Update

It's funny that my last post is that I ran 4 miles...especially when you read this post.

After my personal best I followed up the next day with 2 miles and then a 5K the following day. I was on track of having my highest mileage week ever...

I have been having heart palpitations. Started back in Colorado when we were starting to make the move. I only had them a couple of times there. In September and October of this past year I had them for about 2 weeks. I was also under a ton of stress and going through a major low point in my life...so I naturally attributed them to that. Then they came back about 3 weeks ago. And I am doing better than I have in a long time so it was time to see the DR.

Went to a new GP since I don't have one. He does an EKG and says this is not right and you need to go see a cardiologist, today, now! He makes the appt for me and an hour later I'm in the cardiologist's office. I've texted a friend and asked her to start a prayer chain and I'm about to puke from the stress. Cardiologist sees my EKG and says you have 2nd Degree AV Block (meaning there is an interruption in the electronic signal in my heart). He does a stress test and an echo cardiogram. He says my heart looks good and responds well under stress and to continue my regular schedule and I can keep running. But if the palpitations persist or I start having pain then I will need a pacemaker in the future..even gives me a pamphlet on the pacemaker.

Stress much? The next two weeks I completely stop running, feel nothing but pain in my chest and have a ton of palpitations. I finally make a second opinion appt with another cardiologist who works for St. Lukes. He says that I am dealing with anxiety. I start to cry and he tells me, very kindly, that I need not to be emotional but objective, that there is really nothing wrong with me. He says plenty of people have this AV Block and go on their whole lives without even knowing it. It's benign. I mention the pacemaker and he dismissed it. He put me on some antidepressants and told me to really go back to running and move on.

Two days later..feeling much better!

Not happy with the first 2 doctors who scared the crap out of me...but much better!

I have, however, revised my New Years Resolution. I will NOT run everyday. I will work out at least 5 days per week. I will give myself 1 or 2 days to rest and recover. I will still run most of the time but will sprinkle in some swimming and weight training to even things out.

It's been a crazy last couple of weeks...and trust me, you do look at everything differently when you are confronted with a diagnosis that you may need heart surgery in the near future. I don't want to ever go through that again. I will do my best to stay stress-free and healthy so I won't ever have to worry about my kids growing up without me.

So, that's it. Just another dramatic tale in my life that ended up being nothing! Next!

Personal Best

Today I ran 4 miles on the treadmill. Up until now my best has been a 5K which is 3.1 miles. Super excited!

A Benchmark Set

Today was the first time this week, since I started this crazy running resolution, that I woke up and wanted to start my day with a run. It was nice to have that feeling back! And then just as I was throwing on my runners, one of my besties, Hilde, texted me that she just got in from doing 2 miles. And so...the benchmark was set. Today was officially going to be a 2 mile day. And it was! And now it's time to get on with my Saturday!

Oh, and BTW, I can't believe that I didn't announce on my blog yet that we are officially DEBT FREE!! I know I have given random Dave Ramsey updates in the past 2 years and finally the biggest hurdle yet completed...and I didn't even write about it. FAIL! Anyways, on to step 3 now...getting 3 to 6 months worth of living expenses into our savings account. It took us 22 months to accomplish step 2...I'm hoping step 3 is much quicker!!

Happy Saturday!

Resolution

So far I only have 1 resolution. But it's a BIGGIE! I am going to run everyday this year. I am allowing myself 5 days off which I will save in case I get sick..and if I don't get sick then I'll have a great 5 day break at the end of the year!!

My biggest reason for doing this is to see if I can. I have been running now for 2 years and the longest break that I've ever taken is 2 weeks. However, I always seem to take the breaks when I get to my best. I will start feeling comfortable running and pushing myself really hard and then I stop. And it sucks to start back up again. It seriously takes me weeks to get back to my old running self when I take a week off.

So, I want to know what my running would look like if I never took a day off.

The rules are simple. Run everyday. Minimum is 1 mile. Max is as far as I can go that particular day.

So far we are six days in and six runs complete. A good start, no?

I'm getting a little tired of Facebook again (I go through stages with that site!) so I will update mostly on the blog.

And I'm a really slow runner and always looking for a partner so if anyone ever wants to tag along...let me know!!

Healthy Breakfast

My kids are like any other...they would love to wake up to Lucky Charms, Coco Puffs and Fruit Loops every day of the week. However, they are known as 2 things in our house...sugar cereal and Saturday cereal. I screw up as a parent on an hourly basis but I do believe in a healthy breakfast to start their school day. It gets their bodies working right and puts their brains in learning mode. Right now they are stuck on 2 breakfasts that we alternate every couple of days. I thought it would be fun to share those recipes with you.

Breakfast Milkshake (it's a smoothie but don't tell Jagger that!)
Mix all the following ingredients into a blender. This makes enough for 4 kids or 2 adults.
1 cup plain non-fat yogurt
1 cup milk
2 TBSP wheat germ (in cereal aisle at Target or Krogers)
3 TBSP peanut butter (I use Jif natural)
2 cups frozen berries (we use Target brand frozen triple berry...kids don't like others I've tried.)
1 whole banana
Puree it all and serve. Soooo good!

The next is a bran muffin...but don't say eww yet. It's got a yummy sweet taste to it. The kids like a couple of slices of cheddar cheese with it and a fruit..usually grapes or strawberries. I'm telling you, this fills them up and it so so so good for them! Don't forget to serve it with a big glass of milk..YUM! It's a recipe that I got from Parents magazine about 10 years ago and nobody is tired of it yet!

Bran Muffins-makes 16 muffins. We put them in a big ziploc bag, freeze them, take them out when we want one and heat up for 30 seconds in microwave. It's like having fresh warm muffins every morning!
Preheat oven to 425

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsps baking soda
1 tsp salt
mix all together

in separate bowl mix the wet ingredients:
2 cups lowfat buttermilk (I use 2 TBSPs of vinegar mixed with milk to make 2 cups..don't purchase the buttermilk...too expensive and the other is easier)
1/4 cup vegetable oil (I've used canola too and it turns out the same)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 egg
2 egg whites
Whisk together
Then pour into dry ingredients and whisk together.
Add 3 cups of Bran Flakes (you could also use Raisin Bran but we don't like the raisins)

Put into greased or lined muffin tin and cook for 15 minutes.

If you try one or both of these recipes please let me know what you think. My family LOVES them!!

Thirst

I have been reading my Bible like crazy lately. I can't seem to get enough. I was going in order from beginning to end but after 1Kings I decided I wanted to read from different chapters. First James, then Esther (two of my favorites!) then on to Matthew, Jonah, Ezra, Mark. I read whole chapters from beginning to end. I seem to be comprehending it like I never have before. I'm not just reading over sentences so I can finish and say I read the Bible again, I'm really hearing some great stuff and understanding things. It's been awesome!

Now most of you know that we are trying to move back to Colorado. I want this more than anything else in my life. Is reading the Bible my way of bribing God to do what I want...I promise to read more if you will just give me what I want?? Maybe. Partly. But doesn't God use all trials to draw us to Him. Could maybe the whole reason we came back to TX was to find God in leaving again? I don't know. But I do know that I am closer to God than I have been in a long time and it feels so good to be sitting at His feet again.

Here is some verses from James that I have read over and over in the last week:

^5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

Isn't that amazing?? I am boldly believing and boldly praying that God's hand is all over our lives right now!!

Also...today is September 1st. There are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs. Kaylee and I are reading one chapter together every morning for the whole month...and then obviously we will do the 31st chapter on October 1st. I'm super excited that she wants to do this with me and can't wait to see how God uses this time in both of our lives. Feel free to hold us accountable and ask us how it is going!

That's all my thoughts for now. I will be sure to post more info on our journey as they get sorted it out. Thank you for all of the prayers that are heading our way...I know God is hearing them!

One Week Left

I can't believe we only have a week of summer left!! How did it fly by so quick?? Usually I'm disheveled and doing a count down by mid June...but this year I made it all the way to a week to go!! WOO HOOOOO!!!

These last 3 months have been jammed pack with fun. The kids did 2 VBS weeks. We went on vacation to Bastrop and San Antonio with Jimmy's family. Kaylee went away to my Aunt's house for a week and to Austin for a weekend. Memories were made with my Mom when she visited for a week. Blokus, Skip Bo and Scrabble were regular companions. Tons of remodeling done on the house. We visited Pirates Bay, Calypso Cove and the Wave Pool to get our swim on. We spent a night watching TV and having a sleepover in the TV room. The kids read over 60 books each and participated in the Mont Belvieu library summer program!! James participated in Bayou Bunch outings and did a week of Stomp Camp. We bowled with the kids bowl free program a bunch of times. We met neighbors and made friends.

And now we have one week left. Each of the kids have orientation at school next week and then of course it is time for haircuts and school shoe shopping. I know we still have to fit in our end of the summer Chuck E. Cheese family fun day and I'm sure there will be a couple of other fun surprises to sneak in. But really...I can't believe my babies will be off to school again in 9 days!!

I hope you've had a great summer too!!