Nothing to see here ...

It's been an interesting week and I am tired ... That's all she wrote today. But please do remember that life IS good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another.  I'll be back next week :-). 

First Week Back ...

Well, back at it ... Felt great, sore and happy ... Then I got a cold. With a combination of work, training and personal Schtuff happening (I don't share EVERYTHING) ;-), my body finally said "when".  Not excited about it but I am happy that this is the first time I have been sick all winter as last year was a hat trick with bronchitis and pneumonia, so it is nice to just have a cold.  It is all above the neck, so I will continue, but just at a more relaxed pace and effort. 

In the self care department, the week started out well, but kind of fell apart. Continuing on making that a priority and ultimately letting some things go.  It's proving to be a challenge at 45 years young ... But, if I keep working at it, it HAS to sink in, right? ;-).  The photo attached was posted by a friend ... Great reminders for all of us!  Look for it in my office at the club ... It'll be hung on my bathroom mirror as well :-). 

This weekend was Sparky's play. Love watching the Milton Optimist plays. It takes a lot of guts for them to get up there!  I have also attached a photo of Sparky as "Queen of the North". So proud of my girl!  In other kid news, I have to say that I am also really proud of my jack, swimming 200,000 yards over the past 3.5 months for swim team!  I looked back at my yards for 2013 and he almost doubled what I had done over the course of the entire year in that short time frame!!!

Off to get some rest and knock this cold out of the park.  Enjoy your night and the 40 degree weather coming up this week! And remember, life is good, enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another.  

Tomorrow ...

The 6 week mark is finally here!!!  Cleared to do everything and couldn't be happier about it. I feel like I can actually put my race training plan together and get focused again. Hard to plan anything or focus on anything when you can't physically do it. I have lost ground but it'll come back so here is to being able to train again!  

So, self care this week has been pretty good although I was a bit cranky (just ask about anyone that I saw) ;-).  Continuing making self care a priority and determined to not always have a hectic schedule. There is something to be said about having a little peace in one's day EVERYDAY. 

Looking forward to the changes that will come my way!  

Have a great Sunday evening and remember, Life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another. 

Random Thoughts ....

All I can say us that it's been a LONG week with a few shining moments/times sprinkled in there. The stress level has been relatively high and the fact that I haven't been able to truly exercise/train the way I am used to is frustrating and plays a role in my stress as I don't have that release to count on right now.  In just a week will have clearance to do everything, but I must say that it is hard to work in the fitness industry when you can't participate in all that you would like to.  

With the lack of exercise, my mind, body and soul are needing another weekend up at the cabin as I sleep so much better and can truly decompress while I am there.  Plans are in place and it'll happen soon :-). 

I have been working on making myself a priority, but this week has been a bit of a challenge as I have been pulled in too many directions than I can count.  Some have been ones I have been ok with being pulled in, others have not.  It is hard being a people pleaser and I need to stop. In life we won't always make everyone happy and that is OK.  So, just an FYI ... The tiny two letter word NO is coming back into my vocabulary, so look for it ;-).  

One of the shining moments this weeks was that a friend of mine who I admire, respect and am grateful that she is in my life wrote the best thing today that really hit home: 

"To achieve my top three goals of the year, I don't need to be busier, I need to be better. I don't need more time to do more. I need to do more of the right things and less of the other stuff."  Thanks for that Christi. 

So, here's to makin yourselves a priority, here's to self care and here's to temperatures that will be above zero all week!!!  Woot woot!  And most importantly, remember that life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another. 

3 Weeks Out and 45!!!!!!

No post last week, as recovery has been pretty uneventful.  A lot of relaxing. I have been really good about my recovery and really feel remarkably well. I still get tired but hey, who doesn't right?!  I went for my post op and things are all healing well, except for the little snafu of me hitting my hip (one of the incision sites) on the counter -  all I can say about that is OUCH!!!!!!!  Plus other expletives ;-). I left the appointment with approval to walk, do yoga, "light spin" (had to push a bit on that one) and lift up to 20 pounds. No running or swimming for 3 more weeks.

I cannot WAIT to put my kicks on and actually go for a run :-). I really miss running with my peeps.  Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are some of my favorite days. Soon, THAT time will come ... And all will be good. 

I do have to say that I have really been surprised as to how well the recovery has gone. Feel great, no pain, no hot flashes and the pre-surgery bloat is gone too ... A win, win for every one :-). 

During this recovery time, I just happen to turn 45 ...Yes, on Tuesday, I.will.be.45.years.old ... And, I am actually looking forward to it. :-). I am blessed with the gift of each day that I am given on this earth, am doing my best to make the most of this year and my future.  One of the big things that I am focussing on in this 45th year and forward, is to make sure that I make myself a priority ... Self care is a hard thing to fit in with everything we all have going in our lives, but for me to be the best that I can be, to EVERYONE in my life, I need to take care of myself too.  

This week will be a week of celebration (complete with yoga, dinner with the hubcap, Jack's swim meet, dinner with the family, a trip to Madison to see Mom and Dad, work and DEFINITELY some relaxation.  One of the best parts of the week will be a girls weekend at the cabin with my Sparky :-). Can't wait for that!!  She has made plans for us that include, The Honey Bear, Leif's Cafe, the candy store, Tribute, snowshoeing and a pile of chick flicks to watch in front of the fire ... I will share thumbs up or thumbs down next weekend, but if you have any good suggestions, please feel free to share so we can add to our selection!!!  

Hope you have all had a wonderful weekend and again, thanks so much for stopping by :-). Enjoy the week ahead and remember ...  Life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another.  

Recovery, Shifting of Schtuff and a New Year ...

Well, surgery was a success ... Woot woot!!!!  I am happy that it's behind me. It truly was the best decision based on the current state of my uterus et all ;-). Recovery is going really well all things considered. I am still pretty tired but am not in a lot of pain, so that is good. The biggest thing is that with the removal of the ovaries, uterus and cervix, my existing body parts are now working their way to their new home inside my body ;-) ... So the shifting/cramping feeling is quite interesting to say the least. Hoping that will be done in about a week or two. 

And don't worry, I am not getting crazy and doing all sorts of stuff. Slow and steady. I am walking when I need to walk and resting when I need to rest, so all is good. It was funny, while in the hospital, I asked both the nurse and my surgeon if I should feel crappier. They both said that most don't feel this good that soon after surgery so I took it as a good sign. Listening to my body is key right now if I want to be able to accomplish everything I have set out to do in 2014 :-). 

Tentative race/event schedule is as follows: 

5/3 - Wisconsin half marathon (registered)

6/22 - REV3 half ironman (registered) 

8/9 - Dairyland Dare 150k 

10/12 - I "think" the Chicago Marathon (still deciding on that one) 

Challenging but manageable and with a goal of finishing while having the best time ever :-). 

With the beginning of 2014, I really have to say that I have been enjoying all of the Facebook posts, messages, discussions that I have had with people about the launch of 2014. At the beginning of each year, in general, we all have such hope, are positive as to what the year will bring and how "this year" will be the best year EVER. I am no different and I enjoy the excitement of what is yet to come. 

One of my new adventures will be to get certified to teach yoga. IT SCARES ME AND IS EXCITING AT THE SAME TIME.  This is definitely what one would think is "out of the perverbial box" for me, but I have really been enjoying yoga in so many ways. The calm and peacefulness it brings, the balance, and it has brought me closer to myself.  This has all been so beneficial. It has taken such a LONG time to embrace yoga and really appreciate it. So, the adventure will be a fun one and just the beginning. Starting with a weekend certification and may move onto my 200 hour RYT after that. We will see what the challenge brings. 

I hope all of you in the Midwest stay warm these next few days as it apparently is going to be wicked cold ;-). Happiest of New Years to all of you and may it truly be your best year EVER :-). Enjoy the night and remember ...  Life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another.  

Big Day Tomorrow, NERVOUS, But the BEST Decision ...

So ... Tomorrow is it ... A total hysterectomy.  We have to be at the hospital at 6:00a.m. ... Eesh, that means leaving rockin' Milton at 4:15am.  I've been thinking about this surgery A LOT for the last couple of weeks, not sleeping well, obsessing about getting everything done (house is cleaned from top to bottom and de-christmased), and I think we now have enough food to feed an army (B will agree with that) ... That's what nerves will do to me. The time just flew by!!  

When I think back to October 21, 2008 and my bilateral mastectomy, I don't remember being nervous at all. At the time, I just wanted the cancer to be gone and was lucky enough to have Brendon and one of my dearest friends in the whole world (Terri a/k/a Penny) at my side early that morning and was also fortunate to have the rest of my family there that day.  Brendon, Penny and I laughed and laughed at the strangeness of what was about to happen and it felt good to know that they were cutting the cancer out of me. 

To be truthful, I don't miss my breasts at all. It's funny that how something or two particular "things" that I thought were so important ... So important in fact, that I got breast implants before cancer, can be so insignificant in my life now ... And as I have said before, I feel more "whole" without them and this is how I am supposed to be.  Will I miss the rest of the lady parts?  I don't think so but it does make me a little sad. 

This surgery is different in the fact that I don't have cancer in the lady parts ... I will admit this past month and that week of waiting for those biopsy results were absolute hell. I was happy that they didn't find cancer, but the what ifs and what would be next if the cancer did come back clouded my mind and scared the living "shit" out of me. Tomorrow, after all of the lady parts are removed , they will test to confirm no cancer or precancerous tissue is present (standard and they aren't worried).  

At my "pre op" appointment about 2 weeks ago, we went over all of the options and both came to the same conclusion. After I shed many tears talking about this past month, I truly believe my surgeon completely understands where I am coming from, where my mindset is, understands the physical issues that I have been having and what we both believe that the plan is necessary. To some, a total hysterectomy may seem drastic, but to me, it is what needs to happen and I am comfortable with this ... But being that it is another major surgery, it still scares me ... So whatever kind of mojo, prayers or whatever works for you to send our way, we will definitely appreciate it.  

As I have approached many things in my life, both good and bad ... I will overcome and be stronger than I was before. It'll take a little bit for me to get back there, but I am looking forward to getting back to another "new normal" ... To ride the new tandem bike that the hubcap gave to "us" for Christmas (photo attached), enjoy the summer up north at the cabin with the family, to "compete" in triathlons, to run another marathon and possibly, in 2015, do another Ironman distance race. 

We will see.  I'm going to embrace my recovery and embrace 2014. I think this will be the perfect way to start this next year. 

So, as I am off to drink my broth and eat my jello (does white wine count as part of a clear, liquid diet) ;-), I really hope you all had a fantastic holiday with your family and friends. I feel blessed to have you all in my life, so thanks for hanging around :-). Enjoy the rest of your Sunday night and remember ... Life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another.