Marlys and Me

In my baby book is a picture of me when I was 5 days old, getting ready to go home. I knew I was born at Methodist, so I brought my baby book to work to ask my coworkers if they might know who that nurse was. Some people said it looked like Marlys and I said it is not.
When Marlys got to work that night, someone asked her who was in the picture. She said, "Well, that's me." Then someone else said, "Well then, you're holding Morgan!"
Both of us were truly shocked. I am glad to find out it was Marlys. We are very close friends and her house is where Hot Tub Club is.
When I told my mom that, she was floored. Of course my dad said, "Who, that blonde?"
So the first picture is of Marlys and Me, October 22, 1978. The second picture is Marlys and Me on October 22, 2008, 30 years to the date.

Weight Watchers

Today I went to weight watchers. Still learning about the new momentum program they have just started last week. So I weighed in today and finally made it to my 10%, so I have lost 16.4 pounds!!! I was so excited. I have worked really hard the past couple of weeks to get there. With Christmas here, it gets difficult, but I try to remember how great my clothes are fitting and that I don't want them to be tight again!

I haven't kept up with blogging, but I hope to get some pictures up this next week of the Harris Christmas. All of my mom's siblings were back, so there were 100+ Harris' in Indianola last Sunday. It was great to see everyone.

Tucson: Day 5

Up around 830am or so. Monica got ready for class and I finished packing and getting organized to come home. Of course we played a final game of Yahtzee!
Off to the Tucson International Airport around 12 noon. We said our goodbyes, which wasn't terribly sad, since Monica will be back for Christmas break in about a month.
The one thing I will miss is the weather! It was so beautiful there. Temperatures were in the 70's during the day, but did dip into the 40's during the night. The sun was shining, it was just beautiful.
Imagine how I felt when flying to Minneapolis when I see snow on the ground! And then when flying to Des Moines, it's snowing in the air! Luckily, the snow was staying in the air, and was just drizzling on the ground.
I landed a little after 8pm, called Andrew and he came and picked me up. Now it is back to the "same old story, brand new day."

Tucson: Day Four

Sunday was another low key day. We did homework all morning and ordered Magpie's Pizza for lunch. I love their pizza, it is the best I have ever had!!
After homework and lunch, we got dressed and played some Yahtzee before having dinner with Frans, Monica's boyfriend. He is from Sweden and is working here doing Philosophy work. He is very nice, attractive and quiet! It was so hard to hear him speak at times. Monica said the way he was talking in the restaurant was the loudest he had ever spoken! Anyway, he is really nice and I think they make quite the pair.
Of course when we got home, we played Yahtzee! We played for 3 hours or so. We just love it!
I think we went to bed around 1am!

Tucson: Day Three

Saturday we got up around 8am to head off to our spa day. It was located in the middle of the desert, and I mean that literally. We traversed the gravel roads and wild javalinas to get there. Once there it was amazing.
First we had a yoga class that lasted about one hour. (Definately felt that the next day!) We sat in the hot tub after that. Then it was time for my massage. It was devine! While Monica had her massage, I ate some salad and climbed to the roof for a beautiful view of the desert and the Tucson mountains. Then I sat in the sauna for about 20 minutes. Once Monica was done with her massage, I had a lympatic facial. Wow! It was heavenly. When I was done, Monica got hers and I ate some fruit on the rooftop again. By the time we were done, we felt great. If anyone gets to Tucson, look up Desert Reflections, it is an awesome getaway.
After we got home, we ate a quick supper of leftover Mexican and headed to the observatory at the University of Arizona. We went to the telescope and looked at the moon. Something was down and so that is all we were able to look at. Then we went inside and downstairs to the mining museum. It was very interesting to see all the minerals we have in the world and how quartz and come in so many shapes, sizes and colors. So many differnt minerals to look at. The opals that that had had to be the size of an orange. Just amazing.
After gazing at the minerals we headed to the theatre to see the night show of the stars. I thought we were actually going to open the roof and they would show us where the constellations were, but it was a film about where to find constellations and talked about nebulas and supernovas, etc.
Back to Monica's after that and watched a movie called Vera Drake. It is a British movie set back int he 1950's I believe. Anyway, Vera is a housekeeper who performs abortions for girls who "find themselves in trouble." It was a very good movie, but sad also.
After that, off to bed.

Tucson: Day Two

It was so nice to sleep in today!!! I actually got some quality sleep. It was great!
Anyway, Monica went to class today and while she was gone, I did some homework on my own. Not really something one would like to do on vacation, but it had to be done.
She got home around 3pm and we headed out to do what we do best: SHOP!!! Monica got a new purse (with my help!) and I got a new pair of earrings. While out and about we went into Tiffany's. Big mistake. (Andrew, if you read this, there are a couple things I would like to have. Don't forget our 5 year anniversary is coming up!). Beautiful jewelery. Then we went to a great Mexican place.
After the shopping we came home and started playing Yatzee. We love this game and play it for hours when I visit.
It was a nice leisurely day.

Tucson: Day One

I got up yesterday around 330am. I repacked my luggage and headed to the airport at 430am. My first flight left for Minneapolis around 640am and landed and 720am. The flight was one of the most turbulent I have ever experienced. The rain made it that way, but it was a fast flight, thank goodness.
I had around an 1 1/2 layover in Minneapolis. My flight for Tucson left around 10am. I watched one episode of Fringe and then decided to try to get some sleep. (I didn't sleep at all when I went to bed Wednesday night, so I was exhausted.)Of course I didn't sleep because I am afraid of drooling or sleeping with my mouth open, so I just rested my eyes!
Landed in Tucson around 12 noon. Monica picked me up a little after 1pm. We went and had a light lunch at IHOP and then headed to her house. Talked a lot and then her friend Lorraine came over and read our Tarot cards. Interesting. I just took it with a grain of salt. We talk for a while afterwards, then got ready for bed.

IPOD

Quick question, and I hope someone has an answer. I am flying to Arizona on Thursday. Is it okay for the IPOD to go through the x-ray machine at the airport?

Weight Watchers

I weighed in this am and I have lost 11 pounds since starting WW!!! It has taken so long to get there, but I still have more to go.

Handy Man

I am in need of a handy man who would be willing to spend a few hours at my house doing some menial tasks for me. I have a couple of ceiling fans that need looked at and a few other odds and ends that could be done. Please let me know of anyone you know who would be willing to help. I would pay for your time.

Mud Wrap

Today I went to The Spa at West Glen for a mud wrap. It was very enjoyable. I had a glass of wine, got muffified, sat in the sauna, and just relaxed.
Thank you to all the the families at Jordan Creek Family Church who all chipped in and got the gift certificate for me. I really enjoyed my time away from reality.

Birthdays

Andrew and I celebrated our birthdays a couple of weeks ago. He turned 33 and I am now the big 30!
For Andrew's birthday we went over to his parent's house and had a nice dinner and spent some time with them.
The next day we went to Paradise Pizza to celebrate our birthdays together. I love their pastas there. Everything is just so good there. YUM!
I worked the night into my birhtday and we had a taco party. Everyone brought something to make tacos with. My friend Amie and I made cake and covered them with fondunt. For our first time, it didn't turn out too bad, but now we have a better idea for next time.
I was supposed to work the night of my birthday and got to work, to find out the patient we were expecting went to a different hospital, so I got to go home. Didn't do anything to exciting but homework.
Andrew and I decided not to get each other gifts this year. Instead we decided to donate our spendings to the local food pantry. Everyone could use a little help this year.

Brush with greatness

I have had my brush with greatness this summer. First in June or July I was at Hy-Vee and ran into Shawn Johnson. Then today I ran into Target to get a few things when I about ran her coach over with my cart! It is just so surreal to go shopping and run into these people. It is just strange to see them in such common places, even though they needed to shop too!

tattoos

Okay, I understand why people want to have tattoos, I have 2 myself, but this is extreme if I say so myself. I was flipping through the channels this morning and stopped on the History Channel where they were discussing tattoos. Well I guess the new thing is to get your eye tattooed. The tattoo artist takes a small hyperdermic needle and places it on the sclera and tatoos it. One person just had a blue dot on his eye while another actually was tattooing his whole sclera blue!! I can't even fathom doing that!

Playing for Pizza

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham was an okay novel. I haven't ready any of his other books, but I thought this would be interesting. It was a great read for a few days, it kept me interested, but I wouldn't call it a favorite.

"Love the One You're With"

Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin is a story of a newly married woman, Ellen, who runs into her old flame, Leo, by chance one rainy afternoon. Old feelings of romance surface when Leo and Ellen do a photoshoot/story together. Only Ellen's husband has no idea what is going on. Well, Ellen's husband, Andy, is from Atlanta and is very, very wealthy. Ellen is also best friends with Andy's sister, Margot, and she is not happy when the friendship of Leo and Ellen resurfaces. Ellen is left with hard choices, especially when Andy wants to move back to Atlanta from New York City to be by his family. Will she choose Andy, the one she gave her life to or Leo, the one who got away?
This is a great book that kept me turning the page.

Resignation

I have decided to resign as the Nursery Coordinator at Jordan Creek Family Church. I have held that position for 3 years now, since the church was founded. I have enjoyed it immensly, but I feel it is time for me to move on. Other things in my life are happening and I need to focus on them. I also need to be in service more. I haven't been in service much over the past three years and most people in the congregation don't know me unless they have children in the nursery. It will be hard to leave. I have seen so many children grow up. I know I will cry my last Sunday, but God has great things in store for me and I can't wait to see what they are.

Class

I am done with my second class at Gonzaga. I feel like I have been in school for a long time, but only since March. It is going to be a long 2 years til graduation.
I'll have about 3 weeks off before the next class. Hope to get a lot of work done around the house in that time.

Life

Sorry I haven't posted before now. I have been busy, but aren't we all?
I have been busy at work for the past couple of weeks. We seem to be not so busy one day and then the next day we have no time to even get a drink of water. So work is well.
I have also taken a teaching position at Kaplan University. It used to be Hamilton College. I am a LPN instructor at a clinical site. It has been interesting so far, and hope I continue to like it.
Grad school is going. I will be done with this last class on Friday and I can't wait. I have a lot of books I want to get caught up on before the next class starts.
My mom had surgery last week and that kept me busy trying to call and see how she was faring. I felt bad I couldn't be there for her, but I know she understands.
Andrew and I are trying to decide where we might take a vacation. It will be hard to do so when ISU football starts because we usually buy season tickets. Hopefully we can get away for a weekend soon.
So that is it in a nutshell.

I Know This Much is True

I also finished I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb. Wow, what a great book. It is a story about a set of identical twin brothers, and one is schizophrenic. The book is told from the point of view of Dominic, the twin without mental disabilities. He tells of their childhood with a passive mom and an abusive stepdad. He describes the struggles of Thomas, his twin and tries to figure out why he suffers from shcizphrenia and he doesn't. He is forced to look at his life and make peace with his past and embrace his future. In the process, Dominic finds out more about his life than he bargained for.

Certain Girls

While in Missouri, I was able to catch up on some reading. The first book I finished was Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner. It is a continuing story from her first book, but now Candice's daughter is 13. She is trying to discover who she is and in the process, finds out more about her mom and dad. But instead of seeking the truth, her 13-year old imagination runs wild. Of course, there are twists and turns that throw you for a loop, but it is a great book. I even shed a few tears at the end.

Missouri

I am going to be leaving for Missouri in the morning. My Dad had back surgery today and I am going to help my mom for about a week. It is an eight hour drive to their house, which I am not looking forward to, but what can ya do.
His surgery went well. They moved the nerves in his back so he isn't in as much pain. Thankfully, he is staying the night. Now the goal is to keep Dad out of the fields and the barn.

March of Dimes

On May 3rd was the March of Dimes March for Babies walk. Well, I ran - my first 5K. Of course it was 40 degrees and very windy, but I finished in 37:05. I hope to improve on my time as I run more of them. In fact, I raised $525!!!! I hope to do even more next year. It was so windy that my plate blew over twice, so Gina, Amanda and I went to Paradise Pizza for lunch! Fun was had by all.

Michael Buble

On April 25, Gina and I went to Michael Buble. It was her first concert of his, my second and just as entertaining. The band Naturally 7 opened for him - aweome. After the concert, we met them and I got their autographs and a picture.

Migraines Continued

I have unfortunately had to use my new migraine medication since I got it Thursday. Luckily and thankfully I worked. My headache started at 6pm and by 8pm I was able to eat, but was very drowsy and slept most of the evening on the couch.
Today I met with my nurse practicitioner. She says they are occurring mostly because of the weather. Seasonal migraines is what called it. Migraines sometimes occur with seasonal allergies. So we are going to continue to monitor them and if they continue to occur, she'll send my to a neurologist. Hopefully I won't have to do that.

Migraines

I have had 3 migraines in the past week. It is horrible. Today it started at 5am. I was filling out some paperwork and I couldn't tell if I was writing inside the lines or not. Took 4 ibuprofen. When I got home from work I took to excedrin migraine and a lunesta hoping to sleep. I did for about 3 hous. I work up and my head and neck were throbbing. All I could do is cry. I called for an appointment at a walk in clinic. Then I called my Aime and she took me to the doctor. I got a shot of Toradol, which burns if you ever get it, and a new perscription. I came home and have tried to rest, but not really. My neck is still really sore and I have some nausea and haven't eaten much. I hope this is over soon, I see Michael Buble tomorrow!!!

Running

Today was my first day outside running to get ready for the 5K. It was not too bad. I think I did around 4 miles in 60 mintues. The south wind made it hard in some areas.
Early this morning at work, I got a migraine. On the migraine scale, I'd call it a 5. Came home and took more medication and slept. I didn't even hear Andrew open up the garage door, which is right under our bedroom!
Feeling much better and running out side felt really good.
Just a reminder, just 3 more weeks left to donate to make me run the March of Dimes 5K!!!

Help me reach my goal!Sponsor Me at March for Babi

Snow

Snow, snow
Go away,
Come back here
NEVER!!!!!!

Finally some sleep!

Since Tuesday night at 8pm I had slept only 12 hours until Friday night at 9pm. Didn't get much sleep. My hours got changed at work this week and I was coming in at 11pm, which one would think I would get more sleep, but I didn't.
After working Tuesday night, I had a committee meeting to go to, which lasted until 1030am. Instead of going home and going to bed, I decided I would stay up all day and get a ton of stuff done, then go to bed early Wednesday night. WRONG. I did get homework and laundry done, cleaned the kitchen, ran to Costco, and got all the garbage out for Thursday. At 430pm I laid down on the couch and slept off and on til around 640 pm when I got up to eat supper. Well right at 707pm the hospital called. I freak out thinking I was scheduled to work and I was late. Not exactly. Someone on night shift had called in and Gina wanted to know if I would come in at 11pm. I said, "Gina I have only had 2 hours of sleep today, I don't think I can." Then came the begging and pleading, so I said, "Let me talk to Andrew." So I did and I thought I should go in because we did buy textbooks for school and some other extras, but he wasn't so sure. I told him I would go anyway. So I called Gina back and she said she only needed me for 4 hours because Cindy would work the other 4. I chose to work 11p to 3a. which ended up being 4 am because we did a c-sections around 230am. Then I slept from 5-830am. Hoping to sleep at least til 11am because I had another committee meeting to go to. So I went to that, did some other things and laid down on the couch around 4pm. slept off and on until 7 when Andrew and I made some leftovers to eat. Just to tired to cook. Oh, and I was on-call from 3p-7p also and was going to be on-call from 3a-7a Friday morning. At 9pm I went to bed, with my cell phone in case the hospital called. So there I am sleeping so soundly in bed, when I wake up to hear Andrew snoring. I try to rouse in a little to make him stop, but it doesn't work. So I go to sleep on the couch, at 2am!!! And the best part, I couldn't fall back asleep. So only another 4 1/2 hours of sleep that day. Luckily I didn't get called to the hosptial. Last night I finally went to bed at 9pm. Didn't hear Andrew come home friends' house. Slept great til 4am. I slept for 7 hours. It was awesome!!!
Today is still busy, going to exercise, then heading off to the Iowa State Women's game at Wells Fargo with some friends from work. Then I need to continue to work on my paper. If anyone has some thought on bioethical principle, drop me a line.

March Of Dimes

Well it is that time of year for me to start fundraising for the March of Dimes. This is my second year in a row for me and this year I really want to surpass what I raised last year.

First off, the March of Dimes is an organization that helps families and babies that are born premature. Last year my coworker had her baby at 25 weeks. Katelynn in almost 1 now and is crawling and starting to talk. It is amazing to see how she has grown and developed over the past year.

I don't want to have another family go through that, but if they do, it is great to know that the March of Dimes will be there to help support them in any way possible.

This year I am challenging myself. If I raise $500 I will run the 5K and not walk. Please help me acheive my goal. I have $240 right now, $260 to go. Please go to www.marchforbabies.org/morganrn and that will direct you to my site where you can donate. Please help. Even $5 can make a difference. Just imagine if this would happen to you.

The walk/run takes place May 3 at 9:15am at Racoon River Park in West Des Moines.

Thanks for all your help.

The smoking ban

I had lunch with some friends today and I brought up the smoking ban. I must say that I don't agree with it. First let me tell you that I believe and know first hand how smoking is very detrimental to one's health. I have seen what is has done to family members, residents in the nursing home and how it affects babies born to mom who smoked during pregnancy. But where does it state that the government should have the right to say what one does to one's body? If a person wants to smoke they should have that right. Why limit them to restaurants and bars? All of the hospitals in Polk county are smoke free, you cannot smoke on the property at all, not even in your car. But you can go on the sidewalk and smoke because it is county property. So a person eats at a fine establishment and what do they do? Round the family up to leave, smoke in the car and then smoke in the house, where their family is exposed to the second hand smoke! My friend Tera said that smoking or not smoking should be determined by the owner of the establishment. I agree. Then the public can choose where they want to eat. My grandparents choose not to eat in many restaurants that served alcohol because they didn't want to be exposed to that kind of behavior.
The same is for food. The government says that people can no longer cook food in trans fatty acids. Fine, make fast food somewhat healthier for people. But what about the person who orders a 20oz steak, a baked potato with butter, sour cream and bacon bits, and corn along with 3 regular Pepsi's to drink. How unhealthy is that? How detrimental is that to ones health. That person probably doesn't grocery shop healthy either and buys bad food and they have kids that are overweight and obese. What are we doing for them? Not much.
Don't we have free will and the right to choose what we want to put into our bodies? 2 Corinthians 6:20 states, "you were bought for a price. Therefore honor God with your body". I believe this and try to do this everyday. But again, we have the free will to do with our bodies as we wish, maybe the government should think about that. Otherwise who knows what they will try to ban next.

Happy Birthday Lillianna!!

Today is my niece's 4th birthday. She is a bundle of energy. She loves the Disney princesses and anything girly. She has curly brown hair, just like her mom, but you can definitely tell she belongs to her dad.
She, too, lives out by Chicago so I don't see her often, but she is spoiled by her Aunt and Uncle.
Happy Birthday. I love you.
Aunt Morgan

Happy Birthday Zach!!!

Today is my nephew's 13th birthday! I can't believe it. I am sure his parents are dreading the teenage years! He lives out in the Chicago area with his dad, my brother. He is really a great kid who loves to fish and play video games, etc. I only see him a couple times a year, but I send gifts throughout.

Oh and to top it off, Zach was born today on St Patrick's day with red hair, freckles, and blue eyes and neither his mom or dad is Irish!!!

Love ya buddy!
Aunt Morgan

The Red Tent

I just finished reading The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. It is a story based on Biblical charcters: Dinah, Rachel, Leah, Jacob, etc. Though the story is not the same as in the Bible, it is a great read. Anita tells a story of Dinah, how she comes to have 4 mothers, how she fell in love and lost him in just a matter of weeks, and how she came to fall in love again. The story has many twists and turns that keeps you turning the page until the very end where her life come full circle. I highly recommend this novel. I almost cried at the end. I own it if anyone wants to borrow it.

I don't know how oftern I'll be able to read knowing school starts on Monday. The next book club book is Manhunt by James Swanson. It is the story about the search for John Wilkes Booth after he murders President Lincoln.

Gonzaga

I have been officially accepted to Gonzaga University!!! I will be obtaining my Masters of Science in Nursing, focusing in nursing education so I can teach at the college level. This will take me about 2 years to do. I am really excited about this.

catch up

Sorry I haven't written in a while, I have been busy and it seems like it is not going to stop anytime soon.
It all started last Thursday. My brother Joel came over to help work on the toilet. Once he got going on that, I started to paint the foyer in the house. I was doing all of this because mom and dad were coming up to see us and to go to the state tournament. Joel left around 2:30pm and I continuned on painting. Andrew got home and he quickly changed to go have supper and hang out with an old buddy. I was going to have dinner with Gina and a couple other girls, but when she called, I was almost done painting, so I backed out. I got done painting around 6:30pm and headed over to Quizno to get some chili. Then I was going to come home and take a bath in the whirlpool and just relax the rest of the night. Oh no! There is a message on the answering maching and my cell phone. It is a message from Jenn stating, "Morgan it is 7:15, we are just wondering where you are?" What!!! I am not to be working, I thought I was off. I didn't have it written down anywhere that I was to work, but lo and behold, on my schedule there it is. So I quickly called work and told them I would be there as soon as I could. I called Andrew and let him know also. Of course I am really tired. I had been up since 8am and would now have to be up for 24 hours. Oh and to top if off, Joel couldn't get the toilet fixed so the plumber is going to be at the house Friday morning at 8am.
So I get to work and work til 730am and head home. The plumber is waiting for me when I get there and I tell him what is wring. He finds nothing wrong with it. What!! Whatever Joel did, fixed it, it just needed to create a seal. So the plumber left and Andrew and I went back to bed. I slept really good until Andrew left to go to work. Once the garage door opened, I was wide awake.
I got up and showered and went grocery shopping. Came home and did last minute touches to the house, hung some artwork and worked up to the minute until mom and dad pulled into the drive way.
We went to the Tavern for supper. Went back to our house and talked. Then Joel and Angela came over for a little while to visit. I went to bed around 11pm and was asleep by midnight.
Up around 830am, I went to the gym. Dad went over to Aunt Sharon's to visit then off to Uncle Rob's to do the same. After the gym, Mom and I did some shopping and had lunch at PF Chang's with my frind Stacie and her boyfriend Tim.
Hooked up with my Aunts and my cousin and my sister in law and went to the girls state basketball tournament. Good games this year.
Afterwards, we ordered pizza and went back to the hotel and hung out. I left around 1130pm went home and got ready for bed. Asleep by 1230am.
Up at 6:30am to get ready for church. Home around 12noon and took a nap on the couch. Once up I went to Pleasant Hill to a birthday party for Stacie's daughters 6th birtday. Fun at the bowling alley.
Home around 7pm. Had supper and I don't remember what I even did that night.
Did various things around the house and did some studing for my MAT test for grad school on Thursday.
Wednesday I studing all day and night, went to work for a unit meeting, came and studied even more.
Thursday I had a meeting at Methodist for one of my committies came home, went to bed, up at 3 to get ready to head over to Drake to take my test. Went to work at 11pm and here I am now, typing and getting ready to get ready for work.
I offically got accepted to Gonzaga University yesterday. Classes start on the 17th. I have a lot to do over the next week to get ready for classes and I just feel like the madness won't stop. I don't even have any children and I feel like I am always busy!!!!
By the way, does anyone know what happened to KZZQ?

Book Review

I just finished reading The Good Earth, by Pearl S Buck. It depicts the story of a Chinese man, Wang Lung.It begins with him being a poor man, living in a small hut with his ailing father. With no wife he tends to the field until the day of his wedding when he heads off the the House of Hwang and takes a slave to be his wife. He now rejoices for he can pass off some of his duties to his wife and only having to tend to the rice fields. As the story goes on, his wife, O-Lan, bears him children, 2 boys at first, a girl who mysteriously dies, another girl and finally a set of twins, a boy and a girl. After droughts and starvation, the family moves to south China where the food is. After running with the mob, Wang Lung comes into much money and goes back to his homeland with his family. He eventually becomes a very wealthy man, faced with a conscious of right and wrong and how he resons his decisions. The irony of the book is at the end he has bought and is living in the House of Hwang.
A very good read and I highly recommend it.

Valentine's Day

We don't do much for Valentine's Day here. We are pretty low key about the day, but we do have little things that we do. For instance, we will eat at Wendy's tonight. It is our tradition. We started it 4 years ago when we were dating. We decided that we didn't want to do alot, knowing we were getting married in 6 weeks. We just didn't want to spend the extra money. We'll buy each other a card and a small gift, nothing much.
Well Andrew did buy me 12 red roses this year. He had them delivered to the hospital yesterday afternoon so that when I got to work last night, they would be there waiting for me. It was very sweet of him. And everyone at work was a little envious of my thoughtful husband.

Sick

As if having a cold and losing my voice last week wasn't bad enough, Monday night, early Tuesday, I came down with the stomach flu at work. Not pretty. I left work at 2am Tuesday morning. I slept on the couch so I wouldn't wake Andrew up. Then I called my mom around 7am. Why is it that when we are sick, we want our moms? Then I went upstairs and slept in my bed, until 1pm. Went downstairs to find that our furnace wasn't working. It was 61 degrees in the house. So I had to call Schaal to come and fix it. Slept on the couch until Andrew came home. By now I am starving. Hadn't eat much all day, afraid of what might happen. So he went and got me some McDonald's. Granted, not the best thing to eat after being sick, but it sounded so good. I didn't even eat half of it, but what I ate was good, and I kept it down. Then I slept on the couch until 930pm when Andrew woke me up and sent me to bed. I just hate being sick and nonfunctional.
I feel better now, except now my mom is sick. I hope germs don't travel through the phone!!

This week

I haven't been feeling the best this week. I have had a cough and an earache and a stuffy nose. Of course I am one of those people who don't go to the doctor unless I am dying. I even started to loose my voice. I felt like I was going through puberty. Not good week to loose my voice either. I had a patient go quicker than I thought and had to yell for help to get people in the room to help deliver a baby. All was good though.
I did run 2 times this week. I ran 30 on Monday. Then today I went to Accel Fitness with my friend Amiee. It is nice there and alot cheaper than Aspen. I am not able to attend the classes at Aspen, because of working nights, which is why it is more expensive. So I think I'll switch. Accel has cardio and free weight machines, so it all is good.
I also went to Nurtishop in West Des Moines the other day. Got a protein shake, which tastes surprisingly good. Does anyone have any opinions about them? I need to talk more to a nutritionist about how to incorporate them into my diet. So many questions.
Well I need to get ready for bed. Gotta work tonight.

Exercise

This week I have been really good at exercising. Thursday I took off, but I did shovel the sidewalks. Monday I went running and it was horrible. I hadn't ran in about a month and I wanted to die and I only ran for 20 minutes!! Wednesday I ran for 25 and today I was back to 30minutes. On the other days I have been doing exercise tapes at home.
Eating was not the best this week. I find my weakness to be between 3 and 4 pm. I do well up to then. Just need more will power.

Lighten Up Iowa

So today I start lighten up Iowa. I am doing this along with Weight Watchers. I am the team captain for a team at work. I am hoping this will give me more accountability. I have set some goals for myself AND wrote them down so hopefully I 'll be more successful at my lifestyle change this time.
Last night Andrew and I order Happy Joe's pizza for one last hurrah before LIU. I have been doing really good at WW and have lost 4 pounds over the past couple of weeks.
I am trying to get into the routine of working out again. I was out of commission for about 3-4 weeks with a bad cold and working alot of shifts in a row at work. I ran Monday and wanted to die, but I did it.
For all my family and friends, I ask that you pray for me for strength to get through this and to continue to be a healthy person. I also ask that you support me and not criticize when I choose to eat differently than you. Also, feel free to point out if I am not being a healthy person or making bad choices.
Thanks for all your help!!

Swimsuits

I know I have a lot of blogging to catch up on, but I had to talk about this. I was a Target this morning picking up a few things when I passed the clothing section and saw swimsuits!!!! Already? It's only January. If that doesn't pressure you into keeping up the resolutions, I don't know what will! I just wanted to cry when I saw them sitting there. Summer is still 4 months or so away! Who is thinking of swimsuits this time of year! Now I'll really have to stick to weightwatchers!