Good Week

I am sitting here at my kitchen table typing today! I got my hot-pink...excuse me, flamingo pink laptop in yesterday and my wireless router came in also. I love it! This is going to be fantastic!

I have had a fantastic week so far! Sunday we drove to the river where we built my in-laws cabin, and looked at ours which we started about 3 weeks ago. The roof is on it and it looks great. I'm glad my hubby's so talented! We built ours right on the river bank. The views are amazing. I will post pics when I figure out how to do it on this thing! I stood on the deck and looked up and down the river. It was crystal clear and I closed my eyes and could hear the water flowing downstream, rippling and such. It was a beautiful, peaceful moment. I think it's going to be my "happy place." My getaway, my safe haven, my refuge, from phone calls, doctors, etc. I can't wait until it's done! We made the rounds to our river neighbors, visiting. Then we went out to Maya's in PB for the best mexican food you could ever put in your mouth! Then backed that up with Dairy Queen where we all got blizzards! Family together-ness!

Monday, Kim and I went for another walk in the park. I couldn't resist the urge to run yesterday though, and got on the treadmill and ran 4 miles before she got here! It just feels so good to run right now. I don't know if it's because I am not doing as much or what, but getting up to a jog feels amazing. Kim stayed here all day yesterday, thank goodness, and she studied for a Microbiology test she had today...she just texted me and she bombed it. Guess that's what happens when you spend the afternoon watching Sunday's Desperate Housewives rather than studying! lol. But it was a great episode...I loved it! Last night Tyler had a home game. Just the 8th grade boys played and they lost. None of the boys really seemed very into it from the beginning. Maybe it was just second week exhaustion. They will get used to the schedule as it goes on. He has another game tonight, but I guess we'll have to miss it. :-( I hate that, but I really don't want to get up at 4am tomorrow to leave for St. Louis.

I got early this morning and ran 6 miles. It started my day off great! Then I recieved a phone call from a good friend of ours in Chicago wishing us well so that was great too. So we are leaving this afternoon. My surgery starts at 1115am "ish". I'm still hoping it will be earlier, so I can get it over with. I'm not scared, just anxious for it to be over and back awake! I've NEVER been put out before so this is all new to me. I will stay overnight at the hospital and get to come home on Thursday. I believe that God still performs miracles everyday, and He is greater than anything from this world, so He will take good care of me.

Michelle is on her way here right now with lunch for us so I'm going to go for now. Now that I have this handy-dandy thing, hopefully I will be able to post while we are gone. If not, keep the prayers coming and I will post after I get home. Thank you all again, so much for your kind words, comments, and emails. I read every one of them over and over and I am drawing so much strength from them! I feel ready to kick some booty!

"...And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
1 Corinthians 10:13

Victory

"But thanks be to God. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

We Be Ballin'

Another win last night, another great ballgame. I don't know if 4 3-pointers is the new standard or what, but Tyler is definitely seeing them right now! He had 17 points last night and they played great. Yes, Julz, he is a 2 shooting guard. He also plays some point. It makes me smile to see him on the floor in his #40 uniform, the same number Jack wore when we were in high school. Kenny Chesney's "I Go Back" is playing right now...I wish I could for just a week or so!



I got up and ran 4 miles this morning to start my day off on the right foot. Now we are on our way to Springfield to go to the wig place and check out my new do...or dos if my hubby gets his way! Haha! Hopefully we will get some mall time in while the guys hit Bass Pro. And I know we will be eating somewhere fanastic, and I've already requested Coldstone before we come home! Maybe I'll get to go to health food store today too. Somehow those two sentences don't match! teehee. But I got on the scale yesterday and I've lost 6 lbs in the last almost 2 wks. Geez. So I figure a little Coldstone may be just what the dr ordered!



Hope ya'll have a fantastic Saturday!!

A Change of Pace

Sometimes all we need is a change of pace. Kim and I went to one of our local parks this morning and walked about 4 miles. It was a beautiful morning for it. The sun was shining through the trees and you could hear the birds chirping and the frogs croaking. It was a God-given morning!



Last night Tyler had his second ballgame and boy did he show up to play! He played up to the 8th grade team (he's in 7th) and he got to start. They won their game 34-29, and Tyler had 22 points! He had 4 3-pointers! He was on fire. I was so proud of him. Then when he came out of the locker room, he was mobbed by like 6 Jr. High girls telling him what a good job he did and how awesome he was! I'm not quite sure I was ready for that! When we got home he said he wasn't sure if he'd be able to sleep or not...I said "from the game or the girls?" He said he wasn't sure! LOL! But it was a good night and a wonderful change of pace.



Tonight we have another basketball game, this one is away...only 30 minutes away though so that's good. Tomorrow we are going to Springfield, to go wig shopping. I decided to go ahead and get one so I would have it when I need it, and especially in case they have to order it, we will have extra time. We are getting one made from real hair that my stylist (a dear friend from childhood and now, and she's going too) can highlight and cut just like mine. I think it will be an interesting experience. My hubby, always the jokster, says he wants one in every color so we can shake things up a bit! Nice, honey. I can always count on him to lighten the mood!



Kim and I are going to grab some lunch...she went to pick us up salads so we going to eat and gab some more. Like we haven't done enough of that already!! My girlfriends have been my lifesavers! I hope you all have the bestest girlfriends, too!



"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Craving Normalcy

Wow! It's been a week! I guess I had myself a little blog-vacation, huh?? But I know ya'll understand that we've had a pretty busy week around here. Where to start? I guess I'll start with what we found out Friday at St. Louis. I had an appt at 8am at the Breast Center where we met with my dr ( I REALLY like her!), did more testing (ultrasound and biopsy of the lymph nodes, and a breast mri), and did all my pre-admit stuff for my surgery next week. It was a LOOONNGGG day. We got there at 715am and didn't leave until 345pm. It was worth it though, because barring any funky results, they would have all the info they needed and I wouldn't have to go back until day of surgery. And.......no funky results! Yay! We got the mri results on Tuesday evening...officially the longest flippin' day of my life! She said that she could see the cavity where they did the first surgery a week or so ago, but no other abnormalities in the right breast, and nothing in the left! Whew! The mri results were HUGE for me, because it was the big unknown in the equation. Who knew what it would show?? So that was great! The lymph node biopsy results were not so good, but didn't change the course of treatment any. They were positive for cancer, so instead of just taking out 2-3, she is going to take them all from under my arm. She said I was going to have chemo anyway because I am so young, and radiation was a given. So it was a bummer, but not unexpected. I was expecting that result. So next Wed. I am having a lumpectomy to clean up the spot where the lump was, remove the lymph nodes, and put in a port for chemo that will begin about 3 weeks following surgery. Since they are taking out all the lymph nodes, it will require an overnight hospital stay. :(

I am PROUD to say that I have been running every day. Not quite the mileage as before, but 5 miles a day is pretty good! My appetite has been hit and miss so the energy level hasn't been great. The other day after the mri results came in, I hadn't eaten anything all day, and after she called, we had pizza and cheesecake! Talk about celebration food! Haha! But it feels so good to run every morning. It feels normal...and that's what I really missing right now is normalcy. It seems like every conversation is about tests, or surgery, or treatment. But we are trying...and we are holding fast to God and His love.

I am prepping myself for surgery and treatment by doing some retail therapy. I have bought a hot pink laptop and 4 breast cancer awareness shirts with the following on them:

• Runner Girl - a silhouette of a girl running and the ribbon in her hair is a breast cancer awareness pink ribbon. This is my favorite!!
• Losing is not an option. I will fight. I will win. - This one makes me feel strong!
• I Fight Like A Girl - A hoodie I really liked.
• Pink Power - Hot pink with hearts...girly I know!

They have shipped and I can't wait to get them! Cafepress.com is a great site for ANY kind of t-shirt!

My best friends have been wonderful! They have been here every day...not letting me spend too much time alone. Thankfully, because that's when your mind starts to work. Kim, Michelle, and Tiffany have been my lifesavers this last week. And my sisters were here all weekend and that was all I ever needed wrapped in their perfect twin-package. Jack has been amazing. Supportive and strong, even though I know he's hurting too. And we are keeping the lines open with the kids and they are hanging tough just like mom.

It's been a busy week, so there's been a lot to say and I still feel like I've left so much out! But hopefully I am back now so I won't have to play catch-up again! Keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

My mom gave me this verse to hold on to, and I LOVE it:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Today I Ran

I cannot express how touched I am by the number of people who have responded since my last post. People I've never even talked to before have come forward to offer their kind words, positive experiences, and support. I have saved them all on my email on my phone and will read them daily to give me strength. So thank you from the bottom of my heart. ;-) *hugs to you all*
Right now I am going back and forth between wanting to stand up and kick butt or run and hide in the woods and pretend it's not happening! I know that the first is the only option for me so that's what I'm going to go with. I am starting to come to terms with the early diagnosis, while still trying to remember that real decisions and better information will come in St. Louis tomorrow. My appetite has been pretty poopy. But last night we were out and about, had to get out of the house and away from the phone, and we went for pizza. I LOVE pizza! Pizza and pasta are probably my two favorite foods! As soon as we walked through the door and smelled it, I was practically drooling! I ate so much pizza I thought I would be sick! Not like, a whole pie, mind you, but enough to make my stomach say, "Whoa!!" I guess when you don't feed it for over a day, it may need to wake up to something a little easier! Haha! But it was fantastic and I started to feel better. I had a decent night's sleep, thanks to a mild anxiety med. that I took last night. I also got a great leg massage from my hubby while we were watching Letterman. I may use that part to my advantage! teehee
This morning I RAN! At first I wasn't really feeling it, I just can't seem to turn my mind off and focus on something other than the c-word. I told myself that I should just do it for 10 minutes and if I still wanted to quit I could. But after that 10 minutes went by, I felt better. I kept going and going. I went 4 miles of speed intervals. Yay! When I got done I hopped off the treadmill. took Zachary to school, and felt normal for the first time in 2 days. Katie and I are going to do my hubby's work errands with him today. My bff has classes today, so she can't come and hang out like we did yesterday, and I'm not going to sit in the house all day screening phone calls and hoping nobody drives up to see me. I'm not being rude, I am just filling my time with all the positive, strong people I know. I can't talk to anybody that is going to make me cry, or break down. In fact it was last night before I called my baby sisters. My mom has been talking to them of course, and we have been texting back and forth, but hearing their concerned and weepy voices would be another thing altogether. So I waited until I was having a strong moment last night and called them both. I'm glad I did. And I'm getting really tired of telling the story to everybody who asks, and we live in a small town...everybody asks! And you might as well tell them if they do, because if not they are probably going to make up their own story! haha So we are going to get out today, maybe go eat some yummy mexican food for lunch, and just be around. Thank you again for all your support...I appreciate it and need it more than you know!

*Sarah sent me this Bible verse that I read over and over this morning and really touched my heart, so I thought I would share it with you.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:1-5

Rocked.

I am completely rocked. From my head to my toes I could not be any more stunned. I had a great 8 mile run yesterday morning and was making my breakfast when I got the call. When the phone rang, I thought, "here's the call I've been waiting for!" The call to confirm that the lump they removed on Friday is, like we thought, nothing. That call did not come. The nurse on the phone said, "You have breast cancer." I almost dropped my eggs. I have never felt more scared, and devestated in my life. Yesterday afternoon was a blur of tears and doctors telling me so much information I will never be able to remember. We left the dr's office numb and confused.

We left with more questions than we came with. Here's what we know: the lump they removed is ductal carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer. We have no idea what stage or how far it's gotten, if any, because they have yet to test the lymph nodes (because we thought it was nothing). I will definitely need more surgery, whether it's a lumpectomy or a mastectomy and possibly chemo and/or radiation.

It didn't take us very long to decide that we wanted to be in St. Louis at a major breast center up there. So that is what today has been about. Setting up appointments and finding doctors and surgeons that will become our lifeline in the coming days and weeks. We are seeing a breast surgeon for a consultation on Friday morning. She will look at the slides from my biopsy, my ultrasounds, and mammogram, and possibly do more testing of her own. From that she will determine which surgery would be best. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we go forward. Believing that God will take care of me, and He will never give me more than I can handle. I am leaning on Him and trusting that everything will eventually be ok.



No food pics for yesterday because I didn't eat anything substantial. My nerves just wouldn't let me. I've had a little bite or two today, but not much. I know I have to be strong for myself and my kids so I will pick myself up and be strong. I did manage to muster a little normalcy today, I got on the treadmill and walked for 30 minutes! Walked! Can you believe it? Me either! Maybe tomorrow I will run!

Katie's Request

Dinner was Katie's request tonight. She wanted butterfly noodles so I made Turkey Sausage and Broccoli with mini-Farfalle (butterfly noodles). We also had garlic bread on the side. She and I love this dinner, so we make it when it's going to be a girl's-night-in. The boys and the biggest boy are having a fish fry tonight so they aren't home.
They look forward to this particular night every year..."what night is that?" you ask. Well.... it is the opening day of gigging season. Here in Van Buren, on the banks of the crystal-clear Current River, gigging season runs from September 15-January 31 every year. It is when it is legal to go out at night, on your boat with high-powered lights rigged up on the front, and try (key word) to stab fish with a looooong pole with a 4-prong metal gig on the end of it. I know. Believe me. I have lived here my entire life and have only went once. Not the desire to go, mind you, but just to show my hubby that I have no business out there! I was cold, damp, and miserable the entire time...needless to say, I haven't went since. But the men and boys all look forward to it so much! Today wasn't the best opening day, though. Ike dropped a lot of rain here and upriver yesterday = a swollen, muddy river. But they were going to try to go and get enough to eat for dinner anyway. Jack, my dad, the boys, and our nephew Brad were all going in our boat tonight. Most of you probably can't even imagine what I'm talking about and that's ok. If I hadn't seen it for myself all my life, I probably wouldn't believe it either. :0)

Woo-Hoo Larabars!

OMG! I don't know what I love more...Sammie, from Running With A Recipe fame (!), who has sent me the most fantastic thing ever, the Larabar...OR...the Larabar itself! I have been looking forward to checking the mail everyday since she told me she sent them, and today was THE DAY! I was like a kid getting a new toy! Katie was like, "somebody sent you candybars?" Yes, mommy candybars! I have to confess I have already eaten the PB Cookie one. *blushes* I could not EVEN wait. It was heaven! So thank you, thank you, thank you to my blog buddy Sammie! Now I will have to order them by the box-full! *hugs*

Lunch-y Lunch

I'm totally taking advantage of the fall weather and having a bowl of steaming soup. It's Healthy Choice Country Vegetable...very yummy. And to go with a turkey, spinach, and rf cheddar wrap and a Jazz apple added at the end 'cause I was still hungry. This is the last of my Jazz apples. :-( I'll have to wait for another trip to PB to get more. With gas $4.09/gallon, it probably doesn't make much sense to drive 45 miles for apples. Dangit.I'm off to the bank, post office (I'm checking daily, Sammie!!), and to school to fetch my boys, well Zachary anyway, Tyler has basketball practice until 445pm. Then to the store to pick up something to make for dinner. Later ya'll!
*Somehow the pic of my soup did not show up...and I don't have time to find it right now!

Manic Monday

Good Monday Morning! It feels so amazing here this morning! Crisp and cool, just the way I like it. A far cry from yesterday when we had 60 mph winds gusting and rain falling, at least in the morning hours. The remnants of Hurricane Ike left a lot of down power lines and trees here...several schools in our area are out today because of power outages. Much to the boys' disappointment, ours was not one of them. Our power went out yesterday morning for about 30 minutes, then came back on. We (I) spent yet another day relaxing. With no more pain, I decided I would walk (!) on the treadmill for a little while. Well that didn't last long, before you know it I was jogging, and then all out running. I knew that would happen! Oh well. It felt good to stretch my legs...for 7 miles! I took it easy, though. The dr. said I could run Saturday if I wanted to, just wear 2 sports bras, but I think he just told me that because he knew that there is no way I would feel like going for a run on Saturday! He was right. I didn't. But I DID feel like making a new playlist on my iPod, I named it "Childhood's Calling." I downloaded 12 songs that I remember so vividly from my childhood, dancing around with my girlfriends at slumber parties, and hearing on the radio. Here's my list:

• Bop by Dan Seals (this was our skating rink song...a fave on the jukebox, I remember!)


• Meet Me In Montana by Dan Seals and Marie Osmond


• Everything That Glitters by Dan Seals


• Fishin' In The Dark by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band


• Redneck Girl by The Bellamy Brothers


• Hold On by Wilson Phillips


• Release Me by Wilson Phillips


• You're In Love by Wilson Phillips


• Manic Monday by The Bangles


• Let Your Love Flow by The Bellamy Brothers


• If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body by The Bellamy Brothers


• One Friend by Dan Seals

Can you tell I was raised in the Midwest?? Yes, much country goin' on here! Country music is still probably my favorite type of music, closely followed now by pop/rock. But I have had so much fun listening to these while running these last two days! If you are having a hard time getting out of a rut, I highly recommend finding songs you haven't heard in forever and adding them to your playlist. I had no idea how much it would add to my runs! I plan on finding more songs from my youngster-days and making more lists...I'll let you know what I choose!

This morning I was up at 545am. Made coffee, layered up my sports bras, put on my childhood playlist, and ran 10 miles. I hadn't intended on going this far, but I got in a rhythm and kept on going. With those 2 bras on, I.don't.move.a.milimeter. lol I guess that's the point! The incision was about an inch long, and there are stitches on the inside and dermabond on the outside. So I'm superglued together. Good to know. But it looks really good, it's neat and clean, I don't think it will leave much of a scar at all.

Breakfast was 2 Kashi waffles with Barney Butter and a bowl of strawberries. On a sad note, I wasn't chosen as one of the winners of the Barney Butter contest by Carrots 'N' Cake . I was sooo hoping to be chosen to get some free Barney Butter, but it was not to be. After looking at the winners, I see why! The entries they chose were great, and hilarious! My puny poem paled in comparison. :-( Congratulations to the winners!

So today looks pretty manageable, not "manic" like my title suggests! I have some banking to do, invoices to get out, and let's not forget, blogs to catch up on! Yay! I am hoping to hear from my dr. today or tomorrow about the results of my surgery. Funny, I wasn't even concerned about it until I just typed that just now! Praying for, and expecting, completely benign results! Hope you are all having a fan-tabulous Monday!

Soap Opera Munchies

I am channel surfing this afternoon, relaxing...it's harder than I thought! I started getting hungry so I poured a bowl of Kashi Heart to Heart with no milk; its easier to munch on that way! I'm enjoying it while I watch last week's General Hospital from my DVR. Thankfully, my medicine-head is starting to feel better. What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Prescription: R&R

So I am feeling much better today. But exhausted! Mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. I am so relieved that it's over and I will be even more relieved when we get the lab report back stating that the lump was indeed a fibroadenoma. I took my pain meds throughout the night, so needless to say I slept pretty well!

My stomach was still pretty "ugh" this morning so I didn't eat anything until afternoon. I kept it simple and had a bowl of vegetable noodle soup and cheese and crackers. Nothing fancy, just feel-better food...sometimes there's nothing better. It did the trick, I think I'm feeling much better! And I got a new Rachael Ray magazine in the mail today so I enjoyed my lunch while reading it.

Ooohhh...Doesn't That Look Good?

Too bad I could only drink a few sips of it. :-(

Lumpless!

So, despite major nerves, I was a big girl this morning and had the surgery to remove the lump. I'm so glad it's over..we are on our way home now. I still got up at 530am and went down to workout at the hotel. New hotel=new fitness equipment! Yay! I did a walk/jog thing on the treadmll for 5 miles, then did 10 minutes on the elliptical. I think it helped me to do my normal routine like every other morning. Anyway, I did feel like a Mocha Light Frapp as we were leaving town, but it didn't taste as good as I thought. Guess it's just the post-anesthesia effect, cause they're my fave normally. Well I'm off to chill for our ride home. We have to stop in PB to get mt prescription filled and pick up Katie's other shoe. Later!



Thank you to everybody who sent their kind words and sent up some prayers...I defintely felt them!



Sammie, I am SO EXCITED about my package!

More Of The Same

I'm sorry lunch is so boring today! I had the EXACT same as yesterday...a Morningstar Spicy Black Bean Burger with rf sharp cheddar and spinach leaves on a whole wheat english muffin and a Jazz apple. It is so freakin good! I thought today I could actually enjoy it because yesterday I had to eat it in the car on the run. So enjoy it, I did! I also didn't get hungry yesterday afternoon, at all. I know I could stand to eat a little more for lunch, but my stomach is completely full and satisfied. These may be my new favorite thing!

And a Fuze Tropical Punch...I haven't had these in forever! They are yummy!

A Late Start!

I feel like I'm running behind today! Well, I guess I kind of am. We are going to go to Cape tonight for my "procedure" tomorrow morning so today has been a whirlwind of scheduling, mail, bills, payroll, etc...all the typical Thursday/Friday business stuff that is normally spread, manageably, over the two days now must be done today. Whew!

I got up at 530 this morning and started running. I ran, and I ran, and I ran. I don't know what came over me...I normally do one long run a week (long being 10-12 miles) but today I just kept going, for 10 miles! Maybe it was in the back of my head that I probably won't be able to run for a few days? I dunno. At any rate, things are getting done and I'm crossing things off the list. I still need to finish payroll when my hubby gets home, and pack our stuff and the kids'. Geez, that's still a lot. :-(

Breakfast was: vanilla Greek yogurt, mixed berries, and an english muffin with Promise butter.

Now as for yesterday, I got the boys from school at 1230pm and we headed to PB to the dr. for Tyler's heel/leg. Found out that everything (muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones) look perfect, but the growth plate that is on the heel hasn't fused yet, which is what is causing the pain with activity. When the plate has fused completely the pain goes away. Apparently this is very typical and common is 11-13 yr.-old boys. He said he can tell by the xray that it is just starting to fuse (which also means a big growth spurt is coming) and within the next year it will all be ok. So we got inserts for his shoes to help cushion his heel, he prescribed Tyler ibuprofen to take and stretches to do to before practices and games. It was a good visit and we really liked the dr...worthwhile trip definitely. After that we headed to buy basketball shoes, I forgot how expensive those are, but we got $125 shoes on sale for $60! Score! And Katie needed new tennis shoes too, but when got home we found out that they forgot to put one shoe in the box, so she was very upset that she couldn't wear her new shoes today. We will just have to pick the other one up tomorrow on our way through. Needless to say, she was not happy! Poor Zachary got the hand-me-down yesterday. He needed new gym shoes, so he was the ahem...proud...recipient of Tyler's basketball shoes from last year. They look brand new! He wore them for a dozen or so games and only on the gym floor...they practically are new. But I did feel bad for him yesterday! Nothing in particular sounded good for me to pick up dinner and bring it home last night...nobody was being easy on me! So when we got home I made a big pot of taco soup. It was very tasty. I had mine with wayyyyy too many scoops and cheese though! And several snackies made their way to me last night too! But I was in bed fairly early, 9pm and asleep not long after that. So tomorrow is the "big day." The lady from the surgery center called this morning and gave me all the details and RULES. No eating/drinking after midnight (it's not until 1030am! I'll starve!), no makeup, jewelry, gum/breath mints (that will be lovely), and I have to wear my glasses, no contacts. Now won't I be a pretty picture in the morning! Glasses on, no makeup, and, my teeth will be brushed but, the nervous, after teeth-brush breath. Ugh..... Sounds wonderful, huh?? But I guess I have to look at it from a positive standpoint: No more ultrasounds, checking, worrying, wondering, etc. It will be gone and done with. Now that's what I'm talking about. Have a great day! I'll post when I can! Maybe tomorrow when I'm on my way home but still loopy...that would be fun!

New For Me!

So lunch for me was completely new today! I had read about others trying the Morningstar Farms Spicy Black Bean Burger so I found last week at Kroger. It was delish! I had it with a piece of rf sharp cheddar and spinach leaves on a toasted english muffin. I had to wrap it up and eat it on the way to the dr. appt. today and I also brought with me a Jazz apple. My lunch was delicious and filling. Good fuel for my busy afternoon!

Keepin' The Wheels Turnin'

It's Wednesday, already?? Well, yay! It's all downhill from here, folks! It has been such a crazy week. From Monday being Tyler's birthday, to Dr. appts. it has just been plain busy. Today is a Dr. appt. for Tyler. Back to the Dr. means yes, more driving. Yesterday was a 2 hr. trip to the breast center in Cape Girardeau and then TONS of driving around while Jack did his thing: looking for a specific tool he had to have, checking on the jobs, crew, etc. No telling what we spent on gas yesterday! Tyler's appt. today is for his feet - SHOUT OUT TO JENNA! - It hurts when he runs! Yikes! He has been having basketball practice every day but it didn't really bother him until he went in early one morning last week for Cross Country practice. (He's not running CC this year because of a conflict with the basketball practices for the Jr. High.) But it did bother him the last 2 season running CC, just not until late in their schedule of races and I just assumed it was an overuse thing. It didn't hurt all the time and went away when he wasn't running. But now I think it's time to get it checked out. It's starting to get irritated with all the basketball practices; he says the line drills about kill him! So today we are going to the orthopedist/podiatrist to see what's going on. Hopefully it's a shoe insert/new shoes deal...I have a sneaking suspicion it is. But he is also complaining of his knee bothering him, too sometimes. So we'll go get it all checked out. Seems to be a good week for this!Breakfast was a bowl of Kashi Hearty Oatmeal and my typical yogurt and fruit combo. Then Katie and I filled some time taking self-portraits. Here is our favorite:

So hopefully Tyler's appt. will go smoothly. I need to do some running while I am in Poplar Bluff, prescriptions filled at Wal-Mart, dropping off stuff at our CPA's office, etc. There's always stuff that needs to be done in PB. Oh, and Zachary informed me last night that he needs new shoes for PE. What?? He said he got recess detention yesterday for not having new shoes for PE. That sounds a little crazy to me. I can understand if you wear flip-flops or boots to school that you need to bring tennis shoes, but to require students to have ANOTHER pair of them just for PE?? Sounds ridiculous. I don't know about that one. I'll have to check it out. Could be a tactic for a cool new pair of shoes, or a cover for the real reason he got recess detention, or maybe it's completely real (in which case, I will be talking to someone)! I can get him another pair of shoes, but what about the families that can't? I dunno...we'll see.

Almost forgot about my run this morning: 7 miles of hills on (of course) the treadmill. 63 minutes, felt great!!

I am completely jealous of Sammie's weather...cool, crisp, and fall-ish! Makes me want to run outside. So I will hope that everyone else's weather is just as wonderful!

Comfort Food

Comfort food at it's finest was on the menu for tonight. My mom and dad had taken the kids out to dinner by the time we got home so I made myself some good ol' comfort food. I used some leftover mac and cheese and mixed in some chicken breast and broccoli (to make myself feel a little better about it!). I had some garlic bread on the side, too. Mac and cheese has been my favorite since I was a little girl! My mom said I would eat a whole box if she'd let me. Problem is, I still could!! After that, I had 2 bowls of ice cream. *Shameful, I know!* I've got to cut back on the desserts...I've been hitting them a little hard lately. But today I think it was particularly needed. So I'm off to bed to dream soundly...thankfully. :-)

Doing the Happy Dance!

So the Dr. appt. went very well! Yay! The surgeon said it is a fibroadenoma and we should just go ahead and take it out rather then just biopsing it. And it's so close to the skin, that we can do it with a local anesthetic and "happy shot" (my term not his! actually, I think I said something like "the margarita effect!") on Friday morning. He said I was too young to have to need ultrasounds every 6 months to watch for any signs of growth when we could just take it out and be done with it. Sounds good to me!



Afterwards we went to eat at the Olive Garden. It's funny how immediately after something like this, hunger hits! We both had the soup (minestrone), salad, and breadsticks. It was so good! Afterwards I had my hubby drive me over to Starbucks to get a Mocha Light Frappachino, my treat for being such a big girl! But the caffeine must not have had any effect on me whatsoever because when we got back in the car I slept for like, an hour. Probably the best rest I've had in a week. So we are on our way home now. My dad has been getting in some poppy-time today and he's probably about ready for some reinforcements! Hope you are having as good a day as we are!

Nervous Stomach

I was up early again this morning, I wanted to get a run in before we left to go to the surgeon about the biopsy. I thought I could run out some tension, but no such luck! But I managed to get in 4 miles before I had to hit the shower. My stomach wasn't anywhere near wanting something to eat, but I knew I needed something so I managed to eat 1/2 of the Honey Almond Flax bar and had my hubby stop and get me one of the protein shakes on the way. Not quite balanced but it's better than nothing.

A Happy Hubby

Mid Day Munchies

I have spent the biggest part of the late morning/early afternoon catching up on my blog-reading. I actually have an empty washer and an empty dryer so I had a little more time to spend on the computer. That doesn't happen very often around here! There's always something to be done! Lunch was a bowl of soup, Campbell's Light Italian-Style Vegetable and I made a wrap with spinach and a piece of leftover grilled chicken from last night. Yummy! I didn't eat the Jazz apple yet. I am full...I'll save it for a snack later.

It's Official

I have a teenager. I can't hardly believe it. Seems like only yesterday I was holding him in my arms thinking, "Wow, I'm a mom!" I was only 17, Jack was 19 and we were so happy and proud...and scared. But as I have come to find out, through the joys of having more children, that this feeling really doesn't change no matter how young, or old you may be. Whether you are 17, 27, or 57, the simple fact that God has given you this life to nurture and love is an overwhelming concept, but at the same time completely wonderful. I believe all babies are a blessing from God and Tyler was not given to us in our time, but in God's time. God blessed us with the greatest gift and in doing so, entrusted us to bring Tyler up a way that brings glory to Him. I hope we are doing a good job...I think we are doing ok! He's a pretty good kid!

But unfortunately for our little teenager, he had to go to school today! At least basketball practice is after school this week, so he did get to sleep in a little. Good thing, too, because I gave him Benadryl last night for the tons of chigger bites he got while playing around in the woods on Saturday night. They were itching so bad! For those of you who don't know what chiggers are, they are an almost microscopic bug, that leaves little bites similiar to mosquito bites, just smaller...and itchier! They are horrible. They always seem to congregate where waistlines, socks, and seams of clothing are. So Tyler and Zachary's ankles, waists, and armpits have little red itchy bites. The Benadryl helped immensely, but left them a little medicine-headed this morning! I sent them to school with Benadryl spray this morning, hopefully they will feel a little better today! Poor kids!

He still didn't know what he wanted for his birthday dinner, so my hubby suggested that we just grill steaks. Sounds fantastic to me, because that is less mess in my kitchen! Woohoo! Another night "off!" Tyler (with icing smeared on his face!) with both sets of grandparents; my parents on the left, and Jack's on the right.

Although Tyler didn't have to get up early, I still did. I was up at 530am. I did the usual, made coffee, unloaded the dishwasher, and went for a run. I did 6 miles this morning, kinda easy pace. I picked it up several times to a sprint but because I went 10 miles yesterday, I dropped right back down. I didn't want overkill. My legs were a little sore today.

For breakfast, I had a new ingredient! Yay! Shakin' it up! I made myself a sausage and egg white english muffin; I used a Morningstar Farms sausage patty, cooked an egg white and put them on a Thomas' Light Whole Wheat English Muffin, and on the side I had my yogurt and fruit. I just can't stop with the yogurt and fruit! But it was very good. Definitely a repeat and a great way to start the day!

Grillin' Sunday

I was so excited when my hubby asked me what I wanted for supper tonight. Why? Because he was going to cook it! Score! He grilled chicken, corn on the cob, cabbage, and carrots. It was so good and, like he said, "Healthy. Right?" Yes, honey, good job. And thank you...it was delicious!

Still Partying Hard! (More Pics)

Thought I'd post a few more party pics from last night!

Tyler posing with his cake!

Brad playing guitar

Michelle, Erica (me), Lacey, and Jessica (sis)

What a group of kids! Tyler is in the red with the "peace" signs, Zachary is in the orange on the shoulders, Katie is up front in the pink and brown tank, Hailey (Adrian & Michelle's oldest) is in the gray AERO shirt, and Spencer (their youngest) is up front in the gray t-shirt with neon yellow.

Whew! What a night!

Party Hard

Well I survived...barely. I was SO exhausted last night, we didn't get to bed until midnight. That's late for us! Tyler was so surprised last night! My hubby brought him home around 630pm and most everybody was already there. When he saw the SHUND sign at the bottom of the hill, it began to click. But when he got to the top of the driveway, he was so excited! It was quite a time! An hour after they got there he was still saying, "How did I NOT know?? I can't believe nobody told me!" Truthfully, I can't either! Half of our Jr. High knew about it, but somehow they all managed to keep it a secret. I'm surprised, and proud.

We grilled hot dogs and had chips for dinner. And of course birthday cake and ice cream! It was huge and Lisa, a lady here in our town who decorates cakes on the side, did an amazing job! And it was good, too! teehee I had 2 pieces!

After the band finished their set (they played for about an hour), everybody hung out and visited. Kids played outside, inside, and everywhere; they had so much energy and couldn't care less what time was! The boy/girl "thing" went very well, I think. 7 boys, 4 girls and they had a ball.

I think he may be the cool kid when he goes back to school tomorrow. You know, the one who has a rock band for his 13th birthday party. Does that make us the cool parents?? *lol!*

Tyler when he first got here! He couldn't believe it!

SHUND kicks off the night!

Our very good friends Michelle and Adrian and their 2 kids, Hailey (Tyler's age) and Spencer (1 yr. younger than Zachary), were the last to leave; they stayed until 1130pm. We always have so much fun with them! We all went to school together. Michelle and I were in the same class in school (Class of '96!) and ironically we were both cheerleaders all the way through school except our sr. year because we were both pregnant. No pact, believe me! But it was kinda neat to have someone to share it all with, we got married 5 months apart, and Tyler and Hailey are 5 months apart. It's sweet because they are good friends now, although I think they're starting to "spark" a little (but they'd never admit it!), and we are still very good friends too. Michelle just finished up her Nurse Practitioner last month, and I am very proud of her. And they just built a new house...they've had a busy summer!

Tyler and a few of his friends listening to music. That's Tyler in the red Hollister shirt. The cute, blonde one! I can't believe he's 13 tomorrow!







See the Christmas lights my sister and I hung on part of the porch? We hung those up all around the railings and on the porch overhang. They looked really cool when it got dark!





My sister, Jessica, and my Mom listening to the music. Jessica is a Kindergarten teacher and she and her hubby, Jason, are stock contractors for PBR and bull-riding events. They raise and breed bucking bulls. They have been married 2 years. I'm trying to get her to give me another neice or nephew! My Mom is CEO of Missouri Highlands Healthcare here in Southeast Missouri. She is a RN, with her master's in Public Health. She's awesome...and one of my very best friends!

I will post more pics later, they are on my Dad's camera and I'm waiting for him to email them to me. Hurry up, Dad! Anyway, the party was a great success, but I'm kinda glad it's over...we pulled it off and now we can collapse! His actual birth"day" is tomorrow so I'll cook whatever he wants for dinner, he'll probably say chicken and dumplings, so I'll prepare myself. As for today, I got up this morning at 830am. By far the latest I have slept in probably 3 or 4 weeks. I went to bed with a splitting headache and woke up with one too. Nothing that a couple ibuprofen couldn't handle, though. I took down all the lights, threw away the trash and put away all the chairs and came downstairs to run. I put on 2 episodes of "Desperate Housewives" and sat my pace and just went. It felt so good. I could've gone further, but I ran out of show! I'm going to enjoy my peaceful afternoon (hopefully), and look forward to watching the Colts play tonight on tv. Yay! I hope you all have a peaceful afternoon, as well!

Hotel Fitness

We went birthday shopping for Tyler last night and had the night to ourselves (lovely!), I only wished it could have lasted a little longer. We drove to Springfield last night (2 1/2 hrs.) and my hubby dropped me off at the mall (yay!) and he went to Bass Pro (99.9% of the men are big hunters and fishers here) to pick out Tyler some stuff for his birthday. Once that was accomplished it was already 830 and we were STARVING! My Kashi Honey Almond Flax Granola Bar was wearing off. We went to Red Lobster (double yay!) and I had the grilled shrimp w/ rice and steamed broccoli...and like, 3 1/2 biscuits!! Oh boy. I love their biscuits and when the waiter sat the basket down in front of poor, starving me, I just melted. I hope I didn't actually wolf down the biscuits as fast I think, because I probably looked rather crazy! And what do they have in Springfield, closest one to us I have to say...wait for it.....COLD STONE! We (well not really, just me and the kids!) love Cold Stone. Like I said it's the closest one to us and we get to eat there about once every two months or so. So even though I was full, I had to go! Even without kids, you just can't stop me! teehee I did have the sinless sweet cream in the like-it size, but it kinda loses it's pure-ness when you put a brownie, nuts, and fudge in it! My hubby was like, "What's the point??" It was a funny moment! We had several funny moments...it was a nice trip. Sometimes you get so busy with work, kids, schedules, and school, that it's easy to forget how nice it is just to be together...alone. Well last night I remembered and it was lovely.

We had to leave at the butt-crack of dawn this morning to get back to put this party together so no trip to the health food store, although I found one right in the same strip as Cold Stone, ironically. I couldn't look at it last night...felt.a.little.guilty! They closed at 7pm and didn't open until 8am, and we left around 715am so, shoot. Oh well. At least I found it. I'll go next time for sure. And we will be in a different city on Tuesday for my dr. appt. so maybe I'll google for some there! Idea! And something to look forward to!

Don't ya just love a hotel fitness room?? My answer is: sometimes. I have stayed in some of the nicest hotels and been utterly disgusted at what they call a fitness center, and I have stayed in some that are AMAZING...where I just want to go to workout! Bet you can tell which category this one fell into! Granted it wasn't a 4-star hotel either, but still. So up early and out meant another early workout for me. I really could have slept this morning, but after the ice cream last night, uh no. So I drug my butt out of bed at 515am and went to the fabulous "Hotel Fitness Center." I was more than a little disappointed, but hopped on the treadmill first. When I started to run I thought one of two things is about to happen: 1) This rattle-trap is going to fall apart, or 2) It's going to fall through the floor onto unsuspecting guests below. Boy I sure hope there was no rooms below me...it was on the second floor! So I just walked and took the incline from 1-15%, one each minute, then back down. 2 miles was enough. That brought my weekly mileage total to 45. Cool. Then I did 15 minutes on the stepper-thing there and then hopped on the bike to ride for 15, but the pedals were falling off. I gave up on the machines, did 100 squats, stretched for awhile and called it good.

I had another Kashi Honey Almond and Flax Granola Bar when we got in the car, and made myself a fruit and yogurt parfait when we got home. Now it's on to straighten up the house and get things together for our 13-year old's BIG BASH! Uh-oh, a party guest just called to check on the time.......AND IT WAS A GIRL! Geez, I'm not ready for this! lol

...whispers...he still has no idea!!...

So I may be back on here later today, not really sure how it's gonna go this afternoon. But I'll definitely post some party pics tomorrow.

TGIF!

So, I was up WAAAAAY early this morning. And I didn't have to be! Tyler didn't have basketball practice this morning, so I didn't need to get up until 630 or 7am. But I woke up at 430am and couldn't go back to sleep! I watched the news, drank a cup of coffee, unloaded this dishwasher (Tyler said, "Did I hear you unloading the dishwasher at 530??" Unfortunately.), and went ahead and ran for almost an hour. I did 6 miles. It was still not even 7am!! So yeah, got the boys up and at 'em, read some blogs, wrote a check for Tyler's Jr. Beta dues, made sure Zachary had his snack for his Good Behavior Party today and out the door we went! Oh yeah, somehow in all this "extra" time that I had, I forgot to wake up Katie...so she went in her pjs! Geez. You know that joke about your mom wanting to make sure you were wearing clean underwear in case you're ever in an accident?? Well poor Katie would have been the child that her mother forgot to dress! *lol*

Breakfast was a Thomas' Light Whole Wheat English Muffin with a packet of Barney Butter and fruit and yogurt. Yummy!

I guess it's a good thing I got everything done early, because I had to go the imaging center, yes you guessed it-45 miles away, to pick up a copy of my ultrasound for the biopsy on Tuesday. So I did that and came straight back home. I didn't even go into town.

I was hungry by noon, so I had leftover stir-fry...again. It was delicious but I didn't take yet another pic of the stir-fry. I figured you knew what it looks like by now. But good news is, it's gone! And I didn't waste any food...yay me! I also finished up the strawberries and cantaloupe...and Katie's leftover shells n cheese! Oops! And as if that wasn't enough, I baked cookies!! But I haven't eaten any............yet. :-)

These cookies are soooo good! They are the Skinny PB and Chocolate Chip Cookies from Carrots 'N' Cake. Delicious!

And you can thank me later for the close up! Couldn't you just eat it right off the screen?! The recipe is so easy and these are not bad for you - believe it or not!

My hubby's sister is coming to pick up our children around 4 for them to spend the night at her house. We are going birthday shopping for Tyler. And just like everything else, the closest mall and shopping area is 2 1/2 hrs. away. Yeah sometimes it sucks. But we are getting up early in the morning and coming back home because we are having the biggest surprise party for him tomorrow night! Well the party isn't a surprise, he knows we are having a BBQ and birthday cake, but the entertainment is! Our nephew Brad, who is 20, is in a rock band and Brad is Tyler's idol. His band SHUND is going to play for Tyler's party. We have invited a ton of family and friends over that he doesn't know about!! It will be a ball! The weather is supposed to be beautiful and it should be a wonderful night. I just can't believe he will be 13! Hard to believe! OK, well I better get payroll finished so I can go pick them up from school and we can go shopping! Hope everyone is having a great day!

More Chicken!

Yep, more chicken. Seems to be popping up a lot these days! Sorry for the repetitiveness! But tonights dinner was chicken fajita pizza. It is a recipe my mom used to make all the time and we all love it. It is a thin crust pizza with sauteed chicken strips, bell peppers, onions, salsa, and cheese. I ate WAY too much! Then I had sf ff vanilla ice cream with strawberries for dessert. Now I am STUFFED. Good night everyone!

Look Familiar?

Sorry but lunch is boring blog-wise! But my stomach didn't think it was boring...it thinks it's VERY FULL! I had leftover stir-fry from last night with a bowl of cantaloupe and strawberries There is something about all the veggies and brown rice that makes me very full. Probably just the sheer volume plus the fiber. But anyway it was good! Got my biopsy scheduled for next Tuesday...wish it was today! I just want to get it over with.

I am going to order Tyler's birthday cake this afternoon. I hope she has time by Saturday!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Ugh. That pretty much describes the weather here. We are suffering from the effects of Hurricane Gustav, sitting and spinning right over us. So it has rained here for 2 days straight and I'm ready for it to pass!

I got up at 545am and ran 7 miles in an hour. I did a Nike Speed Training interval workout that I downloaded from iTunes a year or so ago. It has sprints ranging from 1 minute to 4 minutes, then afterwards I just kept cruising at a good pace while I listened to Gayle King on xm. I hadn't intended on going quite that far, but I just kept going!

I was very interested in hearing what Gayle was going to talk about today, in particular about R-VP candidate Sarah Palin. I was upset about some things she said on yesterday's show and was curious if she had anything else to add. She didn't. On yesterday's show, Gayle was talking about the news that Gov. Palin's 17-year old daughter was pregnant. Gayle made the comment that if had been her daughter, who's now 22, she would have encouraged her to get an abortion. Then she said, referring to the statement made by the Palin family that they were "excited about being grandparents," that they were lying and there was no way they could feel that way. That they couldn't possibly be excited that their 17-year old daughter was going to have a baby. Well I am drawing from personal experience here, from the daughter's position: I was that 17-year old, pregnant and in love. And no, my parents were not thrilled or even the least bit happy when I got pregnant with Tyler, but they quickly moved forward and began to embrace the idea of being grandparents because like it or not, that was what they were going to be. So I think Gayle's statements regarding the Palin family were a little harsh and unnecessary. And as my mom said this morning, "We embraced the pregnancy because that love and support was what you needed at the time." What great parents!

*Steps off of soapbox*

Breakfast was a familiar Oatmeal and Egg White Pancake, mixed fruit and a vanilla yogurt. Yum-O!

Unexpected

I am missing a pic of my snack(s) this afternoon. Obviously there was more than one because of my pitiful "lunch." When I got home I had a bag of the popcorn and a string cheese, same as yesterday, but then out of stress and anxiety finished the rest of Katie's Spongebob Cheez-Its! It was just a serving or so, but I wasn't hungry, just stressed. My dr. called this afternoon and they want to me go in for a biopsy in 2 weeks on the lump that they "think is nothing." So they reinterated "nothing" again and said it was just for precautionary measures...still stressful. This is one problem I cannot deal with; I have given it to God. He can and will take care of me and I am going to trust Him! But in the meantime, I may need a nerve pill!! lol

Dinner was a very simple (thank goodness!) chicken stir-fry and whole-wheat rolls. I also got fortune cookies because the kids like them. Not the cookies so much, just the breaking and fortune part! It was very good. We haven't had stir-fry in a while and we serve it over brown rice, it is very filling...and healthy! Yay! Now on to a "quiet" evening of tv surfing, waiting until the Republican National Convention comes on at 9pm. I'm very interested to hear what Sarah Palin has to say. Hope you all have a good evening!

Just Jazz-y

I can't really call my mid-day meal a "lunch," but it will have to do today. I had a Jazz apple and a low-carb chocolate caramel protein shake after we signed papers. Then it was a quick stop at Kroger to pick up things for dinner, plus a few extras. I was in a hurry to get back to town to pick up the boys from school, so lunch is what suffered today. I need a snack!

Up And At 'Em

Wow! Does my breakfast look a little different this morning?? Yes, just a little...I had a Thomas' Light English Muffin with a single-serve packet of Barney Butter...OMG, yum! (Even if I did have to pay $10 for 10 little packets of it...it was like $3 plus $10 shipping, or something close. My credit card statement said $13!! Crazy! I hope my hubby doesn't see that one!) And then I had to have my Dannon Light n Fit vanilla yogurt with mixed berries. I couldn't go completely off-the-wall! It was all delish!

I was awake this morning at 530am. I wanted to go back to sleep so badly, but I knew if I did it would be even harder to get up at 6. So I turned on the news and drug myself out of bed. I took Tyler to basketball practice and came back and had just enough time to run 8 miles. I took Zachary to school at 8, and got to take a shower as soon as I got home. I had plans to pay bills this afternoon, but a trip to sign papers today means that I have to adjust my schedule a little. So I came downstairs and paid bills first...before I ate breakfast. By the time I was done it was almost 10am and I was starving! Breakfast was extra good because of that I'm sure! And because of that darn Barney Butter...I'm going to have to ration it out though, because I can't afford to make that order very often. :-(

So we are leaving to go sign papers as soon as my hubby gets his office work done. He's been wheelin' and dealin' all morning (well actually drawing plans and putting together estimates). I am taping "The View" because I don't have time to sit down and watch it this morning and it's a whole hour of hot topics. Those days are my favorites! Well I've gotten so much done this morning that I can relax for a second. I'm just going to catch up on my blogs until he is ready to go. Hope you all have a great day!