And..

 

It's Monday, soo...

Last week's progress:

Great day at the gym on Tuesday--a new level on the hill program, 35 minute workout, fastest I've ever gone..I was happy.
Sick Th-Friday so no workout.

Sat. morning, went to gym, did 30 minutes of level 3 on the hill program. Not as intense as Monday, but not bad, either. Then I went home and cleaned for 90 minutes--HARD cleaning. So lots of working out that day. 

Also did some strength training and seated yoga poses. 

No fast food! Lots of cooking! 

So not a bad week, over all.

Gyming

 

My first "Real" day of this:

**35 minutes on the treadmill. Hill program level 4 (highest yet). Really felt good to do a proper workout, instead of the short ones I've been doing because people were waiting for machines. 

**Seated yoga poses (because, according to one of my PTs, I have the 'tightest hamstrings in the world.' since then, I've stretched them a LOT and have gained much flexibility. But they still get uber cranky when not given sufficient attention.)

And, I use the following tools: An Ultimate Workout Log, and the Self Challenge (link for the Challenge on the page). I've done parts of the Challenge before (usually the strength training stuff) and this year's looks pretty sweet. Plus you win cool prizes just by logging workouts and meals! That's some motivation.

Beach Countdown

Jane's doing this...I might as well join...

 

See, I've got two big things happening in August: 

--Duck vacay (read: swimsuit)

--Tiff's wedding (read: photos that will be on walls forever)

So, here's the plan:
1. No fast food

2. Exercise at least 3 times a week

3. Post progress

Three times a week is TOTALLY doable. Let's be real here. I have DVDs at home, the gym's not that far. It can be done. 

Starting...tomorrow.

The First Day of the Great Snow

Brought:

• Books: By the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Molto Mario, The Olive and the Caper, Jesus, Teach Us to Pray. 
• Music: Bach for Book Lovers, Beethoven for Book Lovers
• Exercise: Seated yoga poses (whoa did I need those)
• Movies: A wee bit of Oliver Twist
• Food: Made Pampered Chef Fiesta Party dip (yum!)

The snow is over thus far--more is coming. So staying in. 

SEven Quick Takes Friday Vol. XXII

I. 

OK, going to start w/ the complaints and then move on. PLEASE, in snow, with low visibility, put on your lights, and don't tailgate! Also use your turn signal! 

II. 

OK, done with that. Whew. The snow, thus far, is very big (one of my co-workers said the snowflakes were as 'big as potato chips'), and very fluffy and wet. So it isn't really packed down. I hear this will change as it gets colder. The weather guy, at this moment, is saying 5-8", which isn't as bad as a foot, or the THIRTY INCHES DC is predicted to get. Yowzers.

III.

So, from now until Sunday AM, I am not leaving my house. That means--books, food, and movies. Not necessarily in that order.

IV. 

I exercised THREE days this week so far! And the snow will not deter me--I have a pilates DVD and a Shape workout DVD (which is insanely hard, but...oh well). 

V. 

On the movie front, I have a ton to watch. (500) Days of Summer, Oliver Twist, Season 4 of House...I'm well prepared. I also have my biblical studies lectures to keep me busy. The next one is on the books of Chronicles. 

VI. 

Books of 2010: Into Thin Air and The Olive and the Caper, a Greek cookbook. It is a GREAT cookbook to curl up with and read, and provides lots of great recipes and menus. 

 I also started Jesus, Teach Us to Pray. Lent is upon us soon, so I think it's time to dive into some Lenten reading. I'll have more books on that when we get closer. 

VII. 

Still nothing on Titanic. But in voice I'm working on some Linda Eder pieces, including her arrangement of the classic "I'll Be Seeing You". It's a lot of fun. 

For more quick takes, head over to Jen's. 

Stay warm!

Seven Quick Takes Friday--Vol. XVII

I.

First, the BIG NEWS: My best friend is getting married! She called me yesterday to tell me the news. I am so excited and happy for her and her fiance. They are a great couple.

II.

Other than that big news--thanksgiving was uneventful. I watched my high school band in the parade--they were the big purple group before Santa, weren't they great!?--made biscotti, and then headed over to my parents'. We watched Star Trek, had dinner from Bob Evans', and then played Apples to Apples. Dad won. It was a great day with lots of good food.

III.

It snowed last night. First snow of the season. It's mostly gone now, but there's still some wet powder clinging to my back porch. Hey, if the first snow of the year is on November 26, I'll take it.

IV.

I also have today off, so yesterday I was singing the "four days off! four days off!" song.

Can you tell I'm really excited about that?

V.

Bought House seasons 3 and 4 for $12 apiece this week, so I'm making my way through those.

VI.

Want an early Christmas miracle? I've been to the gym twice this week. And I'm going today.

Maybe I subconsciously knew my best friend was getting married, and I had a wedding to prepare for?  I mean, cute guys might be there.

VII.

Also making progress in my biblical studies class--planning on starting my second assignment today.

Oh, and the novel? Up to 159 pages.

Have a great Black Friday, y'all!

The Simple Woman's Daybook--August 9, 2009

(doing a day early so I don't forget! And I'm using Elizabeth's prompts, because they are awesome)

Outside My Window ...

The sun is starting to set, the trees are green and happy, and it has been a lovely (but hot!) day.

***

I am listening to...
Silence, and birds singing outside.

***

To Live the Liturgy...

Big week!

St. Lawrence: August 10

St. Clare: august 11 (foundress of the Poor Claires)

Maximilian Kolbe: August 14

And the Solemnity of the Assumption: August 15

So with all these, I'm going to go to a lot of Noon Masses this week!
***
To Fit and Happy...

The Dash for Donation is on Saturday, and I'm doing the 5K. Will I see you there?

***

I am thankful for...
quiet Sundays spent in prayer.
~
***

I am pondering ...

How to more successfully incorporate prayer into my daily life.
***

From the kitchen ...
This week:

M: Israeli Spice Chicken and tomato salad

T: A Russian Passport: Potatoes and Onions; red radish salad (I do love radishes)

W: pasta w/ lemon oil and red onions

Th: Honey mustard BBQ chicken; Butter Bean Salad; Corn on the Cob with chili and lime (AKA, "Di's Dinner", that

she made one night whilst I was visiting. So good.)

I am wearing ...

Jeans, a blue Gap tank top

***

I am creating ...
A daily program of prayer

***
On my iPod...
lots of Josh Groban right now, and my gym playlist.

***

I am thinking...
It will be a good week. It will be a good week!
***

Around the House

SERIOUS cleaning last night with the parents'. Lots of stuff tossed, the carpets were very well vacuumed, and things look very nice. I SHALL KEEP IT THIS WAY!

.***

I am reading ...

Lots of things. :) But will be attempting to make progress on the every-growing "To Read" pile. And will finish my re-read of The Time Traverler's Wife before I go see the movie this weekend.

***

I am hoping and praying ...
For lots of people! Sarah; Josh R.; Stephen, my bf Liz's brother who is in the military and has been sent to Iraq.

***

On Keeping Home ...

these candles look awesome. Thanks for the link, Liz!

Hanging up my clothes right after I wear them makes life easier. I should remember that.

***
One of my favorite things ...
A quiet Sunday; peach iced tea.

***

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Lots of gym. Lots of noon Mass. So that means Mass during lunch break and gym at night.

Still studying for Sacraments midterm. Have to find a proctor for that ASAP.

Theater auditions for Wizard of Oz (Columbus Children's Theater) tomorrow and Tuesday. We'll see how it goes.

Dash on Saturday morning!

***

Picture thought

The sunflowers outside the barn at Shepherd's Corner, where we had our parish council retreat.

Be sure to visit Peggy for more daybooks!

The Simple Woman's Daybook--July 6, 2009

For July 6, 2009:

Outside my window...
Blue sky with a few clouds, in the low eighties. A very nice day.

I am thinking...
That I had a good gym workout today!

I am thankful for...
My family and my body (that it does what I want it to do, anyway)

From the kitchen...
I made shortbread last night. Yum.

To live the liturgy:

Magnificat, rosary

I am wearing...

Green Life is Good Creamy tee with a daisy applique; jeans

I am creating...
Added more chapters to L&A yesterday; will continue today

I am going to breathe deeply ...
And enjoy summer!

Bringing beauty to my home ...
Cleaning

I am going...

To listen to another Sacraments lecture tonight

I am reading...

Master and Commander; Mansfield Park; Mrs. Dalloway

I am hoping...
For a good week before vacation!

I am hearing...
an iPod mix CD

One of my favorite things...
my movie collection

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Classes in general--gearing up for my Sacraments midterm

W: Gym class w/ Mel

Sat: 4 year anniversary! Dentist/SAI Swim 'n Swell/Dinner w/ family

A picture thought I am sharing:

A photography from Luciano Photography that is over my bedroom desk. Inspiration to get to Paris. :)

Gym thoughts

So. I have been doing the gym thing for almost a month now. I have belonged to lifetime for almost three weeks!

While I haven't really seen any significant weight loss (darn it), I am definitely seeing changes in my shape. My clothes fit better, my waist is better defined, and the weight machines are definitely helping my arms and legs.

Working out is also getting easier. I mix up the recumbent bike and the treadmill (sat. is always bike day, because I know I can get one), and on Tuesday I went almost 2 miles! I have never gone almost 2 miles on the treadmill. I've done a 5K, so I know I CAN go that far, (and father, actually) but I usually stop at a mile or 1.2. Not Tuesday. I rocked it out, and there was incline. (OK, yes, 0.5 incline, but still, incline!) I was really proud. I usually watch "Law and Order" or "Bones" (my new favorite TV show. I laugh out loud when I watch and I'm sure people think I'm nuts.), and those both help pass the time.

So while the weight is about the same, I am going, usually about 4 days a week (haven't made 5 yet), for 30 minutes (at least) of cardio, and then a weight machine circuit. I also took a yoga class last week that kicked my butt. Will have to go back.

I did it!

I finally went to the lifestyle gym down the street from my parents', and joined. 

I rule. 

I have the passport membership, which means I have access to all their clubs (fantastic, since there's one right across the street from the Senate), and, with my apartment complex discount, it's $26 a month. Not bad!

I did the treadmill and two of the weight machines. That's one thing I've missed--weight machines! I loved doing those in college. 

I have my first session with a trainer next W. Wonder how that will go...

Also yoga and pilates classes, which I think the Melster wants to take with me. I hope she does. 

Seven Quick Takes Friday--Vol. V

I. 

So the week got off to an auspicious beginning with time in the resort, fun drugs and a clean digestive tract (an empty one, anyway). Thankfully the rest of the week was less eventful (although the budget did get passed out of the Senate at work, so that's a wonderful thing.). Stomach is still slightly iffy, so I'm trying to be nice to it. 

II. 

Side note to the above: I like pain meds, I like what they do. I don't like needing them (who does?), and when my parents are around I tend to act like I need them less than I do. I actually have a pretty high tolerance for pain, but when it's reached, it's reached. 

So I definitely "reached" that point on Sunday morning when the ER nurses (both named Jen, although one was "Jen" and one was "Jenn") came in to access the port, start fluids, get blood draw, and give me magic drugs of phenergan and dilaudid. Oh happy day. 

Anyway, I had sort of lost it...pain was in the 10+ range, etc., and I wasn't really thinking about not asking for as much med as they would give me to feel sane. 

After Jen got the port in and the fluids running, and Jenn had the blood sent to the lab, she held up the two tiny syringes that held wonderful magic drugs (OK, I know, this sounds awful, but really, they looked fantatic at this point). She asked, " do you want to do 1 mg and see how that goes, or just do 2 right off the bat?"

"Can I have two, please?" *(Yes I said please)

It was immediate, and normally it is not immediate. Normally I look at Dad and sort of hem and haw and if mom's there she'll lobby for the lower dose. But no way.

"Absolutely." Magic was swiftly delivered. Even after the port needle had to be taken out and re-accessed with a 1" needle, I did not care. I was blissfully unaware. Or at least, pain-free, ergo I did not care what was happening to me. 

III. 

While the Pens may have lost on Sat., they've won the last two, including last night. Game 5 is tomorrow in Detroit. If we win, we can win at the Cup at Mellon in Game 6. Go team!

IV. 

Biblical studies class happening after I write this. 

V. 

We've had so much rain lately that it's nice to see sun! It was 90 on Saturday, but it will be 80 tomorrow, when I'm volunteering at BalletMet's booth at the Art Festival! Should be a lot of fun, and if you're in Columbus, come on out to the Discovery District. The Art Museum is FREE, so you can see the Egyptian Art exhibit! (That's what I'm planning to do pre-shift) After the art fest, I'm thinking about going to see my friend Bill, from Parade (he was Mr. Watson, the "rabid newspaper publisher") play Cardinal Richelieu in Actors' Theater's The Three Musketeers. One of the great things about summer in Columbus--theater at Schiller Park!

 Free!

VI. 

The gym thing goes on. I may go tonight--will go tomorrow, but will probably get enough walking, etc in at the Fest. Don't worry I'm still doing it. (Gloom and doom sigh here)

VII. 

Reading: Pride and Prejudice; The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday (finished); Handle With Care (finished); A Father Who Keeps His Promises

For more Quick Takes, see Jen at Conversion Diary!

The time has come

to get serious. 

Really, really serious. 

See, I made a deal with god today. (No, not that one. Dr. god. Hence the lowercase 'g')

It was my three-month check in with them--they have a special post-tx CF clinic for all of us. The last time I went was the same day as Parade's final tech rehearsal. (That was a long day) 

Anyway, today it was just me and god. We did the normal things--the rundown of the meds, checking to see if there were any complaints, basic exam, etc. Nothing too important. 

Then we had a Chat (and made a deal). 

See, before transplant, I weighed like nothing. (Check the photos in the May 06 archive if you don't believe me). Really, we're talking nothing. I couldn't wear size 0 clothes. It was bad. 

Now...let's just say we don't have that problem. 

Before t/x, exercise was supposed to happen, but, as things got worse, just existing was hard, so no exercise. And the exercise gene, in general, skipped me. My brother ran Boston in 2 hours in 54 minutes. Me? No. Running is a four-letter word to me. As Mia says in The Princess Diaries, "I'm a yoga girl." 

Well...now I have to be more than a yoga girl, apparently. As you know from some previous posts, I have been trying to work on this. Now I have to work harder. 

God wants exercise 5 days a week, at least 30 minutes at a time. 

My initial reaction? Four letter words. That I didn't say. 

Now I basically listen to everything she tells me to do, because she's god. But I really am not an exercise girl. I'm just...NOT. 

But I have agreed to become one. I see Dr. A in the t/x clinic on June 23, and I imagine Dr. god would take a peek at my chart on that date. So. 

We're going to make it happen. I think. Well, OK, it has to happen. I made a promise. 

• So--BalletMet summer session starts early in June. I can do that. 
  
• I have new workout shorts on the way (I didn't have any that weren't like a size -1), so I can work out in the incredibly hot apartment clubhouse gym and not die. 
  
• I am downloading the rest of my CDs onto my iPod, so I will have a gym-worthy playlist. 
  

Accountability can be here, via the blog. 

Hope y'all are ready for some fun reading. At least all you have to do is read it!

ha!

I went to the gym. At like 8:00, I just up and said, I'm going. 

No one there, did the treadmill. 

I am happy with myself. 

A Walk in the Woods

It is beautiful here today, in the low 80s, but with a good stiff breeze that keeps us all cool. In honor of this great weather, I headed for Blacklick Woods, the closest park, to walk on their nature trails.
I haven't done this in years, and I've never done it alone, but none of the paths is longer than a mile, and the one I took ran near the adjacent golf course, so I wasn't fearing for my safety.
It was a good exercise call. The path was nearly deserted, except for a few other walkers and two families with their little girls, and beautiful. Lots of violets blooming, and I saw a cardinal looking for food at one point.
I didn't put in my iPod or anything, I just walked and listened. The trees haven't bloomed yet, so there wasn't a lot of shade, but it didn't get very hot. The nice thing about walking on a trail is you're working harder than on a treadmill but you don't notice. There were some small inclines, and the trail gradually winds uphill, but you don't really notice until the brain says, "hey, this feels hard". Then I would look back and see, geez, yup, I was going uphill.
Tons of kids and families playing on the playground equipment and on the swings. It was nice to see so many people out enjoying the day.

Channeling Laura Ingalls

So Hurricane Ike has left me (and about 1,000,000 other Ohioans) out of power. I have not had power since 6:30 last night, and I am now at my parents', mooching their electricity/AC/ what have you.

Some notes gleaned from my experience thus far:

--You get a lot of reading done when you have nothing to do but read. I finished Night and Day and read The Covenant, a novel by Naomi Raben, which was really good. I may even add it to my favorites list.

--Writing by candlelight isn't that bad, except you have to have an awful lot of candles.

--Thankfully it was windy so I just opened the windows and got a good breeze, so I didn't miss the AC.

--No internet, so I was glad I knew what the weather would be.

--When there's no light, you go to bed early--like 9:00. But I didn't sleep well. When my power's off, so my alarm on my clock, and I can't hear my cell phone without my CI in. So I was sort of nervous, leading to a 5:30 wake-up. Hey, at least I got my yoga practice in!

--Putting on make-up in the dark is...interesting. But I didn't look bad!

--I got to the office at 6:40. Oh yeah.

--The boys in my office didn't shave, because they didn't want to shave in the dark. So they looked sort of funny. :)

--I was never so glad to get to my office and have electricity in my life.

--I came home at 4:00--still nothing. So I showered, read a bit, and then went to my parents', where I am now mooching off internet.

--And...kudos to Nutmeg for leading me to the cool site where I got my new background!

A new diet...sigh

First--happy news--I get to go home soon! Like, in a few hours! Yay!!!!

OK not happy news. Well, really not unhappy, but sort of a bummer.

apparently my cholesterol levels are high--like really high, even for me. Post-transplant, even if you're a baby, your cholesterol levels skyrocket. It's a side effect of all the drugs.

Well, mine are really high. So that necessitates a few changes:

--No more carbonated beverages. ARGH! What am I going to do without Diet Coke? I suppose I could just pretend I'm always in musicals prep, which would mean no Diet Coke anyway...and with the auditions I'm planning, that would be true.

--Also, like no caffeine in general, because that irritates GI organs. So Really my drink options now are: tea (decaf, of course, which I already drink), water, and...water. And any sort of juice I make that's low in sugar, because most drinks are just loaded with it. Seriously. Check the label sometime and you'll be amazed. Target makes a good no sugar lemonade that I like, however.

--So no fun drinks anymore. Oh well.

--The next thing--really really watching what goes ij my mouth. Very limited red meat (which I limit, anyway, since I'm not going to buy like a pound of meat for one person. It just doesn't make sense.) Chicken is good, and I can get individual portions of that. My awesome Jeni's ice cream is going to have to be severely rationed. I'd already given up most alfredo sauces, so that's good. And of course, portion sizes, which I'm good at in some cases, and not others (like, my chips and salsa...)

Like Dr. A said, it's really just a normal, healthy diet, but it's going to be hard to drop a lot of these things. Well, I thought it would be hard to drop the coke habit, too, but that went pretty easily, all things considered. And this does give me an excuse (not that I really needed one) to buy the awesome no-fat milk that's sold at the North Market! It's so, so good.

Coffee will be hard, because I seriously like it. Seriously. Sure, it will certainly save me money, but I'll have to figure out another breakfast drink now. I suppose I could go decaf? Hmmm. Will have to look into this.

If anyone has good food suggestions, please put them in the combox. I could use them!

But...I'm getting sprung! Huzzah!

Another great thing--ballet starts up again at the end of the month!

5Ks...and other things

I think I'm going to do the Race for the Cure in May. We'll have to see how motivated I am, because I don't want to just do it (I know I can walk it), I want to do it well. So that means more hitting the treadmill, and going outside once Tiff is home and I can walk with her and the canines. And there's the Dash for Donation in July, which is always a Big Event for me.

Speaking of LOOP stuff, tomorrow is the annual Candlelight Vigil, so if you're in town, come out! I'm working the food tent pre-event (I know, I know...I will not eat all the cookies, I will not eat all the cookies!). It's a great event and we'd like to see many people!

I am on a book binge. I have so many books yet to read it's sort of ridiculous. I think I've got about four working currently. Yikes.

More center, less barre

Tonight is the night that Julia, my ballet teacher, says we're moving to more center work, and less barre, since we're progressing.
Thoughts:
1) I am happy we are progressing. Go us!
2) Terrified at the thought of falling on my butt (even though this has never, actually, happened in class. Usually I just fall out of the step or position).

I'll let you know.

Beads

I was at the "resort" today, and noticed a pamphlet for a new program Children's is starting, called "Stinger's Bravery Beads", which is named after the Blue Jackets' mascot and is funded through the Jacket's Foundation, which helps fight pediatric cancer.
As I looked at it, I though, "wow, this is great! I would love this!" Then I noticed something--it's for cancer kids only.

Why is that?

I looked at the list of things that you could earn beads for. The list is long, but here's what I've done:

--Birthdays (since diagnosis)
--BM Transplant (I'd replace with lung, but you say tomato)
--Clinic Visit
--Dressing change (let's see...where do we start? PICCS? Ports? The dressings from the burn post-surgery?)
--ER visits (ha! Ha! I'd have half a million)
--Fever
--Holidays (since diagnosis? In hospital? Either way, we'd have this covered)
--Hospital Admission (no comment)
--Line In (PICCS? Peripherals? Port access? Does this count ones that went bad, too?)
--Line Out
--Major Surgery (the transplant, the CI)
--Medical Exam (oh, the thousands upon thousands)
--New Diagnosis
--Off TPN (yup, done that! Several times!)
--OT/PT
--PCA/Morphine (ahhh, the Lovely PCA pump!!)
--Pokes (millions. I kid you not.)
--Scans/Tests (MRI, Bone scans, VQ Scans)
--School (in house)--did that with my first diagnosis
--School re-entry (many, many times)
--Spirituality (a lot! Thanks Fr. Mark!)
--Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Day! (um, lots)
--TPN
--Transfer to PICU (one, or two, if you count post-tx)
--Transfusion
--Tube insertion (Chest, Catheter)
--Very Good Day (A few of these)

But there's one on the cancer list that you will NEVER see on the CF list:

--End of treatment

Because CF treatment only ends when youdo. There's no remission, no recovery, no "Five years and we think you're cured" status. Sure, I don't do Chest PT anymore. Other things have taken its place. But that doesn't mean that it's over.

I think we deserve some beads.

Yay!

It's ballet class night!