Pumpkin Patch 2013

Sunday afternoon we made our yearly trip to the pumpkin patch. (Warning: picture overload to follow.)

Running

My sister is a runner. She has been a runner pretty much as long as I can remember. She does not jog. She runs. And she runs long distances. (We're talking miles and miles.)

On the other hand, I hate running. I'm not really a big fan of walking either, but I know it's a good exercise. But I do not run. Ever. Like, ever.

For the past several months, my sister has been training and planning on doing an ultra run (just the sound of which is intimidating). This past Saturday night was the big (50 mile) run. I thought about her all day Saturday, and especially that evening / night, wondering how it was going for her. The truth is, I only wish I had the dedication she has when it comes to fitness, exercise, health, etc. So, no matter what the outcome of her race that night, I did and always will, see her as a successful person. Although she didn't end up with the results she had hoped for, in my mind it doesn't really matter because she did more than most any of us would have even attempted.

My sister is a motivation and an example to me in a lot of areas. And just like when I was little, I still look up to her and want to be like her (when I grow up!).

Baby Lew 2 - First Pictures

Today was picture day for Baby Lew 2 (finally!) We were thrilled to see (one!) healthy, growing baby this morning. Sweet baby was wiggling his/her arms and legs almost the entire time. We got to see and hear the heart beat. (Amazing!) Here are the stats:

Momma:

BP - 130/80

Weight - same as two weeks ago

Age - still "advanced" (ha! ha!)

Baby:

Heart - 163 bpm

Length - little over 3 cm

Age - 10 wks 3 days

Due - April 27

Baby Lew 2

It's official...Baby Lew 2 is coming Spring 2014! We are excited (and obviously a little nervous) at the same time. I go to the doctor on the 16th for the first "official" picture, so I am looking forward to that. For now, we just hope and pray for a healthy little peanut.

Texas Rangers

Last Thursday (July 4th) we went to a Texas Rangers ball game (Hadley's first!). An added bonus was that my brother Tim and his family (Dina, Bailey, Emma, & Seaver) were at the game as well. Hadley and Seaver had fun together. Then, on Friday, they all came to our house for the night. We had fun at the pool, showed them around the big city (ha!), stayed up way too late playing games, and took the boys to see Despicable Me 2 (super cute movie!). Fun couple days.

7 Years

This was happening 7 years ago today...

Old School Blog Questions

My sister tagged me in this little survey, so just for fun here goes...

A. Attached or Single?

Married...about to celebrate 7 years.

B. Best Friend?

Eric

C. Cake or pie?

Probably cake, but really not a sweets eater.

D. Day of choice?

Monday (Just kidding!!)

Friday - especially in the summer when I get off work at noon.

E. Essential Item?

Lately, the same a Kim - giant insulated mug (full of water!)

F. Favorite color?

Pink or turquoise

G. Gummy bears or worms?

Gummy bears...not as big a fan of these as I used to be

H. Hometown?

Abilene

I. Favorite Indulgence?

Chips & queso

J. January or July?

Definitely July

K. Kids?

Hadley

L. Life isn’t complete without?

My boys - Eric & Hadley

M. Marriage date?

July 8, 2006

N. Number of brothers/sisters?

2 brothers – Tim & Sam

1 sister – Kim

O. Oranges or Apples

Both

P. Phobias?

Failing

Q. Quotes?

Don't walk before me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

R. Reasons to smile?

My family, long time friends, a day off work, birthday parties, pedicures, accomplishing a goal...

(Throwing in some old pictures that make me smile.)

S. Season of choice?

Fall (love the colors)

T. Tag 5 People.

Never really know who to tag on these things...

U. Unknown fact about me?

I can't ride a bike. (Stop laughing!)

V. Vegetable?

Bell peppers

W. Worst habit?

Not really a habit but, I have a terrible temper and get irritated at stupid little things.

X. Xray or Ultrasound?

Xray - chest (several), foot

Ultrasound - pregnancy (the best!), thyroid, boob

MRI - foot

Echo - chest/heart

Y. Your favorite food?

Chips and dip

Z. Zodiac sign?

Capricorn (but I don't really care)

Cousins

Yesterday we met my brother, Tim, and his wife, Dina, and their kids Bailey, Emma, & Seaver in Grapevine. Hadley and Seaver, who are only 7 months apart, had a big time. Cousins = friends for life.

(It's hard getting two 4-year old boys to be still and look at the camera!)

Comparison

Today Hadley started his second summer at TCS. It's hard to believe how much he has learned and grown in the past year.

June 2012

June 2013

June Daily Challenge

So I've decided to do a little challenge during the month of June. I got this idea from my sister who did a day of the month exercise/activity challenge back in February.

The idea is to do the exercise / activity the number of times (or minutes) to correspond to the day of the month. So by the end of June I would be doing 30 of whatever exercise I chose. Now I am just trying to decide what move to do. My thought so far include push-ups, burpees, minute(s) of situps or planks. Any suggestions?

Three Long Years

Two years ago Eric started the Radiology Tech program at Grayson College, and, as of yesterday, he is officially done with that program. Before I elaborate, let me go back...

April 2010 - I still remember the day I came home from work to hear the words that would change our lives for the upcoming future. Eric had learned that day that his position as an Ag teacher was being eliminated due to budget cuts. So, basically, we had two more months of the status quo before our household income would be cut in half (literally). Awesome. We spent the remainder of that spring and the following summer sending out resumes, traveling to interviews, and waiting for phone calls. The result: no one wanted to hire someone with Eric's education or experience. Again, awesome.

Fall 2010 - At this point, we made the decision that Eric would go back to school and pursue a completely different career in medicine. He was planning on attempting to be accepted in the Radiology Technology program at Grayson College. In order for that to happen, he needed to complete 2 prerequisites (that, of course, could not be taken simultaneously).

December 2010 - We moved from Gainesville to Sherman. I was already working in Sherman, driving back and forth 30 miles each way every day. And the college was in Denison, just outside of Sherman, so it just made good sense to make this move.

January 2011 - Hadley started going to a new babysitter (necessary because of the move), and that turned out to be a huge answer to prayer since we quickly grew to love Mrs. GiGi. Eric started his adventure back at college by taking Anatomy & Physiology I (and realizing he was going to have to study a lot for this stuff!).

Summer 2011 - Anatomy & Physiology II began for Eric, as well as the application process for the Rad Tech program. Eric received his acceptance, attended orientation, purchased scrubs, and prepared to begin the two year program.

Fall 2011 - Radiology Technology program begins for Eric.

Spring/Summer 2012 - A big change for Hadley when we learn that Regina (Mrs. GiGi) will be going to work at TCS and, therefore, not keeping kids in her home any longer. We decided to follow her to TCS, and enrolled Hadley in TCS. The transition went fairly smooth, and has been a good decision.

May 11, 2013 - Pinning ceremony for the Radiology Technology class of 2013. I could not be more proud of Eric for completing this program.

May 15, 2013 - Eric's last final exam. Officially done!

May 18, 2013 - Grayson College graduation (which we are actually skipping, but this will be his graduation date.)

The last three years have been long, hard, stressful, crazy, exhausting, proud, fun, etc. Now we see where this "new future" will take us.

Another "blog worthy" day at boot camp

Today's boot camp workout was "Lucky 7's"...although I'm not sure how "lucky" anybody was.

7 Plank Pushups

7 Tuck Jumps

7 Inch Worms

7 Squats

7 Sit-ups

7 Reverse Lunges (each leg)

7 Burpees

(Repeat entire cycle 7 times)

Go!

Boot Camp Workout

Never, in a million years, did I think I would be doing a blog entry about a workout I completed. However, I just want to document that I actually did this, and also remember it so I can do it again. (Did I really just say that?!?)

Last Friday's boot camp workout was hard (for me). I felt it the rest of the weekend. But I also felt proud of myself for doing it, and a little piece of me hopes we do it again sometime. (Maybe not today!) Here's what we did:

10 x each of the following things:

-Push ups -Squats -Reverse curls (with weights - I used 5 pounds) -Bounce jacks (jumping jacks bouncing a stability ball) -Pike/Planks -Jumping lunges -Burpees -Mountain climbers -Tricep lifts -Sumo squat kicks

Repeat entire cycle 5 times.

That might not sound like much to some people, but it took me almost the entire 30 minutes, and I moved the entire time. But I did it.

By the way...I have now lost a total of 13.6 pounds.

Frustration

About a month ago I started back on Weight Watchers. I also started back to the gym 3-5 days a week. The first week I lost a little over 8 pounds. I know that's a lot for one week, and I also know that is not a normal weekly weight loss. However, for the next couple weeks after that I stayed at pretty much that exact same weight (plus or minus tenths here and there). Then, this past week, continuing a similar eating routine as well as beginning a 3-day a week boot camp, I actually gained a pound every day when I got on the scale. Are you kidding me?? What am I doing wrong? In the past month I have increased (by a lot) the amount of water I drink, decreased (again by a lot) the amount of diet coke I drink. Additionally, prior to this month I probably ate something fried (fast food) at least one meal a day (if not more), and now I have maybe had something little fried once a week (if that). I have seriously increased the amount of fuits and vegetables I am eating, as well as decreased the portion sizes of pretty much everything I eat. And the result...nothing. What am I doing wrong? I am totally and completely frustrated.

I think I might be crazy!

Yesterday I signed up (and paid good money) for a "Lunch Bunch Boot Camp" starting after spring break. I think I might be crazy! I had seen "flyers" about the boot camp on my gym's FB page, as well as on my favorite trainer from the gym's page, so I decided to just bite the bullet. I think I might be crazy! So for four weeks, three days a week, I will be tortured working out at lunch. I think I might be crazy! I'm totally looking forward to it...can't you tell? I think I might be crazy!

Motivation?

Well, I have finally managed find some motivation to lose weight. I know I need to lose a whole lot of weight, but for some reason I just could not get myself into the right frame of mind to start doing it. But, this past week both Eric and I decided it was absolutely time, and we both stayed committed all week. One week at a time (or maybe one day at a time) is how I am trying to approach it this time.

And, the good news is, Eric lost 11 pounds this past week, and I lost 8. You've gotta' start somewhere.