The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

I have reported on a lot of happy topics this year: my kids, husband, favorite things, weight, etc. but I toss over how much of my life should be blogged about and decided I couldn't just report on the good.

This past month has been tough for me, my grandma died at the age of 94. She was a wonderful lady who was very kind and gentle to all her grandkids and anyone she came in contact with. She LOVED family and she was always at every family function (quite a feat considering she never drove). She kept a lovely vegetable garden and would pickle whatever was left from harvesting to make it last all year. She was small but she left such a huge impact on all of us. I miss her and am glad she is no longer in pain. The past two years she's been in a nursing home and not in good health. She died on March 17th in her sleep. I was thankful to get to visit her and to say good-bye slowly. The greatest lesson I've learned from her is make people important-forget the stuff-just be there for others.

Now, with great heartbreak, we learned that a friend of ours who was battling cancer this past year died on Friday by his own hands. I am so sad to lose him. He was a very independent man and although I've been told why he would come to this decision, it doesn't make the hurt and pain I feel over his death any easier to take. I grieve for him and his family.

good news

Extra! Extra! Here all about it!! Good news finally...

I was so happy to see a good article on my Yahoo homepage when I fired up the computer this morning. It was about an awesome lady named Talon Curtis finding a real check for $357,959. She turned it into the bank and the check was picked up by the real owner of the check. She turned down a reward and just wanted to meet the owner in person (which didn't happen). She just wanted the owner and others to know that there were still honest people out there. I don't know anything about Ms. Curtis' life but she certainly made my day. I am tired of hearing bad news day in and out. I can't hardly listen to it and continue to be chipper while raising my little boys.

I need to know good things still happen and people still do things for each other without the promise of something in return. I need to hear this for me so I don't end up bubble wrapping my boys and sticking them in my basement so nothing bad happens to them. You think I'm kidding?!

Kitchen-Aid Mixer

Oh how I love my Kitchen-Aid mixer, it makes me look so good with so little effort. I absolutely would be lost if it ever brokedown. I can't live without this little kitchen appliance. It's my R2-D2 sidekick but BETTER because it doesn't make obnoxious noises and I can eat what's in the bowl later.

What do I do with my super-duper mixer? I make homemade bread using the hook attachment (kneading?! never), whip up mashed potato, and make cheesecake batter. And that's just what I did today. I hate touching raw meat so when I have to mix up my ground meat for meatloaf or meatballs...all gets dumped into the mixer and I let it do the work. I even made lean ground pork using the grinder attachment.

Those that have one and using it regularly know what I'm talking about...those who have one and let it sit there-use it. Or better yet, call me I'll come over and teach you what fabulous stuff you can make with it. And those who don't have one, save up and get one. You'll never regret it.

...and the result was...

I finally checked my time for the 5K I ran on the 28th and I did it in 32 minutes. I would have never believed I could do this. On the treadmill, it used to take me over 45 minutes to run 3 miles. This past three months have been mindboggling in terms of my fitness. I am pushing myself further and little ole me ran 5.4 miles on Sunday after running almost 5 miles on Saturday. Who would have thunk that?! Today I ran 4.5 miles and I am not crying in pain.

Here's the recap of what I know for sure that this time it has clicked in terms of weight and fitness. I finally listened to all the advice regarding the three principles of weight loss: keep some form of jfood journal to help monitor eating portions (Weight Watchers online), exercise, and get a buddy or support system outside yourself. For me, I have enlisted a help of a trainer once a month at my gym and have a WW buddy who is my exercise partner on the weekends to help keep me motivated. She and I are roughly the same weight and height so our workout program mesh really well. She is very encouraging and it helps to have someone to go through this.

In the past, I have either restricted my food intake to the extreme for a few months and then SNAP! ate like a cow to make up for it. Or I would eat like a cow but exercise a LOT. Both these two were not healthy alone because I was either so lethargic from so little food intake that I couldn't find the energy to exercise or I would be so sore from exercising so much that I took comfort in pigging out.

For the first time, I have been eating the right kind of food in the correct portion and have the energy to exercise. I love it. I can't believe I'm the most healthy I've ever been and it only took 37 years to achieve this. Of course I've still got more weight to lose but each week, I'm seeing weight loss and so I'm going to keep on going.

Run Baby Run!!

I did my first organized 5k run this past weekend. We live in a town with a large university and it sponsored the run called "Campus on the Run". It was a huge turnout but mentally it prepared me to run among a lot of people. Typically, I run with my running partner or by myself. In the only other time I ran in an organized event, I got claustrophobic around too many people-but this time I kept my mind clear and calm and JUST DID IT like Nike suggest. I don't know how long it took. My running partner and I ran almost 1 mile before the event, ran the 5K, and then ran back to where my car was parked. This way we got in extra pavement time. I felt relaxed and loose during the run. I really like to run. I think it's the only "sport" I have felt good doing.

The only concern I'm having with my running right now is my left foot. I wore high boots over the weekend and twisted it while walking on grass...not good. Since then, it's been hurting on and off after a run. I hope this doesn't sideline me. I think I will have to do elliptical instead of run to give it a break.

(Picture of me wearing a shirt my Oma gave me for Christmas for the run).

Charlotte's Web

I am reading Charlotte's Web to the boys. I wasn't sure if they would get bored with more story and little pictures. Since it's a long book for the boys, I allow them to hold a toy and play quietly beside me as I read. As I read along, I am thinking "are they even getting this?" and "my throat hurts from reading outloud for this long". As I read chapter 5 where Wilbur meets Charlotte and she reveals herself, the boys stopped what they were doing and stared at me. They were excited because they were engaged in the book and all of the sudden wanted to see the picture of her. Okay, so I guess I can move away from the picture books at the library from time to time. How fun is that?

Thank heaven for siblings

Thank you Koo for being in our lives especially S.E.'s because without you, S.E. would be too serious. I'm so happy you are there to test his patience, be his bestfriend, and let him practice his social skills on you. Thank you.

S.E. "Koo you took a toy out of my hand. That's not nice. You are being a bully when you do that."

Koo "Fine S.E.-I won't play with you anymore." hmmmm.