it's been awhile

So...it's been awhile.

Life has definitely taken me on a ride the last few months.

A good ride, just a long one...full of introspection and growth. One of good days and bad.

I know a lot of people feel refreshed at the start of a new year. I am one of those people.

I love to look ahead at the year and plan.

I love to initiate change at the start of the new year.

I LOVE to clean. That is totally what these last two days have been about for me...cleaning.

Why not start the new year off with a nice clean, clutter free house?

I'm excited for what this new year will bring for my family and myself.

marathon training

I'm currently training to run a marathon in December of this year.
Training for a marathon is hard.
I know it's not near as hard as other things in life, but I have been completely frustrated with training lately.

I'm trying to learn how to understand my own body's cues to preform better, but I'm not doing so great. I don't like to listen to my body. I like to do what I want.

I've had issues with my calves hurting while I run. I thought it was my new shoes.

It wasn't. It was the "most excellent, and best insoles you should buy if you're going to run a marathon" I spent a little bit of $$ on. I finally got that issue resolved.

Then I had a tooth extracted and couldn't be physically active for a few days so I wouldn't "dislodge a blood clot."

Now I have pain in my left leg. It's nothing serious, but I don't think I should be running on it. I don't want to injure it more. I guess I'm going to rest it but that will put me behind in training. See what I mean?...frustrated.

I'm resolved to the fact that I should just do some cross training for a few days. At least that will keep me active, but still allow time for my leg to feel better.

Peds ED

Yesterday I went to work like normal and found out I was going to be shadowing a nurse in the Peds Emergency Department for the shift.
If you haven't heard me talk about it, two things:

1.)Our unit's census is down. We have no (and by no, I mean not enough to have every nurse work) patients right now which is great for the babies and families, but not so great for job security. Nurses from my unit keep having to stay home.

2.) Cross training to the Pediatric ED is something I've wanted to do for a really long time so I was super excited about the opportunity to go there and see what it was like.

Well, I really liked being down there. It's COMPLETELY different from NICU (well it was yesterday). We kept getting patients in and then getting them out. Not something I typically see at work. I hope they let me cross train for reals there. It would definitely require some retraining for me (terminology, lab values, procedures, etc), but I think it would be good for me.

family traditions

I'm trying to remember family traditions I had growing up for the 4th of July.

I know if we were at Grandma and Grandpa Bechtold's house, the fireworks would not disappoint.
If we were in Kansas, we went to Uncle Steve's.
If there was a pool around and the weather permitted, I'm pretty sure we went swimming.
I can almost always remember potato salad and cook outs with themed paper goods.
Sparklers and ice cream.

Once I started dating Scott, I went with his family to various friends' homes and then to Augusta lake for the fireworks show and homemade ice cream several years in a row.

I know my childhood allowed for the celebration of holidays in different places every year. I can't say that I remember doing the same thing every year for any holiday. But one thing I do know is we were always surround by people - family, friends, church community. I love that the 4th of July isn't just about celebrating our independence...it's about being and celebrating with community as well.

I wonder if I should implement any simple traditions for Lucy and Elly? Maybe I could get them Sparklers...are those even legal in Tucson?

summer colds

This last week has definitely been rough.

Last Monday Elly got a runny nose.
Last Tuesday Scott woke up with a scratchy throat and Lucy's nose started snotting quite a bit.
Wednesday: most of the same continued.
Thursday: Scott started running a fever while I was at work and while there I started feeling all achy.
Friday: I spent the day on the couch. Trapped because every time I tried to get up, a rush of dizziness hit me.
Saturday: I spent the day on the couch feeling better, but tired.
Sunday: once again, the couch was my friend.

Summer colds are no fun! Well colds in general aren't fun I guess. Just worse in the summer maybe. I'm a little surprised we were all hit with it so quickly.
I'm tired of feeling achy and tired. I don't really want my throat to feel as if it's on fire anymore when I swallow. yes. that would be nice.

tomorrow is going to be a better day.

jumping on the couch

Me: Girls! I think it would be a good idea to stop jumping on the couch.

giggling, screaming and jumping continues - 10 seconds time elapses

Me: Girls! Didn't you hear me?! I said I think you need to stop jumping on the couch.

jumping, laughing still continues - 10 more seconds go by

Me: Elly and Lucy! I've been nice about this, but you need to stop jumping on the couch. One or both of you is going to get hurt. Please stop!

Elly: But mom! We're playing "so you think you can jump higher than them all!"

staycation

Life has been crazy.
A whirlwind.
It's been fun...but exhausting!

After a busy year, and adjusting to Scott's new job, we were excited for summer to arrive.
It was promptly started by visits by both of our families. My parents came out over Memorial Day weekend (which I previously blogged about) and Scott's three days later for a week. We kept them busy. We had a lot of repeat activities with the Appleman's, as we had already done them with my fam, but entertaining non the less.

I decided since family visits were over, just as summer was pretty much starting, Scott and I needed to plan something - go somewhere, have a staycation. I surprised him by taking him overnight to Westward Look Resort here in Tucson for his birthday last night (I got a great summer deal!). I think we were asleep by 10:00, but we enjoyed the pool twice, the hot tub before dinner and a night knowing we weren't going to be woken up by two small people coming into our room while we were asleep or at 5:30 am.

We didn't have much conversation...the quiet was nice.

These are a few of my favorite picks of our staycation.