Let’s Get Scanned

Soooooo, here it is Wednesday and I’m just now posting for the first time this week.  Oops! 

I actually started a post on Monday after I got home from my long run (10 miles), but got called away to do something else and there my post sat-unfinished and alone until I finally got home at 845 that night from Katie’s gymnastics class.  I was totally exhausted and out of inspiration so I just did the necessities [Sorry!] and fell into bed around 10.

Yesterday was more of the same, except it didn’t involve a run but DID involve a trip to PB with the hubs and a lunch date.   I love him.  We are giddy-happy together.  Especially yesterday.  I promise I will fill you all in, in a few days.

Patience, people, patience.  I know-it’s not my strong suit either.

So back to Wednesday.  Today has involved:

• a big cup of coffee,
• an even BIGGER load of laundry,
• a 5-mile run on a tender ankle ,
• some Jillian for strength-and our BONE HEALTH, GIRLS!,
• some office work,
• and eating my weight in watermelon.

Now it’s already after noon and I AM taking time to blog.  I’m actually also taking time to check into the details of my PET scan, which is Friday. 
 

You may remember from this post, that at my last check-up with my oncologist, which went great, I mentioned about getting a new body scan.  I haven’t had any scans (other than mammograms and breast MRIs) since before treatment began and I feel like I really need to SEE that I am still in remission and cancer-free.  Even though my dr doesn’t not necessarily feel like there is any indications to order such a scan, he obliged and ordered a PET scan for me anyway.  We heart him.

SO, Friday is scan day.  I’ve been looking over the details because I’ve never had a PET scan before.  CT scans, bone scans, MRIs, mammograms- YES…but no PET scan.  I’m going to consult with Tiffany before Friday and get more details from her, but I noticed on my sheet that I am to eat a low-carb diet the day before the scan.

WHAT??  I’ll STARVE!!

I am marathon runner!  Carbs are my life!!  Everything I eat has carbs.  Not to mention that on the couple of times I have tried a low-carb type diet in the past [I mean WAY PAST here, y’all] I was not a pleasant person to be around.  It was brutal.  Oooh-weee!  So I’m trying to get my mind thinking about what I’m going to eat tomorrow that’s not high sugar/carbs.  Of course I’m over-acting this…I’ll manage.  But still!

But I did notice one big bright spot to the whole test process- other than it showing that I am still in remission of course.  Check this out:

Do you see what I see??!! 

“…rest quietly for 45-60 minutes…” 

Oh yeah, I can totally do low carb for this.  A PET scan may be a busy momma’s dream.  I’ll let you know!

And the mammogram is well, routine.  I’ve had plenty and since I still have my boobies, I’ll have many many more. 

LADIES, DO NOT DISREGARD THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING YOUR MAMMOGRAMS.  They save lives.  Period.  What are you waiting for??  A quick and simple test to ensure that you have healthy TA~TAs is so worth it.

I personally am still laughing after watching this: 

I mean, really, if Jack Black can do it so can you.

Have an awesome day, guys.

Love y’all!

xoxo

Can Anyone Freeze Time?

T.G.I.F.  Seriously.  Whew!

I know the kids have only been in school for three days, but I’m really glad Friday is here so we can recover and regroup over the weekend!  Thankfully, the next two weeks are four-day weeks so we really are easing into this school year.  Ok, by me!  Start slowly and in small steps…

All is going well with this school year so far.  The boys seem to like their classes {well, MOST of them} and Katie loves her teacher and the fact that she and Mrs. Grubb are cousins.  You know, at this age, kids think it’s cool to be related to EVERYBODY.  I remember when I was little that my friend, Heidi, and I would pretend that we were sisters…and not just any sisters, TWIN sisters.  I’m not sure how we conceived this idea given that everybody knew both sets of our parents and siblings, clearly we were not sisters.  And as for the twin thing- well, I was born in February and her birthday was July.  Guess we didn’t think that one out too well either.

At any rate, Tyler went to school before 7am for cross country practice, and Zach and Katie at the normal time.  Ty wasn’t so keen on CC this morning…clearly he’s not a morning runner like his Momma!  Jack was taking him in to the school, and I had to think, “In two short weeks, he can drive HIMSELF to school for early morning practice.” 

I don’t think I like this.  At all. 

I am complete denial mode when it comes to him getting his driver’s license.

Sigh…

If anyone can figure out a way to freeze time, please let me know.  And maybe work quickly…I have less than two weeks.

Have a awesome Friday.

xoxo

My New Running “Friend”

Hey y’all!

I am a happy, happy girl this morning!!  Why??

Because I did this:

Yay!!!  It’s been a long ten days, my friends.  And these 8 miles felt goooooddddd!!  Oh running, how I have missed you!

As far as marathon training goes, I’m going to push everything back a week and pick up with my step-back week on Sunday, with my long run being 10 miles next week.  I am so excited to be back.  I hope my ankle continues to feel the same. 

Speaking of my ankle, I now have a new friend to run with:
 

The dr told me to run with this brace and it will help keep my ankle stable and good to go.  It felt weird running with it this morning at first, but I quickly got used to it.  Get ready, brace, you and I are in for a lot of time together.

I’ve also got to get my stretches in today. At the PT on Tuesday, Katie was showing me how to do some of the exercises they prescribed for me. She’s such a great help!

I’m finishing my smoothie now and after I clean up I’m going to go upstairs and work on Katie’s room.  I nearly had a small heart attack when I went to wake her and Zach up this morning.  I didn’t say anything to her, though, because I didn’t want to upset her just before leaving for school.  Oh the things us mothers do… 

Have a great Thursday, loves!

Eat something colorful (it’s healthier!), tell someone you love them, and check your boobies!

xoxo

Back To School

My house was too quiet and boring today.

So quiet and boring, in fact, that this morning I had to lay down and take a little nap on the couch to the soft rhythm of the rain falling outside.  Are you ready to punch me yet?!  

~Sorry to my little sisters who spend their days in complete kid wonderful-ness…one who is a stay-at-home momma of two rambunctious little boys ages 3 and 1, and the other, the mother of a one year old AND a Kindergarten teacher.

But seriously, here is my thinking: Taking today off easy is not a big deal.  I think the first day back to school should be the Mommas day to collapse and enjoy the quietness of the household!  Yes, it may involve emptying the dishwasher or doing a load or two of laundry, but a nap is definitely OK in my book! 

Do I have any Mommas in agreement?? 

Well before said nap, I managed to take a quick picture of my kiddos before I took them to their first day of school.  Zachary and Katie were waiting and ready to have their picture taken…Tyler, notsomuch.

See the forced smile?

Well, I guess it’s better than the sophomore snarl.

I basically had to drag him outside to take a picture.  Geez!  At the end of our “discussion” he decided that the first day of school picture would be better taken at home than at the school.  Mmm hmm.  That’s what I thought.

Zach and Katie were all smiles, though! 

Zach is now the big dog in the middle school building, being in 8th grade and all.

And Katie, well, Katie will pose for a picture ANYTIME.  You never have to convince her to take a picture!

Now that the day is done and everybody is back home from school and Wednesday night Youth Group at church, it is apparent that the first day took it’s toll on everybody.  There are not as many flips going on in the living room, and the boys aren’t out playing baseball with the pitching machine.  It is pretty peaceful this evening.  Everyone had a great first day of school! 

I’m going to unplug and enjoy the rest of my evening before bedtime.

Love y’all!

xoxo

Happy 3-Year Blog~iversary!

Hey guys!!

Any chance you know what today is?? 

It’s ok, I didn’t really expect you to know, I just thought I’d ask.

I can give you a hint:

Today is my 3-year blogiversary!!!  I really had no idea what the actual date was that I started this blog, but I knew it was August 2008.  When I looked at my post log this morning, I saw that my first post was three years ago TODAY, August 24, 2008!  Wow!!!  

So HAPPY BLOG-IVERSARY TO ME!! 

To date, I have written 585 posts- 228 of them about my fight with breast cancer.  Of course, this blog didn’t start as a breast cancer blog at all; I wasn’t diagnosed until September 16, 2008.  But my little nutrition and exercise blog definitely had a change of tune after my diagnosis. 

So what began as an online journal to share my eats, recipes, runs, and other modes of exercise has become my way of sharing my journey with breast cancer with others - a way to motivate, share, lift up, and encourage all who visit here, and most certainly, other women diagnosed with breast cancer.  Through my blog I have shared my thoughts and fears, prayers and hopes, my amazing family, and most of all my faith in the Lord.  It is my prayer that God would continue to use this blog for HIS purpose and that He alone would be glorified through it.  Like I’ve said before,

This is my story, for HIS glory.

Many Blessings to you.

xoxo

Twas the Day Before School Starts

Hey y’all!  Happy Tuesday morning to ya!!!  I hope your week has started out grand!

I thought I would give you a couple of days to recover from the “Love You Through It” song and video on the last post.  True, right??  I know.

Actually I really had intended on posting yesterday and even started a post, but then got up to do something and never got to sit back down at the computer.  It’s ok, this is how it goes.  I go in spurts, you know this.

Yesterday we kicked off Tyler’s second year (Wahhhhhhh!) of high school baseball.  I can’t believe he is a sophomore…it brings me to my knees every time I think about it.  Literally.  The Bulldogs did great in their first season under their new head coach and came away with a 7-6 win over Doniphan!  I only got to stay until the end of the 4th inning though, because I had to high-tail it to PB to get Katie to gymnastics by 630.  Run, run, run!

Katie had a great class, and afterwards her coach came to talk to me about moving her up to the tumbling class on Thursday nights instead of her current class.  I was thrilled, and so was Katie, because tumbling is what she really wants to do anyway.  It’s the back handsprings, walkovers, flips, and such that she is going to get the most use out of, from a practical standpoint.  So we are going to look into getting her switched into the older class this fall.

“Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Tomorrow is the first day of school for my kiddos.  I have never been the mom that has looked forward to school starting.  I always am always counting down the days until they get out in May and dread having to send them back in August.  I have said this before, but I like to have all my chicks in the nest with me.  But this year has me feeling a little different…

I’m actually afraid that if my kids DON’T go back to school that they may kill each other, and me in the process!  Haha  They are really picking on each other, especially the conflict between the boys and the girl, and Zachary and Katie have such a love/fight relationship that they are slapping each other one minute and snuggling on the couch the next.  And the mouthing is really getting to me.  Geez, did I sound like this when I was younger??

Nevermind.  Mom, don’t answer that. 

I already know the answer.

And I’m sorry.  

So-
Are they bored? 

Just “at that age?” 

I don’t know but something's gotta give, school may be the right answer.  We shall see…

 

But I know that at 8am tomorrow all conflict will be forgotten and I will miss my high schooler, middle schooler, and 2nd grader like crazy.  The house will be far too quiet (and clean), and I will be sad. 

So today I’m going to enjoy the last day of summer with my “babies” and soak up every bit of them that I can.  I’m praying that I soak up love and respect rather than frustration and crankiness!

Oh, and I’m going to the foot dr today for my ankle.  Say a prayer that it is nothing big and I can run SOON!!!

So enjoy your day, soak up some love, and check your boobies!

xoxo

Love Me Through It

Ok, so don’t fall over in shock because of two posts in one day.

You’re not hallucinating.

It’s me, I’m here.

I’m here to share a very special song with you.  You may have heard it already on country radio, but just about thirty minutes ago was the first time I heard it. 

And I’ve listened to it 5 times. 

And went through a box of tissues.

You’ve been warned.

It is my thoughts and experiences, sung by the beautiful Martina McBride.

I have no words.

Enjoy.

Here…have a tissue.

Told ya.

Love you guys.   So much.  Thank you for loving me through it.

xoxo

Still No Run

Hey Friday!  Are you glad the weekend is finally here?

Yes, me too.

This is the last weekend before school starts next Wednesday.  It really seems like summer just started, I can’t believe the new school year is here already!

HAHAHA, I love Baby Blues cartoons!

What I REALLY can’t believe is that, as of Wednesday, I will have:

• A 2nd Grader,
• An 8th Grader, and
• A Sophomore in High School!

The fact that Katie, my BABY, is going into second grade makes me sad that we will never have another Kindergartener or 1st grader…seems so weird, we’ve always had a younger elementary child and to know that we will never again be going back to here is mind-boggling kind of. 

And Zach going into eighth grade means it’s his last year in middle school, which means that Eighth Grade Graduation and HIGH SCHOOL is right around the corner…YIKES!!  I am SO not ready for my baby boy to be a high schooler.  

Tyler being a Sophomore this year is another mind blower for me.  It really just seems like I was just in tenth grade, like, yesterday!  My Sophomore year was my best year of HS: a huge state cheer squad, a driver’s license, and a new hottie boyfriend who stole my heart as quickly as he stole the opponent’s passes on the basketball court.  Yeah...it was a great year.  Oh wait, this was supposed to be about him, wasn’t it?  No, I cannot believe he’s going to be a sophomore and in less than a month, DRIVING!!

Time moves so quickly; and it seems to be speeding up, not slowing down any.  If I could freeze time, I would, right NOW. 

Do you want to know what time is NOT passing quickly??  This.week.not.running.

Ugh. 

Yes, this is the state of my ankle:
 

Let’s compare this to earlier in the week, shall we?:


So I don’t know if it’s any worse but at any rate, it still hurts.  I thought it was getting better about Wednesday or so, but if it was healing it’s completely stalled out now.  It hurts.  I can’t walk straight on it.  I’m limping.  Running is SO out of the question.
 

Of course this has me a tad stressed, and also questioning my upcoming marathon in October.  With an 18-miler already under my belt, I’m feeling confident distance-wise.  But if this injury doesn’t heal quickly or if it puts me out of training for very long, it won’t matter WHAT I’ve done previously. 

Hmph.

I have an appointment with my foot doctor on Tuesday so I’m hoping he can give me some good news.  If not, the inaugural St. Louis Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon may not be in the cards for me.  Maybe the half?  Who knows…  I’m praying for the best.

Remember my post on Pinterest the other day??  Well…thanks to the motivation I found during one of my many browsing sessions, I have completely redone and organized my kitchen cabinets!!  I mean, emptied every cabinet out completely, wiping them down, and reorganizing e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.  It feels so good!  Of course, nobody knows where anything is yet, but they’re a smart bunch…they’ll figure it out.  But in the meantime it’s kind of funny to watch them open every door in the kitchen looking for the snack cabinet. 

Next on my list, is my laundry room.

I’m gonna go for now…see y’all soon!

Make your time count, count your blessings, and check your ta~tas

xoxo

My New Fascination

Hey y’all!  How’s your middle-of-the-week treatin’ ya??

I am getting a little anxiety about school starting ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!  Yes, there are clothes to be bought, shoes to be tried on, and mountains of supplies to be picked through- well, the boys don’t care what kind of supplies, if any, they get.  But Katie is quite the opposite.  I think I’m ready.

I always loved school supplies shopping when I was a kid.  The full notebooks with clean sheets of paper just waiting to be written on, newly sharpened pencils, and cutesy book bag all made me very happy.  Call me a dork, I know.  But there was just something new and fresh about it that I loved.

I did not pass that trait on to my boys.

Something I am going to pass on to you, though, is my new fascination…

PINTEREST!

Ok, so I may be the last person in the world to hear of Pinterest but seriously it is the coolest thing ever.  What it is, basically, is
 

I have found absolutely everything under the sun there.  I now want to redecorate my entire house, organize my junk drawers, cook a slew of new recipes, and buy a label maker. 

Yes, a label maker.

For example, I want my hubby to build me this:
 

I want to cook this:
 

And I want to live this:
 

You may want to check it out and look around.  But I’m warning you, once you start browsing it’s hard to stop!

Enjoy!

xoxo