young man to college? Just kidding but it can’t hurt to put it out there.

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So please pray for my mama to heal or get stronger or something peacefully. Please pray that we can figure out the financially stuff for college. Please pray that I can hold it all together.

Thanks everyone for being here for me, for my family. You don’t know how much I truly appreciate it all. Blessings to everyone!!!

Another excellent idea and challenge…

Since my middle needs the most help I am going to work on this along with Jillian’s 30 day Shred. I’m not starting with day one since tomorrow is the 5th already but I think I’m in good enough shape to start there and not be over doing it. I sure do hope!!  Want to check it out? Just click on the calendar.

Take care and enjoy your evening. Blessings my friends!!

My next run…well virtual one…

 

This one is from April 1-8th and you can pick your distants and type, like walking, running or even biking. I signed up for a 5K though might change it to a 10K but first need to practice and move my butt. Click on the cute jelly bean and you’ll go right to the right spot to sign up.

Go and see if you’re interested. I think these races are so great. We don’t have many in our area and this is the best way for me to keep going.

Take care my friends and have a blessed evening.

E2E weekly update…

So the scale is unkind but it’s sure isn’t it’s fault. My parents took all of us out for dinner last night for Mike’s birthday and I will admit I over ate. It has been a very long time since I had shrimp and it wasn’t naked shrimp either plus a few french fries and a glass of milk though no dessert or treats. However the scale said 182 this morning so that means it’s up two pounds. Now earlier this week I was in the 170’s but since I just count what Sunday’s say we’ll go with that. I didn’t measure this week but everything seems to be fitting the same as it has for the past few weeks.

Book, don’t know what that is. That requires time and since I’m still learning how to manage time without falling asleep when I sit or lay down I’m working on that. However I have 10 minutes in the bus while I’m waiting for school to get out and I’ve been reading a “how to book” for college students so when I am finished with that I’ll take my running book with me.

Exercise is better this week. At least I got 2 runs and 1 cross country skiing in and a couple days of light fish flopping exercise. I am going to start back up with Jillian’s 30 day shred this week. Day 1 on Monday during nap time. I need to up my exercise and down those calories if I’m ever going to get to where I need to be.

I visited you all only once this week, I did try to read a bit more but just haven’t gotten that much time right now but am trying. I do keep in contact with Casey and she’s been an amazing partner. We have a lot in common and we’re sharing more then just weight loss issues.

So a new week, new challenges and a chance to lose some excess me. I’ll keep trying my best and taking care of me and you must do the same. Take care my friends. Good luck this week and God Bless!!

No run, skiing instead….

This is suppose to be a 5k or 10k run or walk but since we have more snow then bare ground I decided to go cross country skiing instead. I skied alone today, Mike had Scott over and they went snowmobiling instead so I took off on my own with the dogs and though I didn’t use a GPS I’m figuring it was a good 7 miles or so. I was gone for better then 2 hours and by time I got home I was beyond tired and sweaty but it was so pretty and calm (except in the clearing it was windy) and peaceful. I did miss that it wasn’t Mike and I but it’s what he wanted to do and I needed to get out and going so I just went. I am not positive this will count for the Spring Fever run/walk but it’s what I did. I got some really good pics that I’ll share and then tomorrow I’ll update the E2E challenge.

This is a deer stand on one of our 40’s.               My skiing partners.

 

The snow was anywhere’s from 8” deep to over 18”. The trip out was hard, I broke trail. The ski’s were more like snowshoes then ski’s but on the way back it was easier.

Another deer stand on the 180 acre mark.       If you look in the center of the picture you’ll see our flag, I knew I was getting closer to home.

Rosy cheeks and tears from the wind.               Here’s the bib that I didn’t pin on but stuffed in my pocket till I got the picture.

Overall it was a great time out. I missed having Mike but…well he has a life too and I really do need to learn to go and do on my own so today did just that.

Now it’s about time to take a shower and head to bed. Tomorrow is shopping day. Not to much is needed which is great since we’re trying to save every single dime we have to head to Wyoming in about 3 weeks.

Take care my friends and have a blessed nights rest.

Midweek update…

Today I tried to write to Casey, my challenge buddy, it took me 12 hours to just write a short letter. I am just so short of time right now. I have been up for 17 hours and need to get to bed so I can get up at 4:30 and do this one more day. I am not complaining because this bus driving I am really enjoying. I was talking to my boss tonight and he said some drivers are just drivers, some are there to just make a living and then he said there’s me, loving my job, loving the kids and making it all work out. I just smiled because he’s right. However it still is very hard for me to get everything done when it comes to diet and exercise. It’s not cuz I’m not trying, it’s just that it’s hard. I am making more time for getting out and walking/running/trotting so it’s something and I am planning my meals the day before so that’s a huge plus. So for now if I can just maintain my weight I will be happy. If I can get some practice running in, I’m thrilled. I would love to stay awake long enough to read my books but I think that will be what weekends are for. Speaking of weekends, I’m going cross country skiing with Mike on Saturday. We have done this on his birthday weekend for the past 8 years and I am so very happy that it snowed enough that we can go. It got warm today so the trails will be hard and packed so not the nicest for skiing but I’m not going to complain one little bit. We’ll be out in the woods, I’ll be enjoying the fact I will have Mike all to myself with no phones, no people, no one to distract us, I’ll be where I want to be. This will be the last year we will do this, well possible not but it won’t be happening next year since Mike will be in Wyoming for his 21st birthday, after that well who knows what life will bring.

This isn’t a stellar weekly update but it’s nothing terrible either, just doing my best handling what life has to offer right now. And I am feeling good and that is what this is all about.

Take care my friends and have a great rest of the week. Blessings to you all!!!