What What

Life has been quite busy as of late.
We finally got our car back 2 weeks ago and it looks great, like nothing happened... but it did, I assure you.

My parents came and visited us and brought some furniture.  We shopped around at the local antique stores and a few pawn shops. Then, I went with them to Dallas for a week for a beautiful wedding celebration.  Then on to homeland for 2 weeks visiting with everyone and enjoying general merriment. I didn't forget to workout just because I was on vacation.  I used two different gyms and got most of my workouts in.

Honey got sick in homeland... sick I tell you.  Fever, barfy, cranky, sleepy, and cuddley.  I took her to the minute clinic and they strep tested her and found it negative.  I took her to a pediatrician to make her dad happy and he said it was just a virus going around to make sure she doesn't get dehydrated or worse.

I swam in the lake yesterday.  It was gross getting out there because the sand was really soft and squishy and had shells and grass in it. but once I got to a point where I didn't have to tough it was fine.  I even put my face in the water and swam laps around buoys.  This training for a triathlon has made me do things I wouldn't normally do like workout hard on vacation and for realz swim in a lake.
GoodLooking started work as a supervisor and starts working nights at some point.

We have an anniversary coming up soon. Six years is a long time.  The longest time I ever dated anyone that is for sure by a long shot.  Six years.  We sure have done a lot of things in that time.
We have: lived in 4 states, 4 apartments (one of them twice), and 1 home.  Visited over half of the United States, been to 6 beaches in 2 oceans.  We have been to Scotland, built and attempted to sleep in an igloo in Idaho in February, and successfully stayed a night in an old southern mansion/civil war hospital (converted into a B&B). We have a 19 month old child.  and a lot more.

Weight Loss and Headaches

I am proud of myself and the weight I have been able to loose.  I am proud of my body 3 weeks out of 4 and I am happy.  I still have goals and I want to achieve them.  Right now I am stuck at a certain weight and need extra motivation to get out in the humidity. If I tell you that is where I am in my journey it's not fair for you to say something like "no, you look good, girl, I could get to where you are and be perfectly happy" or "girl, what are you talking about, you look fine".   I don't want to be told to stop or that I should just be happy here.  This is not where I want to stop.

and now for an update::

On the 24th of May we drove to Colorado.  About halfway, we stayed at a hotel because 16 hours + stopping to change and run the baby in one day is impossible (if you have done it, congratulations).  I was really excited and determined to go swimming with Honey (bought and brought a swimsuit and swim pants just for the occasion) at the hotel so that is what we did.  She didn't last long and as I wasn't done Honey and GoodLooking went back to the room and I got in the hot tub and it felt great and was relaxing but there was a theater major that didn't want to stop talking so finally after maybe like 30 minutes I had to get out... I was stewing.
We got to Small Parcels house and waited for everyone to get there.  It was so great to see everyone and get some news and visit and laugh.
Sunday morning I woke up with a sore throat.  At church, it turned into a head/body ache.  It continued through Monday while we hiked.  No drugs seemed to touch it.
Tuesday Morning I was feeling quite well and wished half the party good luck on their travels throughout the day.  Tuesday night, it was decided I had Pink Eye (my most dreaded and feared ailment which I have decided isn't really all the bad except for throwing away about $45 in make up.
Wednesday Morning we said goodbye to the other half of the party and I went to the Minute Clinic for eye drops and ended up with Amoxicillin for strep and eye drops.  We went on some really fun bike rides and went to really cool parks and even went on the lake through out the trip but I am sorry to say I don't remember what day we did what but I remember exactly what day I went to the doctor, what day I threw up, and what day I went to the ER. I think it was Wednesday that we went to Boulder.  A really cool place to window shop and even take the kids because there was a small splash pad that Honey liked and REALLY didn't want to leave. I think it was also this night that we had really good take out Chinese food.
Sometime throughout the night, I had a really bad earache but I said a prayer and just forced myself to sleep.  I woke up and everything was really loud (my ENT said that was because it had popped in the night allowing the ear infection to clear out).
Thursday, we hung out and played ladder ball which is really fun if your other ear isn't in pain.  I think this was the night they grilled some AWESOME grass fed steak! I wish I lived closer to Idaho!!  This was also the night I went to the ER with impossible ear pain.  A 12 on the 1-10 richter.  The ER doctor said they couldn't pop it, the Clinic nurse was crazy for thinking I had strep, and there was nothing he could do beside pain pills and antibiotic for after it popped. He was really nice and I was able to sleep mostly through the night with the drugs.
Friday morning (we decided to extend the trip till Monday) I was sick from the drugs and puked my amox and thyroid pills but felt much better after.  We had a great day and the next day and church was good.  My only ailment the rest of the trip was that I was deaf in my right ear which I made an appointment  with my great ENT for for the following Thursday.  Our travels were good considering the baby and me being deaf.
Thursday I was able to get someone to watch Honey while I took care of the ear, the still sore throat, and thyroid blood levels.  He pierced my ear drum and because I am training for a triathlon we decided not to put in a tube. He checked my throat and said that it is in fact strep and the amox will clear it up and that the duration of time anyone takes amox was tested on strep (he is so smart and I can tell he is very excited about what he does.  I love him and if anyone needs a ENT (ear, nose, throat) he is the one to go to).  I am also still waiting to hear about the blood results but I feel great so I am not desperate.  One the way home, in the construction where two lanes became one, I got in a car accident.  The truck in front of me slammed on him brakes so I did and was able to stop but the cars behind me pushed me into him.  I am fine and glad that Honey wasn't with me.  The car is not fine and is on it's way to either being fixed or chopped into little pieces and sold to other people that need them.

Now we are back to real life and aside from having no car, a cough, and needing to pop my ear all the time we are back to real life.  The family reunion was enjoyed most of the time and a lot of people enjoyed it all the time I am sure and if anyone else posts about the reunion I will post a like here so everyone can know what we did and when.

Training

With 17 or so weeks till my planned sprint triathlon and knowing that I am not pregnant and can probably still participate if I do get pregnant between now and the event I need to buckle down and get serious!
Last week I started running again... That's the doctor recommended 2 week rest period.  On the 6th I ran 1.5 in 20 minutes.  I was going for a relaxed time just to make sure I could finish it out.  Then I ran the following Thursday 1.5 in 18.  Then without Honey on Friday 2.9 in 35(ish).  I felt really good about myself to have not run in such a long time and be able to keep my speed for the most part.

I plan to swim on Friday to get a feel for where I am and then make up a plan to get where I need to be.  I have not biked in a while so I probably have to start that over.

I have something to say about starting a workout system.  (This is something I have learned).  When I first started running (before the portion control and accountability plan) I didn't loose much weight.  At first, it is very frustrating because I wasn't seeing the scale back away very fast.  The scale is how I measured my success and it didn't make me happy.  I think that at first the number doesn't decrease because fat is moving and changing into muscle.  So while the number doesn't change (or maybe even go up), my body was totally changing.  My thighs were definitely getting toned and I know I was improving in distance and recovery time was getting shorter.  My advice to anyone starting to lose weight, put the scale away and listen to your body.  Think more about the way your pants fit and less about the number.  Think about the way running or weight lifting or elliptacizing make you feel.  That is the success.  I feel very successful in my weight loss attempts and I have been stuck at my current weight for a long time.  I know that my running is getting better and sometimes I can fit into clothes that haven't fit in a long time (I am glad I hung on to my clothes).   Keep at it and don't think about numbers unless they are repetitions with a smartbell.

Surgery and Post Op

On the 23rd I had surgery again but this time I had to stay overnight with a grenade hanging by a tube coming out of my neck (far from fabulous).
Recovery was a lot easier the second time around thanks to the Priesthood, Fasting, and Prayer.  And my mom being here to scrub and take care of Honey was great she made enchiladas to put in the freezer and did all my weekly chores on Monday so I wouldn't have to work for a week.  She also made a dress for Honey which we finished just in time.  And my sister coming and hanging out with me in the hospital.  That was a lot of fun actually.  She helped make sure I got the drugs I wanted, answered questions, talked, provided movies and other entertainment. Without her, I don't know, it would not have been the same.
I took my first hormone pill today and I am excited to have a non slugish hormone level. The doctor said it will be life changing once I get to where I should be.  It is nice to look in the mirror and not have the bulge in my neck where my large thyroid lump used to be.  The scar isn't bad at all and he worked it into a crease that I might grow into as I "age".
Today, GoodLooking made lazagna and I made crust for blueberry pie and we have jello in the freezer so it will be a great rest of the Sabbath.


BTW: I still have the dresser and desk for sale and you are welcome to stay the night here if you have to travel to pick it up ;)

Goin On

On Thursday the 11th of April, I went to an Ear, Nose, Throat specialist to talk about having the large lump in my throat removed meaning removing half my thyroid because they are tight like that.  Turns out they had an appointment available at the hospital the following Tuesday morning and as I am not a morning person I said no... just kidding.

On Tuesday the 16th of April I had a drug "margarita" and promptly passed out for a few hours while the Primary Pianist in our ward took my precious thyroid+2.

The following Thursday the 18th, the office called and left an "urgent" message to come in before lunch... so we did and I felt really sick and tired and my neck was sore.  He said that there was a smaller nodule that was self contained and malignant and because there is a nodule on the other side he is going in again Tomorrow the 23rd of March.

GoodLooking has done a great job taking care of me and the ward has set up meals that have been delicious.

My mom and sister are on their way now for a while and I am sure a good time will be had by most.

And that is the Goings On

Life

According to my phone

 Honey likes going on runs with me.  I just wish we could switch roles every once in a while

This is the shirt I made for a 5K called "Color in Motion"

This is what happened at the 5K

Honey in January

Spanker?? (naw)

She likes salsa

 I made this

and this

and this

Isn't she cute??

first hair do (by dad)

our washing machine tried to eat a sock

Easter and she is walking so well

And my most recent 5K in 34.52 on March 23rd