When It Rains, It Pours...My Many WTF Moments in the Past Nine Days

 

Let me summarize the past nine days of my life:

• Last week on Wednesday, I just had a generally horrible night. The hubs was gone, James was being a turd, and my dogs were at each other's throats. It just put me in a pissy mood to the point I wanted to give up. (I would soon find out this was all minor and the least of my concerns for the week)
• I woke up the following morning, Thursday, determined to have a better day with a better attitude. As I was going downstairs to start my day, I slipped down EVERY SINGLE STEP. In case you missed it, I'm pregnant. Seven steps of hard floor later, I was in a pissy mood again. I was sore the rest of the day, had a headache, etc. It was just stupid.
• Thursday late afternoon/evening, we get home and noticed our beagle, Angel, wasn't able to walk using her back legs. They were limp. We were very concerned, and Jimmy decided to bring her to the vet. Long story short, she ended up being paralyzed due to a herniated disc in her back. She ended up at OSU Vet Hospital and had surgery the next morning. This was a very scary situation for us considering we just lost our Aussie unexpectedly in January and simply weren't mentally ready to lose our other precious, young doggy. (side note: surgery went well and Angel continues to heal as expected...she's just very high maintenance right now requiring a lot of assistance)
• I spent Friday through Sunday being concerned about Angel and annoyed by what seemed to be the beginning of Achilles tendonitis for me. I appropriately rested Sunday and Monday and had a pain free run on Tuesday.
• When we got home from work on Tuesday, our electricity was out. It seems like no big deal until it's off for a total of 36 hours! This really was inconvenient with all of the other events happening in my household. It was off until this morning (Thursday) at 2:45 a.m.
• Just when I thought my dog having back surgery and the electricity being out that long was the icing on the cake, Wednesday morning happened which is really why I'm typing this post.

 

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I WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE WHILE RUNNING AND HAVE FRACTURED METATARSALS.

 

Now that I have that out there, I can give you the experience from my perspective. I was supposed to wake up at 4 a.m. and meet my friends Marion and Jackie for a run. Because the power went out, I wasn't able to charge my phone enough to make it through the night. Therefore, I had no functioning alarm clock. I woke up in the 6 o'clock hour being pissed that I missed that run. I blame the power outage for what happened to me. If I had been able to meet my friends, I wouldn't have had to run on my own.

 

I set out from my house around 7:30 a.m. or so for an easy 6 miles before work. Let's set the mood and scene: broad daylight, sun was beautifully shining, I had a bright blue headband on, and I was running on the sidewalks the entire time. I was 1.25 miles into my run when it happened.

I was on one of the main roads (McCutcheon) and approaching the crosswalk, going east, at Woodmark Run (See map above if you are a visual person). There is a stop sign on Woodmark Run for those wanting to  turn onto McCutcheon. As I approached the intersection, I stopped and jogged in place at the end of the sidewalk just before the slight ramp/decline that leads into the crosswalk. This is something I always do when crossing over a street. You can't trust drivers (obviously).

 

As I was jogging in place, I noticed a small black SUV approaching the stop sign. The vehicle was decelerating as it approached McCutcheon so I made the decision that he was stopping. That's when I decided to go down the ramp and across the crosswalk. I always keep my eyes on the drivers as I'm starting to cross. I noticed that the gentleman looked left to check for approaching vehicles. About that time is when I was exiting the ramp onto the crosswalk. After the gentleman looked left, he started accelerating and turning his wheel to the right. At this point, I had already entered the crosswalk and wasn't able to stop myself before the inevitable happened.

 

The gentleman turned right and I tried to stop my legs from going further. My right leg got out of the way, but my left did not. I watched his front passenger tire crush my foot. My left leg then hit the vehicle. All I was thinking about at the time was not allowing my belly to hit the vehicle. I was so worried about my baby. I was able to extend my arms out and push the rest of my body away from the vehicle. After that, I quickly lowered myself to the sidewalk and ended up on the ramp. I pulled myself up to the level sidewalk for more comfort.

 

The gentleman got out and I screamed for him to call 911. The kind gentleman behind him stopped immediately and came to me with his business coat to use as a pillow. He also dialed my husband's number so that I could tell him to come quickly.  I then had two women stop. I remember them covering me with towels and blankets to make sure I was warm. They were rubbing my arms and back for comfort. One lady was even praying for me. So very thankful for these people.

 

You guys, I was so scared and in so much pain. This pain was so much worse than my unmedicated child birth. I remembered from birth class that you must relax to help control the pain...so that's what I tried to do. I started pursed lip breathing while letting out the occasional moan and groan. In true Lisa fashion, I kept thanking everyone around me and referring to them as "ma'am" or "sir." My labor nurse made fun of me after I had James and said I was the nicest person during labor that she'd ever met! LOL! If only I was that nice all the time. I just wanted to make sure of two things in this moment: 1) that baby was ok. 2) that those helping me knew I appreciated them in that moment.

 

I remember seeing an officer approach the scene. He came to me and asked if I was ok, how I was feeling, etc. When I told him I was struck by the vehicle, he asked me if the gentleman stopped completely. My answer was "No, sir." After he obtained my name and phone number, I asked if he would contact my husband since I was unable to get in touch with him earlier. That was about all I heard from the officer because the squad had arrived to assess my condition. At that point, we were headed to the ER and the rest is history.

 

I updated you guys on Facebook and Instagram about my exact injuries. I fractured metatarsals 2, 3, and 4 of my left foot. They splinted me at the hospital and sent me home with crutches telling me I'm non weight bearing until I see the ortho the next day.

 

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The ortho appointment:

 

I went in hoping to be given permission to wear a boot and walk with a limp. NOT SO MUCH. I received what I felt was the worst news possible. Because of the location of the fractures (they were closer to my arch than my toes), the doc felt it necessary for me to be resplinted for a week and remain non weight bearing. He said I would return in one week for an x-ray to ensure that my foot is healing properly. If all looks well, the likely scenario is that he will put me in a boot. He did state that, whether in a boot or splint, I will be non weight bearing 4-6 weeks. He stated my good health status MIGHT allow me just to be that way for 4 weeks but it is likely I'll have to go the full 6 weeks. At that point, I'll go to a walking boot and begin weight bearing as tolerated. He also stated running won't happen for 2-3 months. I'm guessing 3 months sounds more appropriate.

 

You would think that the running part would have been devastating to me, but that wasn't the first thing on my mind. I was just thinking about the difficulty of life in general while not being able to bear weight. With our dog being restricted at this time, I won't be able to help Jimmy with that. How can I appropriately care for James with one leg and crutches?! I am going to be the worst wife and mother ever for 6 weeks.

 

After this, I had to go to the police station. I received a call from the officer to come and fill out my report. After doing so, I asked him if the gentleman who ran over me was ticketed. His answer was the most devastating news of the day. He stated he chose not to ticket the gentleman because we had "opposing stories and no eyewitnesses." WTF. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Since when is running over a pedestrian who is using a crosswalk a justifiable situation? I'm not a lawyer or a police officer so I'm sure there are laws I'm unaware of BUT I do know that I stopped before crossing and the gentleman driving did not completely stop at his stop sign. Although I can't obtain the report until Monday and don't know exactly what the man reported, it is obvious that he claims he stopped and is not at fault. I can't wait to read what he said.

 

Needless to say, I am very sad and angry at the situation. I have been told many things by many people...most of them encouraging. Nothing really matters at this point until I get in touch with a lawyer. I'm hoping I can get a consult tomorrow so I can learn more about this type of situation.

 

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I can't thank you guys enough for your sweet messages. I have so many people checking in on me, sending flowers/gifts, offering to bring dinner, etc. The kindness is overwhelming and seems undeserving. I keep trying to remind myself that I would do the same thing for all of you.

 

I have three main prayer requests at this moment:

1. Appropriate healing of my foot. I vow to be a good patient and listen to my doctor so hopefully the healing responds to my commitment.
2. My work situation. I am still unsure if I can perform my job duties and what that will all look like for me.
3. That justice will be served. I'm not wanting this guy to go down, but, if he lied in his report, I hope that this lie is revealed. I am only seeking that medical expenses and hopefully any lost wages from work be covered. I feel strongly that I did all I could to prevent this from happening, and I'm not the one at fault. I have been running 19 years and have never been in this situation. I am a very safe and aware runner. I have lived in my current neighborhood for almost 6 years and run by that very spot weekly. This guy simply was not doing his part.

I Haven't Had Coffee in Three Days

I've only known for two weeks, and what I know isn't much:

 

1. I've taken three positive pregnancy tests.
2. I've been nauseous for 7 weeks.
3. I've been extremely fatigued for 2 weeks or so.
4. I have an appointment on January 12th to make sure all is well and when Baby Boo Deux was conceived.
5. Finally, I haven't been able to drink coffee the past three days (my biggest nightmare when I was pregnant with James).

 

 

What I don't know:

1. When I conceived. I thought I had my period on November 8th and that's what the doctor is going by as far as scheduling me for my first appointment. Based on my horrible nausea and when it began, I suspect I got pregnant in October and that my November "period" was something else. (side note: In the beginning stages of nausea, I seriously thought it was my GERD symptoms because I was convinced I wasn't pregnant based on my November "period.")

 

 

My days have been very rough lately. The nausea has controlled me. I was not this bad with James. I'm sick all day long with some relief in the early afternoon. Then it all comes back in the late afternoon and evening. Fun stuff. I'm having the worst time sleeping so that has affected me a lot. Fortunately, work has been extra slow which has allowed me to run during the day when I feel a lot better. With my running, I'm just listening to my body. That's why I've decided not to fully commit to any runs because I will likely back out at the last minute if I feel like crap.

 

At this time, Jimmy and I are planning to do like we did with James and NOT find out the sex of the baby. Therefore, it will be referred to as "Baby Boo Deux." We are very excited since I was at my wit's end with trying to get pregnant. I also feel this huge weight lifted off my shoulders because I have an answer for the way I have been feeling.

 

I understand we are still in the unsafe zone of potential miscarriage but I want to put this out there so you can all be praying for us through this time. I am anxiously awaiting January 12th so that we can hear a heart beat! I'm also anxiously awaiting to hear our conception date. Wouldn't it be awesome if I ran a marathon pregnant?! Even if that little booger was only 3+ weeks old.

Your First Run in the History of All Runs...

So many running firsts with these two! [Amanda, Jackie, Me]

I was thinking about how I got started on my running journey. I was a freshman in high school and my friend, Amanda S., was an AMAZING cross country runner at my high school. Our sisters played softball together for a few years so our families became very close. We were on a camping vacation of sorts during the summer and Amanda kept begging me to run with her. She wanted to see if I liked it so that I would join the cross country team with her. At the time, I thought to myself "The only thing I have going for me right now is playing the clarinet in band." I thought if I was a decent runner, I would be an athlete and get a boyfriend! (in case you were wondering, this thought process was WAY OFF).

 

So, on one of our camping trips, I decided to go for a little jog with my friend. I don't remember hating it, but I wasn't totally in love with it. I mean, have any of you been in love with running after the first one?! Sometime the following week, I told my friend I was going to our local track to run some laps. Unbeknownst to me, Amanda S. told her coach when I would be there. I arrived to the track, scared as all get out, and decided to kick my legs around and stretch because I was stalling the inevitable. As I was doing all of this mess, I saw a strange man come into the track area and sit on the bleachers. It was weird. I kept stretching until I ran out of muscles to stretch. This man would not leave. At that point, I was like WTH...JUST RUN!

 

I ran 6 laps around the track when I decided to stop. I have no idea how fast I ran...I just ran. When I sat down afterwards, the creepy man came up to me (side note: he's not really a creepy man...he was one of my biggest inspirations at that time in my life). It was the cross country coach. He told me that Amanda talked about me and he wondered if I was interested in joining the cross country team. It was this day that my running adventure officially began! I went from running 6 laps around the local track to running 2 mile cross country races and eventually 5ks then running my first full marathon 8 years later (can someone tell me why my crazy a$$ ran a full before a half?).

 

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My longest run since The Veteran's Marathon! Thankful for these ladies and thankful for legs that run...even if they were about to fall off during this run. [Back: Kim, Marion, Megan, Dani; Front: Karen, Amanda, Theresa, Me]
 

Quick update on me: No change in my symptoms. Despite the nausea/GERD crap, I'm enjoying my runs lately! I ran my longest run since my full a month ago (13.5 miles) and I'm only 34.49 miles away from meeting my goal of 2015 miles in 2015!!! What a blessing this year has been despite a tough ending!

Friends supporting friends. It's a beautiful thing. [Trevor, Me, Amanda, Theresa "the machine" M-S]

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Tell me about your VERY FIRST running experience!!!

Changing the Way I Think Lately

My friends and family are getting an earful. Nine months of trying to get pregnant and NOTHING. I talk it out with everyone because it keeps my mind off of it for at least a couple of days at a time. I was struggling a lot today because tomorrow is my "period day." I was freaking out about if I was going to start. If I do, I'm sad because I'm not pregnant. If I don't, I'm freaking out because I may start the next day or the next. It's a vicious mental cycle.

 

I have friends and family who reassure me that my freaking out is justified...that they understand why I'm feeling this way. I just feel lately that I have to post-pone everything I want to do until I know I'm pregnant. I can't plan vacations, races, etc. until I know the baby plan. It's AWFUL possessing the planning personality trait.

 

One of the things that is guaranteed to make me happy and keep my mind positive is running/working out. Post marathon training, I told myself I was going to significantly decrease my mileage because I thought it would help me get pregnant. I had my doubts about that being a factor but my doc put it in my head earlier in the year that it MIGHT have an effect.

 

I was discussing the whole training less thing with another friend and determined it might be rubbish. Yes, everyone is different, but she brought up a point I never thought of before: if my cycles have been regular (and they have since March or April), is running really affecting me getting pregnant? Isn't getting pregnant about our cycle?! The thought blew my mind. I've been struggling, wondering if my training has been the reason for me not getting pregnant, and I'm beginning to think it's not. That is such a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders.

 

No, my friends and I aren't medical doctors...but we are educated women. With this epiphany, I will likely research this and go about my life as normal until I get word that there's a baby. I can't continue with this thought process of not planning because I "MIGHT" be pregnant. It's driving me nuts.

 

To my runner friends: How has running affected your cycle or affected you getting pregnant?

Disconnecting + Update + Random Pictures

My silly boys.

What have I been up to since my Thanksgiving 5k? I'm sure all 40 of you are dying to know, and, well, 20 of you probably already know. I'm still running only 26-30 miles per week and on track to meet my 2015 in 2015 goal!

My mommy.

 

Since the race:

• Friday 11/27- 5 miles on my parents' mill, 8:35 average pace. Progressed from 8:57 to 8:20 min/mile. I needed this easy run to loosen up all the tightness from that race. That trail and those hills had my muscles confused!
• Saturday 11/28- 11.14 miles in Winchester, VA, 9:11 average pace. I met the sweet Karen earlier this year when I was visiting my parents. I didn't want to do my long run alone. I decided to hit her up again for this trip. I LOVED running in Winchester again!! It's a beautiful city with unavoidable hills.
• Monday 11/30- 5 miles, 8:40 average pace. Easy treadmill run at the Y. I had a break in the middle of my work day so I'm sure my afternoon patients appreciated my aroma.

James and Grandma making funny faced selfies!

This brought me to the end of November with a total of 124.08 miles. My lowest of the year! Yay! To celebrate my month of taper/recovery/rest, I did my first speed workout today. 6 miles, 8:00 average pace: 2 mile progressive warm up, 1.5 miles @7:30, 3 min recovery, 1 mile @6:57, 3 min recovery, 0.5 miles @6:39, recover to 6 miles. My legs handled it well considering I did Body Pump this morning. I thought for sure my legs would fall off.

 

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"Donut Worry, Be Happy."

 

My health...mental and physical. It's been a mess. As I've mentioned in recent posts, my GERD has exacerbated in full force. My nausea has gotten worse the past week and has not subsided. If I hadn't had my period the day after Indy, I would think I was pregnant. The nausea is unbearable and lasts all day long. At least it's intermittent but I can't identify if anything is helping it to go away.

Dressing up for the occasion?

 

Nausea, pregnancy...this leads me to my mental health. I'm beside myself with this trying to get pregnant thing. It's driving me absolutely crazy. I think about it daily. I analyze everything I feel in my body and wonder if I could be pregnant. I've taken a bazillion tests just to be disappointed a bazillion times. I knew it might take longer the second time around. I mean, we got pregnant with James in the second month of trying. It's been 9 months and I'm mentally done. I want to forget about it and just let it happen when it happens, but my personality doesn't allow for that.

 

I'm a planner. In my mind, I can't plan anything until I know when I'll be pregnant. I can't plan family vacations, races, etc., until I know when a little one will be arriving. I also remember how miserable I was having James in the winter. Sure, I had 10 weeks off of work, but that 10 weeks sucked butt because it was in the middle of an often single digit winter. In my world, I am not allowing that to happen again.

 

As you can assume, my head starts doing math. OK...I have to get pregnant by December which means I'll find out in January and that will give me a baby before October hits. PERFECT! Except that I'm not pregnant yet. Now, in my mind, I have a deadline which, of course, increases the pressure and stress. UGH.

 

As I told my close friends when I shared my struggle, I'm not looking for advice. I know I need to chill out, enjoy it, not care when I get pregnant, God's timing not mine...BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. That all may be true but it's not how my brain works and it doesn't make me feel better.

OBSESSED with lights. I can't wait to take him to Wildlights at the zoo!

Because I'm going nuts with this crap, I've been trying to disconnect myself slightly from Facebook. My goal has always been to put myself out there, be completely honest, and let others know that they aren't alone in their struggles...whether big or small. I don't know if this disconnection will last days, weeks...I'm shocked that I've made it two days with minimal Facebook contact. LOL.

 

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I'll certainly continue to share my joys and struggles with y'all through this baby making process and through my health issues. I did get a phone call from my PCP yesterday stating that they approved a referral to see a specialist for my GERD. I'm expecting to hear from the specialist this week about an appointment! As of know, I'm struggling with nausea and chest pain. It sucks. It hurts. I would love relief but I know others struggle more than me so I'll deal with it and try not to whine too much about it.

 

Afternoon Coffee

The evolution of coffee drinking has always been a passion of mine. Maybe I'm exaggerating...but it's definitely an interest. I can't recall how old I was the first time I drank coffee, but I know I was young (and I know that it had a crap ton of sugar and milk). It was like a treat to me. I remember my mom letting me drink it on the weekends...usually 1-2 cups.

 

In undergrad, I don't recall it being a thing of importance. I would drink coffee only if I was visiting home. Knowing my love for coffee now, it sort of blows my mind that it wasn't a priority in college. I must have had superpowers. I'm not sure how I held a full time school schedule, managed the GPA I had, hung out with friends, AND worked 30ish hours a week at Munchy's...all WITHOUT COFFEE.

Leave it to grad school to reintroduce coffee into my life. The time in my life that I had absolutely no money was the same time in my life that I met Starbucks for the first time. Need I say more? My friends and I went to coffee shops most days of the week to study. We didn't order just coffee. We ordered the lattes, the mochas, etc. If I could turn back time, I'd make myself like regular coffee so that we could save money and study at our homes!

 

When I finally became a real adult with a real job, my interests turned to regular coffee. I progressed from cream and sugar and eventually to just cream. When I started working with the geriatric population, I was impressed by their ability to drink black coffee. I was inspired to set the goal of drinking black coffee by the time I turned seventy.

Nowadays, I've ventured into the flavored creams...my favorite being Cinnabon. I MUST have coffee EVERY morning or I will freak out. That's why I'm not always perky when I go for those early morning runs. Well, that AND lack of sleep...which leads me to my point.

The past two weeks, I've started drinking afternoon coffee! Not everyday. Just a couple times a week. Life has been lacking in the sleep department and my body can't keep up with all of its demands. On the other hand, I'm wondering if this is my transition into the next coffee phase. I mean, I am going to be 33 this year! That's gotta mean something, right? I guess we'll see where this interesting topic leads me in life.

 

 

Tell me about your coffee evolution!

 

10 Things You Might Not Know About Honest Mother Runner

Fellow runner, Marcie, challenged others to come up with a "10 Things..." list about running...so here is my attempt!

 

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Honest Mother Runner's 10 Things You Might Not Know:

 

1. I started running in the summer of 1996. Next year will be my 20 year RUNiversary! That sounds like a reason to celebrate!

   

   High School Cross Country Team

   
   
2. I ran cross country my sophomore year for Arkansas State University. I was not awesome. They were desperate for an extra team member and I was desperate to compete. It was fun and, despite me not shattering any records, I would do it all over again.
3. I raced a full marathon before I ever raced a half marathon. I broke up with a d-bag the summer after my first senior year of college (could y'all follow that one?!). I had to do something with my extra time! So, with the guidance of one of my professors who is a triathlete, I trained for my first full....The Little Rock Marathon, 2005.

   

   Just before my first marathon.

   
   
4. I didn't get a GPS watch until this past January. You would think that someone with this many years of running under her belt would have a dang Garmin. Not this girl! I always ran by time and feel unless I was familiar with the path and knew the approximate distance. I wore a simple Timex stopwatch and just ran!
5. I was able to run through my entire pregnancy. Praise The Lord. He blessed me with the ability to continue to workout and inspire others through my pregnancy. I will say, at the beginning of my pregnancy, I was only up to 6 miles on my training program. I never ran more than that amount, BUT I was able to tolerate run/walk intervals with my last run being a couple of days before James arrived. If I hadn't been in labor that Saturday morning, I would have gone out for my regular Saturday run!

   

   I think I was 36 weeks here. Getting ready to workout!!

   
   
6. I trained for my first post-baby half marathon solely with a stroller (except 4-5 workouts). I had no choice. It was run with stroller or don't run. I LOVED every minute of it...minus the time James threw his bottle in the middle of a busy intersection in Nashville when I was doing a 12 miler!

   

   One of many joyful runs with my boy!

   
   
7. I was a solo runner until last year. How did I run by myself for all of those years?! Don't get me wrong, I still love my solo runs nowadays, but I definitely see the value in running with others. My best friends are my fellow runners. They make me see my potential and push me in ways I could never push myself.
8. I've only had two major injuries. The first was my knee. It never bothered me until I ran my first marathon. I was out 6 weeks post-race before it healed. The second was my hip almost three years ago. I was training for the Columbus Full in 2012 and was injured pretty much the entire training season but I was too stupid to do anything about it (hence, the 5:02 finishing time).
9. Peer pressure and insecurity made me a runner. I had a friend named Amanda S. (she was an amazing runner) who peer pressured me into running cross country in high school. My insecurities led me to believe that running would get me a boyfriend because I'd be an "athlete." Oh, to be young and dumb. Well, I did find love in high school...but it wasn't with a boy. It was with running.
10. Donuts are the reason I run. SIKE! You guys already know my obsession with donuts. Seriously, though, I run because I like it. Do I need any other reason?! In many ways, it makes me a better person because it decreases my amount of crazy.

    

    Donuts!!!

    
    

 

O.k. That's my list. Questions and comments accepted ;)

C.U.T.E.

Completely (C), utterly (U), and totally (T) exhausted (E)...that's me. I'm in some form of a major funk this week. I'm nauseous ALL THE TIME (please don't ask me if I'm pregnant...I might have to throat punch you) and I can't seem to sleep.

 

Sunday, I was so tired that I could have fallen asleep at 7pm and been happy. When 10pm rolled around and I could actually make the bed thing happen, I wasn't able to fall asleep. I seriously stared into the wild yonder for 3 HOURS!!! Yes, you read that right. I finally went to the couch at 1am and probably fell asleep by 1:30. It happened again last night but I wasn't up as late. I was supposed to get up and run at they gym but that didn't happen.

 

That's another part of my funk...running. I think I've finally hit my limit of early mornings. I'm now understanding why I always hibernate from running in the winter (or run on the treadmill). These 3:45 to 4 am wake up calls during the week are killing me. Then I turn around and get up anytime between 5 and 6 am on the weekends. WHY AM I DOING THIS TO MYSELF?! If it weren't for the friendships and the running goals, my butt would be SO HAPPY to "sleep in" until 7 or 730!

 

I don't know what I need right now. Encouragement, maybe? A race to prove that this is all worth it? I run early so it won't take time away from Mr. and Baby Boo.

 

Weeks are the hardest because, when I get home, it's go, go, go. Start dinner, put away crap from the day, prep crap for the next day, eat dinner with my family (the only time I get to sit and have quality interaction with James until he goes to bed), do chores (Boo helps, of course), and put baby to bed. If I'm lucky, I get to have extra play time with James.  On really fun nights, I have documentation to do for work after James goes to bed.

 

I feel like a lousy mother/wife/etc. Life can't be all about doing meaningless things that are necessary. I don't know what I'm asking for by typing all of this. I just know that I always feel better when I get it out.

 

I missed my run this morning because I was C.U.T.E. so I'll head to the gym after work and hope for the best. 

Pride And Humility Are On My Mind

I always preface these types of posts with the following: I am NOT a deep thinker in any form or fashion. With that being said, there is something that has been piercing my brain lately and I can't seem to shake it. When that happens, I take it to my husband who takes me to the Bible.

 

I haven't completely committed to the sin of pride lately but even the thought is enough in God's eyes. There have been some situations lately that have tempted me to go the route of pride rather than humility. Although I feel I've made the right decisions, for the most part, it's been extremely challenging to keep my mouth shut and just let it be.

 

Mr.Boo gave me three verses to look up:

• Proverbs 11:2- Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
• Proverbs 13:10a- Pride leads to conflict;
• Proverbs 18:12- Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.

 

I tend to have to break out the dictionary when I read the Bible because my vocab isn't the best. Also, even if I know the meaning, reading it and writing it down can give me more insight. So, here are the definitions I looked up:

 

• Disgrace- loss of reputation or respect, especially as the result of a dishonorable action
• Haughtiness- the appearance or quality of being arrogantly superior and disdainful
• Disdainful- showing lack of respect

 

I need to keep in mind that other peoples' opinions and assumptions about me don't matter. I also need to keep in mind that I don't know other peoples' situations in their entirety. Therefore, I have no right to form opinions and assumptions about them. I just need to swallow my pride (i.e. give it to the LORD) and be a shining light of love for my Jesus. This is my prayer.



The Classic New Year Blog 2015

As usual, I don't make New Year's resolutions, but I do set goals. Last year, I picked a "word of the year." My word was "INSPIRE." I'm not 100% sure if I accomplished that goal! I will say that, if I inspired at least one person, my year was victorious :)

 

I also had five goals last year. As I look back at my list, I know I met #3 & #4....the rest are based on other people's opinions.

 

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My 2015 Goals:

 

1. Get pregnant :) I wanted to start the getting pregnant process 2 MONTHS AGO! So what's the deal?! Mr. Boo promised me an awesome 5 year anniversary vacation in April and he "strongly suggests" that I not be pregnant on this vacation. So, to distract me from wanting to get pregnant, he lets me sign up for races...which leads me to the next few goals for 2015.
2. Run a 1:40 half marathon. OMG. I can't believe I even typed that. Go big or go home, I guess! I PR'd (personal record) this year with a time of 1:50:13. After a 12 mile test run last weekend, I was on pace to break 1:45. My friends convinced me that I needed to set a challenging goal for the DC half in March so here I go!!!

   
3. Marathon PR. I've been saying all year that I probably won't run a full marathon until after I'm finished having kids. I just felt like it was too much of a commitment. Now that I'm waking up at the butt crack of dawn (and then some) to run, I feel like I can make that commitment. I've also never trained outside in the winter so that's been new to me too! My current PR is 4:35 (way back in 2005...Little Rock Marathon!!). So, based on my recent performance, I should have no problem meeting this goal. The problem? It's all mental. I had a horrible full marathon experience two years ago and I have zero confidence. I'm hoping as my long runs increase in mileage, it will make me feel better about running a PR. I'm not 100% sure what my goal time will end up being but, right now, it would be a dream to get a sub 4 hour time.

   
4. Run a half marathon while pregnant. If the good Lord allows me to get pregnant this year, I would LOVE to run a half marathon with my growing little munchkin. I'll probably plan a couple of races for the fall in hopes it will allow me to accomplish my goal.
5. Enjoy my anniversary vacation to the fullest! I have been so anxious about this vacation. I am going to have to leave James for 6 days!! I can't even imagine. Even though it will be incredibly hard at first, I know that Jimmy and I really need this. If we aren't a good husband/wife team, we can't be good parents to James. And if we're wanting baby #2, a vacation like this will not be in our near future!

 

Nothing mind blowing or earth shattering but they are my goals :) Now it's up to you guys to do your part to help me make these happen!

Conflicted...My Struggle With Envy

1st: This is my 300th post! I wish it wasn't so serious! LOL.

 

2nd: Formal definitions help me.

 

Conflicted: be incompatible or at variance; clash

 

Envy: a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.

 

 

I'm a mom/wife and I work full time. I love my job, but I love Mr. and Baby Boo more. I've had many, many thoughts, the past couple weeks or so, about working part time. I think about how awesome it would be to:

•  Get JUST ONE extra hour of sleep (which means waking up at 645 instead of 545)
• Drink my coffee in the comfort of my own home (instead of in my car between work duties)
• Spend more time during the week with James
• Run during the day so I could spend more time with Mr. Boo in the evening
• Do my devotional while James is napping (rather than in the morning when every single thing seems to interrupt me)

 

...and the list goes on and on.

 

I am so thankful for the wonderful job that I have and for the things it provides for my family, BUT I also get super annoyed by the fact that, because of my career choice, I have student loans up the butt. Jimmy and I are doing a really good job paying extra towards them but we still have a long way to go...then we start saving for retirement...UGH!!! IT NEVER ENDS!!

 

There is more to life than being worried about paying stupid bills. Sometimes I hate being responsible! I wish I could put some of our bills on pause for 5 or 6 years until our kids (no I'm not pregnant) are in school. I want to enjoy these first few years because they go fast and they are so precious.

 

Because  of all of these things above, I am very envious of moms who stay home with their babies. No matter which route you take, being "mommy" isn't an easy road. I want more time with my baby. I'm not saying I want to be full time stay at home mom but I do wish I was part time stay at home mom :)

 

 



Keepin' It Real- I Need You Guys

I'm about to be vulnerable. I feel like it's the only way I'll get prayer and help in a way that I need. Here  is an exact quote from my journal last night (oh boy, I can't believe I'm putting this out there):

"I hate the person I am right now. I complain, I'm impatient, I'm so tired. When people think of me, they think "bitchy" or "pissed off." I can't remember the last time I've felt relaxed. I feel like I'm constantly on the go, NEVER STOPPING. I suck at this. I can't work, be a wife, and be a mom...I feel like I'm failing in all areas. I can't do this..."

Yeah. So that's me right now. I know life isn't perfect, but I want a better attitude and I want to be a better wife and mom.

Bummed...But Trying To Stay Positive

I'm off work today. This is good and bad.

I've been really bummed the past week about my work schedule. A lot of people think I'm salaried but I'm actually paid per visit (each patient I see equals a visit...depending on the type of visit). Anyway, a full time employee (me) needs 24 visits to be considered full time. This week, I had only 18 visits...not horrible but not ideal.

I feel so much pressure, especially now that we have James, to make money for my family. So, in my mind, today = money that I'm not making. Mr. Boo tells me not to worry (and so does Philippians chapter 4!) but it's so hard not to when we have extra expenses with Baby J.


I need to take advantage of this day off (I SO wish it wasn't raining), but I have no idea what to do with it!
Ideas:
-Finally take the pack n play out of our bedroom


-Buy some new running shoes


-Pray that it stops raining so I can go yogging...I mean, jogging...with James




Thanks for listening...even if you weren't intending to listen :)

5 Goals for 2014 (Inspired by the "She Reads Truth" Blog)

She Reads Truth is a daily devotional blog that I follow (when I'm actually being obedient to reading God's word). I did not follow the Advent series but looked back at a post from December 28th. The scripture was Titus 2:11-3:7 of which I took away the following (some of these are from her blog post list and some from my own list):

 

-Salvation is for ALL people, not just certain people groups (2:11)

-If we are "saved," we should desire self control and live upright and godly lives, eager to do good (2:12-14)

-These are the things I should teach to James (2:15)

-I need to be gentle, obedient, and kind (3:1-2)

-God saved us through Jesus...we didn't earn this...He did it despite our lives and goof-ups (3:4-7)

 

 

The blog writer then encouraged us to set five goals for 2014. I meditated on this passage and really thought about what I wanted to accomplish...so here goes:

 

1- To be a better person...not just in general but for Baby James. I want to be a good example for him when he gets old enough to learn and understand...which means I need to change myself NOW. It's amazing how having a child makes you want to be a better person. One of my biggest mother fears is that I won't be able to teach him morals/values/godliness.

 

2- Inspire and stay positive through my adjustment to being a mom (if you follow my blog, you know about this one).

 

3- Run at least one half marathon. You all know I have to make a running goal! I would like to run the Columbus Half in October. Once I start training, you will hear all about it :)

 

4- Soak in EVERY SINGLE MOMENT with Jimmy, James, Angel, and Izzie. You just never know what will happen and I don't want to let any experience, good or bad, pass me by.

 

5- Be a better wife. My husband deserves it. Nuff said.

 

 

As I read through this blog to edit it, I can't help but think, "Man, I'm a freakin' adult know! So weird!"

 



Random Postpartum Thoughts

1. Crying- Obviously, hormones go crazy and YOU WILL CRY. If you didn't do your share of crying, you have no soul (please know that I'm joking but really?!)! For the first few days, I cried every time I tried to go to sleep. I just prayed and cried. It wasn't necessarily a bad cry...it was more like "I can't believe I have the cutest baby in the world," "I don't deserve this precious baby," "I'm afraid I won't be able to figure things out/be a good mom." Then, all of a sudden, I didn't cry anymore. After texting with my friend, Jackie, I think my experience might have something to do with the placenta pills that I'm taking. Jackie said that she noticed a difference in her crying/emotions when she didn't take her pill. I haven't skipped taking my pill and, after talking with Jackie, I'm afraid to do so! I'm hoping that is what's helping to keep my emotions in check :)
2. Belly- I was so concerned with how my previously flat belly was going to look after being pregnant (so stupid, I know, but I'd be lying if I didn't say it was a concern). This is what I imagined: Have you ever watched The Biggest Loser? I imagined my belly looking as if I was 300+ lbs. and had lost 200 of it...that saggy skin look. Boy, was I wrong! After delivering James, it simply looked like I was still pregnant...just not as far along. The only difference is that I felt it jiggle when I walked rather than it being hard like during pregnancy. As the days have gone on, I still have a pudge but it is slowly getting smaller. The fact that it's cookie/holiday season doesn't help things out...50% of my diet the last 2 weeks has been cookies! Now that I can drive (YAY!), I'll be able to go for walks on a daily basis until I can start other cardio activity. I can also slowly start doing other exercise at home like squats, lunges, and maybe even some light abdominal and yoga moves. I'll just listen to my body and see how things go.
3. Trying on pre-pregnancy pants- Kind of wish I had waited for this one! Today, Mr. Boo and I went to Meijer and I wanted to wear some real pants or jeans...so I did it...I tried on some pre-pregnancy jeans! Oy. I'm currently trying to figure out if my hips are going to stay the same size or shrink along with my belly. Honestly, I'm ok with my current hips...I just want to know if there is shopping in my future or if I'll be able to squeeze into those favorite jeans of mine that I love oh so much. I did fit into a pair that is a little stretchier so all hope is not lost. :)
4. Pumping- Please tell me about your pumping experiences the next time I see you or in a message. I just started trying to pump milk yesterday and VERY little came out. I thought it might have been because James was eating every 1 1/2 hours yesterday which is unusual for him. I only tried once yesterday and once so far today. I had better luck today but it still wasn't a whole lot. The pediatrician told me to pump the breast that he feeds from the least after that specific feeding. Does it just take time to establish good pumping? I dunno...guess I need to do some research or contact a lactation consultant.

Baby James: My Birth Story

My 38 week bump pic...taken the night before I had Baby James.

*side note: The week leading up to this, I still did Hip Hop Fitness, I still did a jog/walk at The Y, and I went to two life group events. My point in telling you this: life doesn't need to stop! Keep going!

 

December 12, 2013 (Thursday):

This is when, I believe, it began. Around 230 pm, I was finishing my last patient of the day and felt something leaking from down south. Of course, I had no idea what it was, if it went through my pants, etc. My only thought was "Let me get through this evaluation so I can get to a restroom!" I left my patient's home and went to Jimmy's car only for it NOT to start...perfect timing, right?! I called AAA (praise The Lord for AAA!) and, an hour and a half later, they rescued me. I had to pick up Mr. Boo from work immediately so it ended up being 5 pm-ish before I could get to a restroom. Basically, I think my mucus plug passed because I had the so called " bloody show" when I got home. 

 

Dec 13, 2013 (Friday):

Of course, I did not sleep that night thinking about the possibility of going into labor (even though passing your plug can mean labor comes weeks or days or hours later). I did start having contractions around 2 am but they weren't regular and they didn't hurt. I decided to go into work that day because I didn't want another false labor incident to freak me out. I was able to see all of my patients and had contractions on and off throughout the whole day. They eventually stopped before I went to bed.

 

I was in labor when this was taken. Jimmy wasn't home at the time and I wanted to make sure I got a pic of my belly before I went to the hospital. Yes, I'm smiling...but I was between contractions :)

 

December 14, 2013 (Saturday...THE BIG DAY...I'm totally going to cry as I type this):

I started having contractions early in the morning. They were different from the day before...tighter and with cramping. Even though I wasn't in pain at the time, I knew this was the day :) I was going to get to meet my Baby Boo!!! With that in mind, I knew I needed to put the Pack n Play together. I was able to finish most of it before I needed to start my brownies and Mac n Cheese (our pastor and Jimmy's mom, step dad, and step bro were coming over to hang out and change our pastor's brake pads...we decided to make a lunch date of the event). Looking back on this, I am so thankful we were busy this particular morning because it helped to take my mind off of what was going on.

 

As the day went on, the contractions became stronger and closer together. This entire time, I was writing down the times the contractions began so that I'd know when they were 5 minutes apart. As lunch time approached, they became strong enough that I had to stop whatever I was doing and focus for that few seconds. I would be mid conversation and have to pause. It was actually quite entertaining for my audience :) I'm also not quite sure how uncomfortable I was making my pastor and the other men in the house! I wonder what they were thinking as all of this was going on...maybe they weren't thinking anything at all. Everyone left and that's when reality hit Jimmy and me...we were about to have our baby!

 

Jimmy packed up the car and made arrangements for a replacement for his role in our church's Christmas show (he was the drummer for the show and had to be at church for two showings and one rehearsal the next day). His brother graciously said he'd do it for Jimmy if we were still in labor. (In case you wondered, he was able to attend church the next day, solo, of course, and play drums in the show). We then called our amazing friend, Jenny, to take our dogs for us. She came over about the time I was ready to go to the hospital and stayed with me and the dogs while Jimmy brought his drum equipment to our worship pastor. When he arrived home, I used my serious voice to let him know "IT IS TIME!"

*Side note: This last paragraph describes the time period between about 430 and 6 pm. The contractions were very strong at this point. They were painful but tolerable. The only way I could get comfortable between contractions was to lay on my side with a pillow between my knees...no more baking for me! I just had to really focus and breathe through each one. At this point, I HATED the clock because I knew when each contraction was about to start and I dreaded it!

 

We arrived at the hospital sometime between 630 and 645 pm and Jimmy insists that he push me up in a wheelchair but, of course, I thought that was rubbish and told him I wanted to walk. We get to the second floor of St. Ann's, check in, and I head to the triage room to strip down and get ready for the rest of my marathon. They attached me to the monitors to make sure Baby Boo and I were ok and checked my dilation. I was so nervous about this because I didn't want it to discourage me if it was a low number. After checking, the nurse said I was 6 cm!!! I'm pretty sure I verbally yelled out "YESSSS!" and actually held the "s" sound for a long time! They asked me at this point if I wanted an epidural...I let out a big fat "No, thank you" and went about business. I stayed in triage long enough for them to get a labor and delivery room prepared for me. While waiting, Jimmy put on some worship music to help us get focused and to know that The Lord was with us. He played "In Christ Alone" which is one of my favorites...I'm pretty sure I started balling my eyes out. At this point, it was so painful but I was so focused that it wasn't an issue (keep in mind, my amazing husband was coaching me through each contraction with perfection).

 

 

This is maybe 1/3 of the L&D room.

Cheryl and me between contractions...let's do this!

 

We get into labor and delivery (not sure what time it was at this point because I was hard at work) and things continue to progress...and quickly. My amazing nurse, Cheryl, checked me and I had reached 8 cm! Yessss! I was still in the condition that all I could do was lay on my side with the pillow between my knees. We labored mostly at home so I didn't get to take advantage of the HUGE room or the nice tub. Unfortunately, they thought it best for me to stay hooked up to the monitor the whole time because they baby's vitals weren't quite where they wanted them to be to take the monitor off. The monitors sucked  but it was worth keeping an eye on Baby Boo. The only thing you need to know at this point is that it's VERY painful and contractions feel like hell BUT those moments in between contractions were awesome and I was able to carry on partial conversations with my nurse and hubby (I seriously can't brag enough about Jimmy and Cheryl...they were such a great team and the best support).

 

Here's my next time reference, which I got from Cheryl, and it begins the description of the rest of my experience in labor and delivery. At 836 pm (remember, I've been at the hospital only 2 hours or less), my water broke...or, in my mind, BURSTED LIKE A WATER BALLOON! This meant two things: Baby Boo should be here soon (smiley face) and contractions would only get worse (frowny face). AND THEY DID. OMG. This was definitely transition phase for me because I remember saying out loud "I can't do this anymore!" The nurse checked my cervix just after my water broke but wouldn't tell me where I was at because she wanted me to focus on not pushing (I felt like I needed to poop but wasn't quite ready to push yet). She called the on call doctor to get to the hospital (he was about 20 minutes away) and I overheard her say I was a +2 station. I knew what that meant and I knew Baby Boo was coming. YESSSS!

 

Dr. T (my doc wasn't on call) was there just in time for me to start pushing the baby out. I was screaming but not like the scream in scary movies...more like a low grunting scream. Even though I knew I needed to curl up during the pushing, my automatic reaction was to straighten my entire body. I really needed the staff to coach me through this part...and they did. Besides how hard pushing was, I remember them getting Jimmy into the whole process. They had him watching and educated him through the whole thing...told him everything that was happening. Although I had no interest in seeing what was going on down there, I wish I could have seen my husband's reaction to what was happening. He said it was so amazing. I can't describe the pushing phase as painful but it was hard. I can't even say the actually baby coming out part was super painful...maybe because I was so focused on pushing.

 

And then, 913 pm arrived, and my baby was delivered! I only pushed 20-25 minutes! Yay! My unmedicated birth plan came true!!! It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do but I was never concerned or scared. Nuff said. When they announced it was a boy, my first thought was "Thank goodness, I don't have to figure out how I want to spell the girl's name." At this point, I had some skin to skin action with my boy, Jimmy cut the cord, I "delivered" my placenta, and I probably cried the entire time because I was so happy about the result of our hard work. The only problem we had is that Baby James' temperature was a little to low so they asked me to do a little more skin to skin time before letting daddy hold him.

 

My little man :) I never dreamed my child would be this small considering I was a 10 lb. fatty!

 

 

I think that pretty much covers it but you are welcome to ask any questions about the experience.

 

Without further ado, I present to you our Baby James:

Born at 913 pm at St. Ann's Hospital. 6 lbs. 8 oz., 18 inches long.

 

P.S. The hospital experience was amazing. The staff was awesome and I have no complaints about my experience at St. Ann's. Without listing every person, I would like to thank everyone who visited us at the hospital and at home so far, provided gifts and food, and those who are sending sweet messages to us. We appreciate you all!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Pregnancy Goal...

...to be an inspiration.

 

 

I can't really remember a time/moment in my life that I've felt I can be an inspiration to others (maybe this is me being hard on myself...or maybe I just wasn't paying attention when God gave me these opportunities). When I got pregnant, all I could think about was staying active the entire pregnancy and being as healthy as possible...not just for me, but for Baby Boo and Mr. Boo.

 

I just felt like God wanted to use me to inspire other women and show them that IT CAN BE DONE! I am now 34 weeks into my pregnancy and never imagined that I would still be able to do what I'm doing with regards to exercise. I promise this is not me bragging but me simply letting people know it's possible. So many people get pregnant and think life has to stop. They often use pregnancy as an excuse to be lazy, eat whatever crap is in front of them, and have others do everything for them. Maybe it's my independent soul but that just never appealed to me!

 

So, what am I still doing at 34 weeks? Here are a few things (again, I'm not bragging but inspiring):

 

-Hip Hop Fitness every Monday

-Running (now more like jogging) at least twice a week...yes, I'm slower...yes, I run less

-Other various workouts at the gym

-A lot of family walks with our dogs

-Yard work including mowing and raking/bagging leaves (if you've ever seen my yard, you know I don't garden)

-Until November came around, I was doing a 5k race 1-2 times each month

-I can still tolerate my job duties (I'm a home health PT so I'm constantly up, down, and all around)

 

...that's just to name a few. Now that my belly has grown and I'm obviously pregnant, I get a lot of weird looks...especially when I'm jogging...but I also get a lot of smiles and encouraging words from strangers.

 

Being only 6 weeks away from my due date, I'm entering into the hard phase of pregnancy. I am growing by the day, I don't sleep, my body gets tired more easily, etc. but I can honestly say that I still feel amazing and very positive about the things that sound like they suck. Only the Lord knows what my labor and delivery experience will be but I feel like he has used my motivation to stay active to prepare me exactly how He feels I need to be prepared...He is good like that :)

 

So, to you ladies out there, I pray that I can be an inspiration to you all and that I didn't do all of this for nothing! I can't wait to share my next 6ish weeks with y'all and share Baby Boo's birth story!! Oh my goodness...I can't believe how close we are to that special day!!!



My Birthday Celebration...31 YEARS OLD!!!

Thirty One is a weird number...I still feel young so that's what counts! As usual, I felt very loved on my birthday :) Thanks to everyone who called/texted/left messages on Facebook!

 

Thursday night, the night before my birthday, we met some of our life group friends at Benny's Pizza. Although the meeting wasn't specifically for my birthday, we did a little celebration while we were there. My friend, Becca, bought me some delicious donuts that I gladly pigged out on. Jimmy also presented me with my gift during dinner...

 

He handed me a gift bag. As I was taking out the tissue, I saw a Colts jersey in there. Of course I was excited...until I saw that it was an Andrew Luck jersey. He bought me an Andrew Luck jersey last year! What's going on?! He told me he bought it for himself as a symbol that he has committed to be a Colts fan with me. I would have been happy with that as my "gift" BUT...I know my husband...I knew something else was up. I just didn't know what.

 

He had to go to the bathroom and handed me our "eating out" envelope to pay for our meal. I had the feeling that something besides our eating out money was in that envelope. I opened it up to get the money and found this:

 

Tickets to the Colts/Broncos game in October!!! This is definitely a bucket list item and I don't want to know how much he paid for these! I'm just glad it's something that he'll enjoy as well...and it's a last hurrah before the baby comes! YAY!!!

 

In addition to this gift, I was given this journal from Amy, Chris, Molly, and Cooper (my in-laws, niece, and nephew):

 

This journal cracks me up because it has random things written in it like: "Breakfast for dinner...Awesome!" and "Celebrating your pet's birthday even though they have no idea what's going on." I can't wait to read the different awesome things as the days go by!

 

Both sets of Mr. Boo's parents gave me birthday money...it's hard for me to comprehend that I'm 31 and still get birthday money! LOL. Here's what I used the money for:

 

 

I bought some pregnancy clothes. I don't say maternity because I didn't get them from the maternity section :) I bought these maxi skirts (gray, pink, and green). I have never owned a maxi skirt because, for some reason, I felt like they were for pregnant women and moms! I definitely feel like a mom now that I have them.

 

And, of course, my awesome sisters, mom, step dad and sis, Katelyn, sent me cards :) I also have a Target gift card to spend from them! More maxi skirts?! I kid, I kid.

 

Thanks everyone for a wonderful birthday!

 

My Week in Pictures

I really want to write a blog post but feel like I have nothing to write about at the moment. So, I decided to take the random phone pics I took this week and tell you about 'em!

 

I bought some new running shorts!

 

We dogsat this cute pup, Gambit. Izzie liked him but Angel wasn't a fan!

 

All three dogs looking out the window. This is the closet Angel got to Gambit without yelping!

 

Angel's birthday was Friday...3 years old! She looks thrilled.

I didn't want Izzie to feel left out.

 

Ok...enough dog pics.

 

We went to my mother-in-law's to get Mr. Boo's car and check on her dog. I saw this horse in her living room and couldn't resist!

On my way to church!

The pretty flowers in front of my house (no thanks to me...whatever blooms is what the previous owners planted!).