one year...one year ....one year!

Hola people!  How the heck are ya?  So....if you didnt gather.....one year til the half marathon in Arizona.  Yay!  I am excited and excited for the journey to get there.  I realized a few minutes ago as a posted something on my cousins facebook page that not only is it one year, but at this time next year we will (not should) have our bling hanging around our necks.  Awesome!

So, tonight I officially started my training and got some thinking done about what I want to accomplish while out on my run/walk.  I went out for a two mile run/ walk tonight.  It is the time of year that it is gettingdark pretty early, so by the time I went out at 6:52 p.m. it was full dark.  With phne in one jacket pocket, flashlight in the other, and drink in hand I took off. At first I was a little nervous cause there were certain points that were realy dark.  I think that txvhis nervousness made me go even faster.  I got to the one mile turn around spot and tried to take a picture to send to james but with it being s dark out, it didnt quite work.  It was on the way back from the one mile mark that I really let myself get in the moment.  I enjoyed the quietness of the night.  An occasional car would drive by..but mostly the sounds I heard were my breathing and the leaves crunching under my feet.  It was nice.  Making me rethink the whole music thing.  We will see!

I STARTED THE ABOVE ON FRIDAY WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY A YEAR TIL THE RACE BUT DIDN'T GET AROUND TO FINISHING IT TIL TODAY

So...since Fridays 2 mile adventure...3 more miles have been conquered.  Connor and I went to the NCR trail and went three miles.  It was nice.  I decided to take the stroller instead of hearing that he was tired and having to lug him back.  That would have been a great decision if it was a good stroller for a rocky path....it was a little interesting.  But.........we did it and that is what counts.

I have decided to give myself rewards.  I think that I am going to start at 25 miles...originally I was going to start out at 50 miles but I think I need to start out at a lower number and the more miles I accrue the more miles I can put between rewards.  So...at 25 miles run/walked/conquered I am going to reward myself with something....a new shirt/bottle/skirt...whatever!

That's it for now!  Happy Monday!

Snow...in October...really?

Interesting....this weather is interesting.  We have had an odd couple of months...extreme heat...oodles of rain...an earthquake...a hurricaine....and now snow in October?  They are saying that we may get up to 5 inches.  There goes Paige's soccer game and the pictures that go along with it.  So...my plan is to make some yummy corn/potato chowder and break out the sandwich maker for some nice and toasty ham/cheese sandwiches.  Sounds like good snowy/rainy/cold food!

Last week I had no zumba!  It sucked....I missed it.  Tuesday Paige had a school event and Thursday we had family come into town.  It was a toss up whether I would go Thursday...I probably should have seeing as we only hung out at the house.  I am glad to be back into it, though.  Tuesday was a bit tough cause I was wiped out from the weekend.  Last night went well.  Time to start throwing some runs/walks into the mix, too.

So...I was thinking about the one part of my body that I struggle with the most to lose weight.  Yeah we all have some belly jiggle but we know what to do to get rid of that.  My biggest archnemesis is my thighs.  Damn things.  Gotta work on them.  From what I have been reading, running should help with it.  We shall see!

What's your archnemesis?

13 point YAY!

YAY!  That's how I feel most of the time about this race right now.  Will my excitement waver with the fear about not being able to do it...the reality of how I am so not ready for it right now?  YES!  But, I need to focus on the right now.  Of course I am not ready for it right now...that's why I didn't opt for the one that is November 2011.  I will be able to do it...not going to be the fastest....probably not going to be the slowest....but I will cross the finish line.

I texted my cousin (Terri) yesterday about the race and this morning she told me that she is going to do it!  So excited!  I am even more excited because she lives closer so we  can do our long runs together.  There is a nice trail in between where she lives and I live ...it is one that my hubby used to train for his runs on.  I plan on going on a long walk...with some running mixed in on Sunday...just to start my path to training.  Back to Terri...I am so excited that she is coming!  Not only will we be able train together but we can travel out there together and be each others crutch on the way back...cause I  foresee some pain.  Well....then I guess I should say that we can laugh at each other!!

Ooh..maybe I should state the exercise I have done this week.  That's a good thing to add.  So, I love Zumba.  I didn't think that I would...but I do.  My Tuesday instructor thinks that I should become an instructor.  Possibly...maybe...we will see.  Anyway...my usual Tuesday instructor was out (Sharon) so we had Hilary who is the instructor for Thursdays.  Oh....I should mention that Sharon and Hilary have way different styles.  I feel that on Tuesdays I get more of a stregnth/core workout and on Hilary I get a super cardio workout.  So....I had an hour of super intense cardio on Tuesday and another on Thursday evening.  I think that I am going to keep it like that and just add running in between.  We will see!

Now...onto finding some fun running songs.  Have any ideas?

13 Point What?

Hi all!  It's been a long time...too long!  Hope everyone is doing well.  I was going to start a whole new blog about my new goal of 1/2 marathon next year...but then realized that I could just change the name.  Here is the first posting I wrote on the new blog (which has since been deleted...lol).

13 point what?

Yup....13 point what?!?!?  Oh boy.  3/4 of me is excited and 1/4 of me is like holy s#$& what am I getting myself into.

So...how did this start?  It started by going to the Army 10 Miler packet pickup and expo this past Saturday.  I am always excited about going to packet pick ups because there are fun goodies and cute workout attire.  I was looking forward to going to the Womens Running Magazine table because I always seem to have nice conversations there that kind of gives me food for thought....plus the free magazine doesn't hurt!  Ha!  So...there I was in the very far corner of the expo at the Womens Running Mag table...and the lady hands me a save the date card.  The first one I see is the 1/2 marathon for next November in Arizona.  I believe the lady told me that it is going to be in Phoenix..although it is not written anywhere.  I remember getting a little excited thinking I could run with my sister in law (Hi Annie).  I am not sure what happened from there....whether I mentioned running it or whether my husband did but it stuck in my head to run this one.  We called Annie on the way home from the expo and left a message informing her that she WILL be running the 1/2 on November 4, 2012 in Phoenix.

Now...where's my head?  I am over all excited.  Annie has committed to running a 1/2 with me next year (which will be the one in Phoenix unless she moves) and my other sister in law (Hi Julie) might be running with us, too.  Would be cool to have all the Butler girls out there running.  All of us are new so we can keep each other company at the back of the pack.

I have dabbled (I say this very loosely) in running in the past...having ran a 5k back in June.  Since it got hot I haven't ran because I hate the hot....but I didn't just sit and do nothing.  I have been going to zumba 2x a week which I love and is a good cardio workout.  Now...I need to work running in.  It seems that all the training programs are short so I may be brave and figure out one for myself.  I/we have just over a year to train so I don't really want to follow a 12/15 training program because I am more apt to hurt myself.

I am also wanting new attire.  I know...may sound stupid to you...but that's okay.  I want to feel fun and not just wear the same black shorts/monotone shirts/regular socks/regular shoes.  So...while I am going to stick with my mizuno shoes....I am going to find some fun clothing.  I am hoping to start with a simple thing like socks.  Who knew that the compression socks were so expensive and they are the ones that are longer and will stay up while running.  Hopefully I will find a pair or two on clearance somewhere.  I also may want to get a running skirt (I know..I know James...I said I would never get one).  I like the idea that they have the little spandex short underneath.  James thinks I should get a tutu---always a possibility.  My newest thought and one that may go with is getting regular white compression socks (which are cheaper) and tye dye them!  Might also do the same thing to a tech shirt and see how that comes out.

Anywho...first post...a long rambling of thoughts regarding the race...I am excited!  Til tomorrow!

Jen

Whoooooo!

Whooooo!  Big sigh of relief.  $6000?!?!?!   Not any more!  I just got online and checked the insurance claim and all of it was paid except $30!  Now that is better.  After reviewing it I realized more so why doctors charge so much!  Out of that charge over $4000 was discounted through the in network agreement.  That is over half that he lost!  Geez.

So....March 1st is the big change over day.  Had an issue with my incision and while it is still open...it is not as open as it was...so I had to wait a little longer to exercise and stuff.  Well--March 1st is it.  Time to get busy with getting fit!  I have a weight goal in my head and maybe one day soon I will post it on here.  My short term goal is to get out there moving and find a video that I like to do on the other days.  That gives me almost 3 months til we fly til Texas for James' friends wedding to get into a dress that I love and feel more comfortable with how I look.

Any suggestions as to what dvd to work with?  Any advice for weight loss/getting fit?  What did you do?

Beyond Frustrated!!!!!

INSURANCE COMPANIES.....does that say enough?  ARGH!!!!

So....I checked on the status of my claims online for my surgery. Why is is that EVERYTHING (except $50 for the hospital) was covered except for the surgeon?  REALLY?  SERIOUSLY?  Ummm....excuse me insurance company you gave me a pre-authorization!  Online it is listed that they are not affiliated with the doctor but ummmm...YES YOU ARE!  You paid for my pre surgery appts.....and you have a contract with the doctor......and he is listed online.  So...I spent about  an hour on the phone with them and even the woman who investigated it was stumped.  She forwarded it to the adjusters with notes and said that I would be hearing from her within 14 business days.  I then called the doctors office and they were stumped to.  They are going to contact their contact to see about it.  So here is the breakdown of costs:


$7608.80     Outpatient surgical center
$1680.20     Anesthisiologist
$ 888.00      Oncologist to review stuff they took out
$6000.00     Surgeon expenses

TOTAL:  $16,177

That is a crazy high number!!! 

I have faith that they will get that bill fixed....especially since everyone is stumped why they denied it.  Hopefully it was that the person just hit the wrong button. 

Anyway--hope you are doing well!

Jen

Antibiotics....don't know what's worse taking them or not!

Hi all.  Sorry I didn't update.  Kept meaning to....but didn't.  So...here I sit at the end of a VERY busy work day.  It is quiet now..thank goodness.  I took another dose of my lovely antibiotic a little bit ago....in between bathroom visits.  Ugh...stupid stomach or whatever.  I have been hit full force by the side effects of diarhea, nausea, and tiredness.  I haven't even had a bite to eat today...and a co worker brought me in some yummy looking chicken and dumplings...but I can't bring myself to eat it.  Fun times.

So--cleaning is coming along. The hallway bathroom is pretty much done.  The bedroom is a work in progress.  I got A LOT of stuff out of there and still have some more to get out of there.  Loaded bags upon bags into my car and took them to a local apartment dumpster (shhh don't tell).  I started working on the hallway last night.  I find that if I work too long on one room it feels more daunting...like to go from working on the big room to the little rooms such as the bathroom and hall and then going back to the big room.  Feels like something is getting down...however slowly.  I am hoping to get some more done tonight..but I am feeling like crap...so I will most likely work as long as I can get the kiddos to stay in the bath and then a little more.

Anyway...how is your week going?  Oh--have to give props to the hubby who ran 16 miles on Sunday in preparation of his marathon in March. Way to go, babe!

Jen

Progress Check List:

Hi again.  I am going to make a check list for the posting below and update it according to how I am doing...helps me see that I am making progress:

Bedroom.....
     -get all clothing that needs to be washed out of there
     -throw everything away and put everything else in its proper place
     -closets
  
Hallway.....
     -clear

Hallway Bathroom.....
     -get all clothes/towels out of there
     -throw away trash
     -clean

Kids Rooms
     -pick up and throw away trash (not going through clothes right now to pull out stuff)

Kitchen
     -go through and get rid of plates/pots/pan/glasses that we don't need
     -clean out refrig
     -clean out food cabinet

Dining Room
     -get rid of Boyds Bears     DONE
     -pick up and clean up

Foyer Bathroom
     -clean
     -fix toilet

Laundry
     -Do while I am cleaning

Will update soon!  Peace and happy cleaning.

Fit isn't just physically fit....

So....fit isn't just physically fit.  It is mentally fit....and many more "fits" as well.  I have a problem....and my husband can concur (and probably will)...I go gung-ho for what I want....but with something that takes awhile I go so gung ho that I either give up or I hurt myself.  This comes to job hunting, cleaning, running, and a lot of other things.  Well....I am on a slow start with my running because of the infection that I now have.....so I have to take that and focus it on somewhere else.  I am blogging about it so that it keeps me more motivated....and I have to live up to my written word.  So...here it is.  I am a pack rat....I buy stupid stuff thinking that it is good because it is cheap and be cause we "really need it".  Yeah....not so much.  Our house looks like stores threw up  in it.  I say stores cause it is not just target, walmart, etc....it is many stores....stuff still in the bags....stuff out of the bags....bags laying around....STUFF.  So.....I made a first step.  I had probably over 100 Boyds Bears figurines and as much as I loved them they didn't get the proper respect they deserved.  They were in their boxes for years and years and years....never seeing the light of day.  So----I freecycled them.  They should be gone by the time I get home.  Next.....bedroom.  My plan (after getting oodles of black trash bags) is to pile all the clothes/blankets on the bed and literally throw everything else away (besides some things that are needed like my glasses..lol).  Me, a can of coke, some music/movie playing, and a bunch of bags.  That is going to be my night.....and it may be a late night cause I have been thinking about doing this for some time and after some discussion with James, I am going to do it.  Then....move out to the hallway/bathroom/kids rooms.  I will update tomorrow with progress and give my new goal.  What's the big goal you have to accomplish?  How do you keep your motivation?

Breathing....it's overrated

In the morning I feel....oh my cold crud is getting better.  As the minutes and hours pass by one symptom after another comes back.  So....here I sit breathing through one side of my nose, coughing, and wishing I could curl up and go to bed.  Geez!!!  Calgon take me away!

So---I had to e-mail the plastic surgeon today, too.  If I didn't think that I would gross people out I would put a picture up of the part of my incision that decided it was going to pop open and ooze some fun colored stuff!  Grossed out yet?  Imagine having that happen to you!  LOL.  So...I took pictures of the area in question today and e-mailed it to Dr. Schreiber.  He was great about it and calmed my fears but to be on the safe side he is calling me in a prescription for an antibiotic.  He said that it can take 6-8 more weeks....and it won't look any better for awhile since it heals from the inside out.  FUN TIMES!

We ended up finally finding another home for one of our dogs...Fala.  She was 1 1/2 years old and had soooooooooo much energy. She needed room that she could run around off leash and we couldn't provide that for her. The kids weren't that into her, either. They are pretty subdued kids and Fala needed energetic kiddos.  Paige and Connor are super attached with the older dog (toy poodle) Colby.

Off to find some tissues. So.....what's the one symptom that you can't stand when you are sick?

Where o' Where did Jen Go?

Hi there good people.  I had it in my head that I would blog each day of my recovery from my surgery.....it didn't happen.  Oops.  So...here is a synopsis.

December 20th---had my surgery (bilateral breast reduction for those who didn't keep up).  He took 700 from one side and 300 from the other.  I went home (courtesy of my husband) and pretty much slept on and off the rest of the day.  I had a hard time sleeping cause of not being able to sleep on my side.

December 21st---1st day post surgery.  Paige was picked up by her father and he dropped her off at school and picked her up from school.  I stayed home alone with Connor.  It was an okay day.  Took a few things for pain and opened some new toys for Connor (courtesty of a family xmas party on the 19th).  The putting together of things repeatedly was a little trying on my sutures but it was okay.

December 22nd--day two post surgery.  This is the last day that I took pain meds.  I took Paige to school and took Connor through the drive thru of McD's for some pancakes.  Then...it was another day on the couch.  I took a nap and my back was really hurting so I e-mailed my plastic surgeon and asked him for a muscle relaxer. He called it into Target and I picked this up after picking Paige up from school.  I didn't end up needing to take it...but it was nice to have just incase.

December 23rd and 24th--James was home so he took care of the kids. Well---mostly Connor cause Paige went with her father the evening of the 23rd and wasn't seen again til xmas day.

December 25th---we flew out to Oklahoma for a week. I took an 800 mg Ibuprofen just because since I was dealing with the kids, etc...

December 26th---I couldn't stand it anymore.....I took the gauze off.  Oh boy.   I had to sit on the floor of the bathroom for a good 10 minutes cause I thought that I was going to pass out.  I don't know why I felt like this....I hadn't even seen them yet!  LOL.  Boy did it feel good not having all that padding...and it was a lot.

So---the week went on.  No pain meds except for some ibuprofen here and there.  The doc called and checked on me a few times (since my check up in office was supossed to be that week).  I had some discharge from the suture site but apparently it was nothing to worry about.  Parts of the incision are still tender and certain ways that I move are still a little painful.  But.......it was great.  I had my checkup and it was good.....except for some stitches being removed.  I am clear for guarded exercise.  I go back in 5 weeks.

Well---since I started writing this post...a week or so ago the above paragraph changed a bit.  I had to go back and see the dr last Friday because part of my incision popped open....you see I have a horizontal incision and two vertical incisions (one each breast)...well where the horizontal meets the vertical there is a lot of tension there.  So....it popped open and was oozing stuff...fun!  I emailed the doc and he told me to come in and get it checked out.  All is okay---just have to be more careful with some movements.

I have gotten one run/walk in.  I am not sure how far I went.  I walked and ran on the treadmill in the house for 1 1/2 hours.  Then....the crud came on courtesy of the little germ carriers.  Oh well!

Anyway---there is a synopsis about what has been going on.  Please feel free to ask me any questions about my surgery/recovery.  I know that some of you are considering the process.  I would be glad to talk to you about it!

Jen