Another Month (+7 Days)

I have been MIA again! I am in my last week of classes, finals next week and graduation after that. Since we last spoke, I have had my head shaved, found a new place to live and am preparing to shave my head again. I have sold most of my furniture in preparation for the move and I will be selling most of my clothing. It was nice when I went through some of my clothes last week to see that I still have stuff I bought two years ago that is still too big for me. I ended up only keeping about 12 hanging items to sell over 50 others. I need to go through my shelves to do some purging there as well.

My BFF, who is not thrilled about the move has told me that she is getting her act together. Well, I must be a part of this! I thought about joining WW, but I know I should just save the money and get myself in shape. I hate this cold weather and am so ready for it to be warm so I can enjoy some outside exercise. I haven't weighed myself for a while, but will try to do so tomorrow at my mother's.

A Full Week

I have done something every day this week! I logged 11.9 miles walking a riding (only 3 were riding). I think it is a great start for spring. The pain from the shingles is almost gone. I only notice them once in a while. The weather has been gorgeous and I have been really enjoying it. Today, I hung clothes on the line and did a little (very little) organizing. B and I went for a walk with the neighbor girl and now he is passed out!

Monday is the big day! I am really looking forward to this year's event. My BFF's daughter is shaving with me this year. She's a sweet and kind 10 year old girl who is making a difference!

First Bike Ride

I took my first bike ride tonight since August 17th of 2011(pre knee surgery). Wow! Was that hard! I only went 1.2 miles, but my legs were all shaky after it. I also grabbed the dog and walked to get the kiddos from school. It was such a gorgeous day, I couldn't pass up this awesome weather.

I think I am going to get serious about my eating again. I am going to sit and read Women Food and God again, too. I was doing really well losing weight when I was reading that. I do, however, think that book had a lot to do with the ending of my marriage. While reading that book, I realized that my inner voice was really quite wonderful. It was the voice from Ginger (Yankee named him that) that was pretty hateful. By asking Ginger to be kinder to me, he felt like he was losing control of me and only became meaner and more hateful. It is not okay to be treated that way, and I will do my best to keep myself out of that situation again.

I really need to face the scale. I am a little nervous about it. I also forget to get on before I eat or drink in the morning. I know it's there and I know it's not horrible because I still fit in most of my clothes. I just don't fit into all of them, so that's how I know it needs to be faced.

Oh yeah! I am shaving my head again on Monday. Feel free to donate money that goes to raise money for childhood cancer research! http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mandyknapp3

More Than Six Months

It has been a long time since I've been here and my life has changed so much. Right after I had surgery in August, I asked my husband to move out. He had been violent with our children, violent with me and threatened more violence. I think he is mentally ill, and have diagnosed him (I still DO that!) with bipolar disorder. I tried to get us counseling but he refused to discuss anything he said or did because he claimed it was no one's business. So I thought I'd share it with the interwebs! So, about three weeks ago, our divorce was final. He got a job (I find the timing suspicious) and moved away. So now, my life is getting back to "normal." The kids and I feel comfortable leaving the house without worrying about him showing up. Heck, we feel comfortable knowing he's less likely to show up and break-in!

He moved about a week and a half ago. Coincidentally, I got shingles a week and a half ago. Last semester was hard, but this semester is proving to be the most difficult for me. Thank goodness my course load is light, because I am doing my internship 15 hours a week, working two part-time jobs and still taking 7 credit hours. Last week was spring break, so I only missed my internship.

I did miss work on Sunday because I came down with yet another virus. I thought it was strep, but the culture came back negative. YAY! On Sunday afternoon, when I was taking my antiviral for the shingles, I accidentally took Dimples' ADHD medicine. Once my heart stopped racing, I felt GREAT! I was all zen and able to balance the national budget. But, I couldn't sleep. I was up until 2:00. I did enjoy some of the beautiful weather we've been having. I took the dawg and the youngest on a walk. It was the first time I've walked outside since my surgery over six months ago. I was kind of wobbly from the meds, and from the shingles, but we ended up going 1.6 miles. I took advantage of the nice night last night again and took the dawg and Jee for a walk again and went two miles. They were not fast walks, but they were resistance walks as Bee was pulling on me like crazy.

I would like to think I'm back to the blogging world. I felt better when I exercised and I really enjoy writing. Here's hoping everyone's favorite auntie is back!

I Faced The Scale

It was scary. I didn't know what it would say. It had been 45 days since my last weigh in. EEK! So I got myself on that scale and it said, after 45 days, with a road trip, a wedding, surgery, and very little exercise, I was +2.6. I am bummed because that puts me at 162.3, but on the other side, it could have been a LOT worse.

It has been really hard for me not being allowed to run, or walk long distances without a crutch. I see my son running morning and night, and I so desperately want to join him. I am signed up for a half marathon taking place in two months. Will I be allowed to even train? I go back to the doctor in a week, and I hope he at least clears me for PT, that way I can at least know what I am allowed to do as far as stairs, running, walking, strength exercises, etc.

Have a happy Labor Day! I am off to make me some corn meal mush. It is perfect for a day like today, high of 65, cloudy.

Long Hiatus?

It is one of the longest I have had yet. So much has happened since we last spoke. First, I found my niece's father/my brother after 12 years of no contact. My mom and I took my niece to where he lives for his wedding, so she got to meet her daddy in person. Very exciting. Two days after we got home, August 18, I had knee surgery. I had a tendon snipped, arthritis scraped out, and holes drilled into the marrow to produce new cartilage. It was pretty painful, but the doctor is pleased with my speed of recovery. He told me on Monday that I shouldn't even try stairs until the 12th of September. I will have been doing stairs for two weeks by then. 

So two weeks post surgery, I am feeling pretty good. I am still experiencing some pain, but it's really not much worse than before I had the surgery. Since I am still healing, I am noticing my knee giving way some times, but I still use a crutch when I will be doing a lot of walking. 

Yankee has started running cross-country. I want so desperately to be out there running with him, but he is keeping it up. He ran 24:16 for two miles the other night. It was 97 degrees at the time. Today, he ran two miles in 20:12. I am really proud of him.

Dimples is on a new ADHD medicine that has turned him back into the funny, witty boy he used to be. He doesn't seem to get angry as fast, and his moods have improved greatly. 

Brown Eyes is a stink pot. He is in second grade now, mainstreamed for most of the day, and improving beyond anyone's expectations (well, except mine). 

I have not weighed myself since they put me on the bed at the hospital, and that was in kilograms, so I'm happy being 70 something K. I noticed that my size 12s are a little snug, but I am sure that will fall away as I am able to start moving more.

Today, I had the first day of my Horsemanship class. I dare anyone to do something like that 16 days post surgery! It was a little rough. First, I have only ever ridden a horse. I have never had to do anything besides ride the beast, never ever groom, put on the saddle or any of the other stuff I did today. I even had to clean her hooves! That was really tricky. I would lean on her so that I could lift her foot, and she would lean back over on me and almost know me over. We finally came to an understanding. I would only clean one hoof, and everyone got to laugh at me. 

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired!

Last week, I figured that I was getting a migraine from the Celebrex. So I stopped taking it. It took a few days but the skin itching stopped, the migraine went away and everything was peachy. Then Friday, I started getting stuffy. I have a full blown cold that is causing some phlegm in my throat and chest. Our water heater went out last week, too. Oh! And my oldest ran his bike into a light pole, needed three stitches in his face and broke his toe. In all of the confusion, I have been not paying attention to my health the way I should be. But, I decided to weigh in this morning. 156.9!!!! That gives me a BMI of less than 27! I was shocked, and happy. Now I am making sure I don't let it creep up on me. I am ready for bed and it is only 6:15.