300

Boom.

That just happened.

I've had my Nike app for 3 years and have walked a total of 461.1 miles. I've walked 305.2 of those this year. Which means, 155.9 of those are from the last 2 years. At the end of this week, I will have doubled my miles from the last 2 years. That's crazy. Crazy awesome.

Some days it is SO HARD to wake up or get my exercising in. I just want to sleep. Or lay in bed. I for sure don't want to get dressed and go all the way upstairs to workout and sweat. But then I do it. And I like it. I remind myself that I would hate myself later if I missed a day. So far so good.

This week is my spring break. I am actually loving it because I enjoyed last week with Maggie Lynn on spring break and now I get to enjoy mine with her in MDO. With that said ... off to nap.

Boom

Boom!

Drops mic and walks away.

(20 lb shoes)

Golden Shoes

You know you watch a lot of Elmo when your post refers to it. Haha.

So in one episode, Elmo is competing in a track & field event in order to win the coveted “golden shoes”. And each time they talk about it, he sings it. “gold-en shoooooes”. So yes, this runs through my head each time.

At 20 lbs lost, I get my first treat. A fun pair of tennis shoes. This week has kept that goal out of reach still. It should have been THE WEEK that I was getting my shoes. Instead, it’s the week that I gained and lost the same pound ALL. WEEK. LONG. This cold had me sidetracked like crazy. I still walked each day but only like 2 miles. And then I wanted to eat everything in sight! So that didn’t help.

On a side note – my mileage for February is at 99.4. So I’m going to complete that goal tomorrow (with 7 days to spare!!)

So fingers crossed, next week will be my week to obtain my “gold-en shoooooes”!!

Water for Egypt

Water for Egypt

My life group has decided on an international mission. We are raising money to get a filtration system to a church in Egypt. We have several Joe Willy’s events coming up and I hope a few more fun activities that people can come to and help raise the funds.

The big thing – Jeff is going to Egypt. He will be going to help install one of those systems. He leaves in July for like 10 days. Um. What?!? What am I supposed to do with myself for 10 days. I love supporting him and I know this is something he has wanted to do for a while. But I am freaking out.
We have to turn in our down payment soon and there are no refunds. And the down payment isn’t cheap. Then we have to raise the money for the rest of the trip. (expect begging soon). 10 days in the summer. There is no MDO. I still have to work. I might be calling everyone I know to help me. Maggie and I haven’t been by ourselves for this long before. Any advice?

This also means he is gone for my 20 year reunion. Now, you who know me, you know I am a very shy person. The thought of standing by myself and making small talk terrifies me. I also have a FOMO (fear of missing out). So I am struggling with the decision to go or not. Most of my “now” friends didn’t go to high school with me. It would be nice to see everyone. I’m not sure it’s $123 nice. I would love a nice dinner or family picnic. Maybe we could add that? Do I have time to take that on?

And now the begging commences. I set up a go fund me account. We would love donations to help fund the other half of the mission trip. And any extra funds will be used to fund the water filtration system.

http://www.gofundme.com/m8p8ag

Winner Winner

I love Diet Bet. I have entered several this year (2015) and have won all of them so far. Those that know me, know I am very competitive. So these challenges are perfect for me. I am competing against myself each time to reach a goal weight set for me by the system. (4%). If you meet your goal, you get your money back plus a little of the split pot from those who didn’t meet goal. That’s another great part – there is money on the line. That makes it even more serious.
It makes me want to stay on track. Where otherwise I would do whatever and tell myself there is always tomorrow. “I can eat that roll, I will do better tomorrow”. “One can of Dr. Pepper won’t hurt me”. “An entire carton of ice cream is cool if I only eat that for dinner”. Now I don’t do that (as much). I am so thankful that it exists – it has made this whole process so much easier!

The 2015 in 2015 is helping too! I’ve almost walked as much in these 2 months than I have in the last 3 years. And I feel amazing.

On a side note – I am 5 lbs away from getting my new shoes. What should I reward myself with next – after the next 20 or 25?

Kids need family

Kids need family

I am obsessed with Grey’s Anatomy. I never watched it live but I have been watching it on Lifetime. It gives me some good background noise and I am enjoying it. (and I’m pretty sure I want to work in the medical field)
So it’s the episode where Meredith’s mom dies. Richard and Ellis are talking about what their life could have been. One phrase stuck in my mind. They were talking about having more kids and Richard says, “kids need family”.

That. Right. There.
That is why I will try to have a second child.

I didn’t want one.
Last time, I didn’t sleep the entire 9 months. I had to sleep on the couch because my hips hurt so badly. I was on bedrest for that last month. The c-section and all the pain and bodily issues that bring. It’s not fun for me.

In fact, when I had our “surprise pregnancy” this fall, I cried all night. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t want Maggie Lynn to think I was replacing her or loving her any less. Or for her to think that she wasn’t enough. She is. I would be absolutely happy in my life with my family of 3.
Then my mom reminded me of my own brother. She reminded me how much he means to me and how I could not even imagine my life without him in it. She reminded me of the times he has been there for me – good times and bad (even just being the only 2 kids at a family reunion and having to hang by ourselves all day). She reminded me that one day, I will need him to lean on again. Especially if I lose my parents. How could I deprive my greatest love the same thing.

So.

We will be trying again. I am hoping after I lose more weight. I would love a healthier pregnancy this time.
We may get another “surprise pregnancy”. We may have to go through IUI again. We may have to go further with IVF or we may have to adopt. Regardless, I will try my hardest to give that gift to Maggie Lynn.

Don’t get me wrong. I love babies. I am just very happy with where I am. And I know this is not a decision everyone makes, but it is my decision. Jeff is thrilled, of course, and has always wanted a second one.

Anyways – just one of the things I think about as I walk.

For a 4 day week, it has been a ROUGH. WEEK. I can only assume it’s because grades are being turned in and our students started their second semester. I feel like I can’t breathe when things get this crazy. We can’t finish one assignment before we get another one. Then I have to prioritize and decide which is more important and which I should focus on first. I can’t focus on them all at once or I would screw everything up, big time!

I’ve been waking up at 5 am-ish to walk (outdoors and indoors this week). Even with that, the last half of the week, I hit the snooze button no less than 3 times and couldn’t even get myself ready and moving in under 30 minutes. To just walk in the dark where nobody else can see me. It’s been tough and I am exhausted.
I fight with myself each morning and think –
Bad Self : one day off won’t kill me.
Good Self : I am already up and probably won’t go back to sleep.
Bad Self : But I might have the best sleep ever in the next hour
Good Self : I have to – that diet bet is calling my name and I need to win
So I get up. Slowly.

Don't be jealous of my view

The nice thing was, Regulate came on my playlist. It took me back to the summer before my senior year. Windows down, driving around with my manufacturer radio bass turned up, on my way to work. I was a life guard that summer and thought I was hot stuff. Especially with the windows down. (My poor Ford Tempo).

Now to look forward to the weekend! I have walking to do, crafts to buy for and not actually make, and people to see. Plus, a to-do list to check off!