A long night in the E.R.

Well, I ended up getting stuck at work most of the day even though I was doubled over in pain. Derek drove me to Urgent Care when he got home and I got a jack*** of a doctor. He walks into the room (picture me holding my side practicly in tears) and says "so your here for back pain? I'm guessing it's just cramps but we better check to make sure". I was furious at this point. CRAMPS?!? I'm not 14. I've had my period for over 10 years, I think I know what cramps feel like, not to mention I don't get cramps the week AFTER my period!!! I was so angry. So he has me lay down and stretch out as he pushes down on my sides. First the left, it was painful but not horrible. Then the right, I scream as he pushes down. I didn't expect it to hurt so badly but it felt like I had just been punched in the ribcage by a 250 lb. gorilla. He looks at me suprised and says "that hurts?". At this point I'm thinking, what school did you graduate from dumby?!?
He sends me to the lab for urine samples and they come back showing traces of blood. Ick! But my white and red cell counts were pretty normal, which means it isn't a UTI. Since I have had stones once before the doc wants further testing and then he throws in "appendecitis"...what? I didn't sign up for that?!? So anyhow. They send us to a radiology center across town to get a CT scan meanwhile send in tentative paperwork for emergancy surgery prep at the hospital. I called my Dad on the way to the CT scan and immediatly started bawling. I wanted him to be there with me if I was going into surgery. Totally freaked out by the idea of going under the knife the 15 minute drive seemed to take an hour.
So we get to the radiology place and they get me into a backless hospital gown and put me in a cold room with a bunch of machines. Turns out that while we were driving to the radiology center this doctor called them and canceled the Ultrasound of my appendix (???) and just wanted them to get the kidneys. Okay, who rules something out like that? The x-ray guy does what he is instructed to do and I go back to waiting in the front lobby for my results. About 30 minutes later they put me on the phone with this idiot doctor and he says "there are no stones in your kidneys but it looks irritated so we are pretty sure you did pass stones in the last 24 hours". He then instructs me to take some Aleve for the pain and drink more water, the pain should be better in 1-2 days.
Whatever! I am still in pain, I can't really eat becuase nothing sounds good and it hurts to even think about putting food into my stomach. I constantly feel like I am going to vomit becuase the pain is so sharp in my abs and I can't sleep through the night. My dad wants me to get a second opinion becuase he had the same symptoms when he had his appendix out. I guess I'm not sure what I am supposed to do. I just wish the pain would get a little better so that I could sit up straight without looking/feeling like I am going to pass out.
Thank you for all of your get better wishes. I am sure the doctor knows what he is doing and the pain will probably get better, I am just frustrated.

One big complainer today!

So much for nice weather! The news said this morning that it is -34 degrees with windchill. We had to close down several jobsites today because it's just too cold. I am working in a parka and hat. I would be wearing gloves as well but I can't type with them on.
On another happy note, I think I might be passing Kidney stones. I'm not positive but it sure feels like it. Sharp pain in my abdominal and back, fever and chills. I didn't sleep at all last night. I am waiting now for Urgent Care to open so I can go and get some real pain meds.
I did not WI this morning. I am in too much pain. I will update tomorrow!

The weather heard you!

You guys prayed and I got it, it's almost 40 degrees out today!!! This is the first day in weeks that I won't have to go start my car over lunch just to make sure it will start again when it is time to go home! The news said it will be back to the negatives and snowing by tomorrow afternoon but I don't care. I'm just glad we have one warm day.
I had yet another great weekend. Friday was a VERY slow day at work. Our Internet and phones were down so I spent the day cleaning and doing some filing. I had nothing left to do by noon so the guys said I should just go home! How great is that! I met up with my gym buddy and we got in a 2 hour work-out before I had to get home. Derek's parents came up for the weekend and spent Friday and Saturday at our house.
Derek actually woke up on Saturday and made breakfast! It was a nice surprise. Rosie came over for most of the day so I got to dance around and play with her. We didn't really get anything done around the house, just hung out and chatted.
Sunday was a work day for me. 4 loads of laundry, painted the kitchen, grocery shopping, 2 hours at the gym and book club! I have no idea how I managed to fit it all in when I look back, it was like time was moving extremely slow.
Anyways, I haven't stepped on the scale since last Wednesday. I guess I feel good about how my clothes are fitting and I don't want the side effects of TOM to get me down. I have my menu planned out for the week and tons of F&Vs cut and cleaned for lunches. I hope everyone else had a nice weekend!!

I shocked even myself...

Yesterday was a BUSY day. I got to work early and barely had time to even breath. I got a ton of stuff done and finished everything to get out on time. I had plans to meet up with one of my BFFs around 5:30 across town (all the way across...60 min. drive) she is a stylist and we were going to catch up while she touched up my roots and trimmed my ends. Anyways I needed gas and wanted something to drink in case I started to get tired on the way home. So I stop at the closest gas station and grab a diet coke and some Baked chips since I won't have time to get dinner until I get home.
We finished up around 8pm I had polished off my one serving of baked chips and a few oreos she had placed next to me while my color set. I take off for home and know that I am just starving, to that shaking point, if I don't eat I might pass out. I pass a Taco Bell, a McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, etc... and just keep driving. Nothing sounded good, I racked my brain trying to decide on something I could eat for dinner and finally it came to me....I wanted...A SALAD! I had all these quick fixes in front of me and I was passing them up so I could get home and make my own salad. Let me tell you it was totally worth it, the greens tasted like chocolate and ice cream to me!
By this point you are thinking either I make one GOOD salad or that I have gone completely mad! Well, the later is probably a bit more on. This salad I made was just some baby spinach, onions, peppers, a pinch of FF mozzarella, 4 cut up pieces of turkey pepperoni and some FF blue cheese dressing. Really, it couldn't have been more ordinary, but that is what I was craving...HEALTHY vegetables!! So I am giving myself one big ole gold star for that!!!
I am exhausted today, if you are not following my post I blame it on the fact that I am not sleeping lately. I go to bed and all I can think about is my "to-do" list and what I need to get done for school and around the house.
I am hoping that I can get some of the major items checked off this weekend and allow my stress levels to even out a bit. I have been using my lack of sleep to read a very good book that I will post about sometime next week once I have all my thoughts down.
So my last thought today is about the weather. Has anyone seen the temps in this crazy state of MN that I live in?!? -13 degrees today. I don't think my thermostat has read above 0 degrees in two weeks! I am going nuts. So I am praying for some warmer weather, even 15 degrees would be wonderful!

Update

Well, school is in full swing again. Only 14 weeks till graduation though so I can totally handle this. I'm not sure how but I have managed to arrange my schedule so that I can get to the gym for a little over an hour between work and school. It does mean getting up about an hour earlier and I don't have time to study or eat much before class. So far it has been going okay though.
Monday I got to the gym for a 45 minute hill course on the elliptical and then worked on my shoulders and back. Tuesday I was running a little behind so I only got a 30 minute hill course in on the treadmill and a good ab workout on the balance ball. I really enjoyed my first class, I don't need the course to graduate but my best friend does so I agreed to take it with her. Basically it is a class that makes you think in different dimensions, for instance looking at a plan view of legos and building it. It's the architecture geek in me that finds this so interesting! I am also in a communications course and a scheduling course, hopefully I find these just as interesting!
I had WI this morning. I was really nervous to get on the scale because I have been up ever since this weekend. Well the work-outs and extra water must be working because I was down 2lbs from the weekend and that is with TOM! Hopefully by next week I will be a little closer to lowest weight of 119.5 (today I was 124).
I have been following Swizzles lead and using Sparkpeople.com to track my calories and activities as well as WW online. According to Sparkpeople I should be taking in approx. 1,300 calories/day, which I rarely come close to with 19 points. I have been shooting to get in about 20-21 points/day which gets me to about 1,200 calories most days. I lost all my weight following the points system so I am not saying it doesn't work, I just think with the amount of activity I am doing a few more calories (in the forms of lean protein) really make a difference for me on the scale.
Well, hopefully I get a chance to check in again this week. I am skipping my afternoon break to get out of work in time to go to the gym so I don't have as much Internet time! Hope you are all doing wonderful!!!! {{{HUGS}}}

3 days of just fun...

I had a great weekend, no make that a wonderful weekend! I left work on-time on Friday and had time to get to the gym for 30 minutes on the treadmill AND 30 minutes of lifting for my arms/shoulder/chest! It felt great to fit that in. We then headed off for a MN Wild game courtesy of one of my clients. Our tickets were in a suite and we had food and beverages catered for free!!! It was a great experience and really set the mood for the rest of the weekend! I had a few bites of the food for dinner and a total of 3 beers. I did a lot of mingling and walking around and we also had to run 6 blocks in the freezing cold so I don't think I did too bad.

Saturday morning we called some of our friends and invited everyone over to our place for some drinks, games and good times! We had a good turnout, including 4 of my best girl-friends (see pic: Em, me, Becky, Crystal and Roz). I didn't get to the gym on Saturday but I did play Dance Dance Revolution and I vacuumed! I ate a few too many snacks and polished off about a bottle and a half of wine that night...oops!
Sunday we slept in, I was definitely feeling bloated by the morning so I filled up my water bottle and tried to keep the fluids going in all day. Derek made me pancakes for breakfast and I made some light sandwiches with soup for dinner. We also painted the entire master bedroom Sunday afternoon. I really thought I had picked out a gorgeous grey/blue...either they mixed it wrong or I can't see colors because it is not at all what I had wanted. Looks like we will be re-painting that!!!

The weekend was wonderful, I had a blast just letting myself have fun for a few days and not worry about every little drop and bite that went into my mouth. The scale was showing my carelessness this morning though...up 3 lbs since my last W-I. Hopefully increasing water and getting to the gym today and tomorrow will help get it back down before Wednesday! Eeeck!!

There's Derek (back with White sweatshirt) with a few of his friends hanging out in the kitchen!

Count me in!

Check out Roni’s new contest! I can win a Nutrition Smart Scale from Eat Smart and so can you! Click here for details!

I've had my eye on these for a while. What an awesome contest!!

You guys are the best...

As some of you may have guessed yesterday was a very special but sad day for me. The family tried really hard not to relate putting down Riley with my birthday but it isn't something you can just ignore. Riley was put down early yesterday morning. I said many prayers to God asking for Riley to be healthy, happy and loved in heaven. My sister hasn't said much about how she feels, I have just made sure to be there for support when she needs me.
On a happier note, yesterday was also Rosie's 1/2 birthday, she turned 18 months old!!! What a doll. We all went out for dinner last night and she choose the seat right next to me. She is so adorable and it is indescribable the feeling I get when she looks over at me smiles and throws out her arms for a hug and a kiss. Rosie gave me lots of hugs and kisses yesterday and even shared her "apple" with me (it was actually watermelon but she calls all fruit apple).
I got spoiled this year! My grandparents bought us (Derek's birthday was last week) 2 area rugs from Pottery Barn. I have been wanting these forever but couldn't fork out all the money for them so that was really awesome. My parents got us a dinning room table and chairs. And My sister, Rosie (and the BIL) got me a day at the spa package, actually 2 since what fun would it be without my best friend (my sister) there with me. The package includes a message, facial, manicure, pedicure, conditioning treatment, blow-dry style, make-up, catered lunch and merchandise gift certificate!! I cannot wait!
I had plans to take Rosie to Sesame Street Live tonight for our birthdays but since everything happened with Riley they will be going out of town for the weekend. The BIL needed a vacation. I won't get started on that because I just don't eve care right now.
I did get to the gym last night, 50 minutes on the treadmill. My ass and legs were killing me from the hills the day before so I took it easy. Tonight I will focus on arms and shoulders. I did dip into flex points last night so hopefully I will still see some loss this week. I will watch myself carefully this weekend.
Last, but not least....Thank you EVERYONE for all your support and birthday wishes. I cannot tell you how much it means to me. Growing up my birthday was always "at a bad time" for my family. To this day I still feel like it is inconvenient for everyone so it means a lot to have you all take the time to say "happy birthday"!!!
{{{{HUGS}}}}

It's my birthday and I'll eat what I want too!

That's how the song goes right?!? Okay I'm not going to go crazy but I am going to treat myself a little today. The family is taking me out to dinner tonight and I really want Chinese. I NEVER eat it anymore because I know it isn't the best choice, but it is my all time favorite food. The good thing is that my favorite dish is white rice served with steamed veggies and a light brown sauce served on the side. I am going to splurge and order a side of grilled chicken because my body is craving protein right now.

I hit the gym hard last night. 45 minutes on the elliptical (all hills) and then 40 minutes of strength focusing on my back and abdominal muscles. I am felling it today in the butt. I also treated myself to a tanning session. I very rarely fake bake but it has been SOOOO cold here (-3 today) and it really warmed me up. I am meeting my gym buddy again tonight and we will focus on arms and shoulders! I'll get another cardio night in tomorrow and then probably take the weekend off from the gym.

My Dad sent me this picture from Christmas Eve so, I thought I would share it with you all...

(Rosie wouldn't let me take off those antlers, if I did she would find them and put them back on my head.)

...

We are wishing you happy thoughts and big smiles. When life throws you a rock, build a mountain, and build it with a smile. {{{HUGS}}}

Really Quick!

I don't feel much like talking today, but I wanted to check in regardless. I had WI this morning. I was down to 123 (from 124 last week). I thought for sure I would see 122 on that metal devil, but I think it might be some water retention.
I got to the gym yesterday, 30 minutes of running on the treadmill and 30 minutes of strength (legs, calf's, thighs, buttocks). I feel great today, you might even say I feel thin today. I will go to the gym today for cardio and arms.
Have a great day everyone!

As bad as this may sound...

I am praying and I am asking for your prayers, to let Riley go naturally before Thursday. I do not want my sister to have to make that decision and live with the question of "was it really the best option" for the rest of her life. The vets said they could do an MRI to see if they could see the mass on the heart any better, this test alone would cost +$1500, and surgery is quoted to be between $3000-5000...it is risky and there is a very small chance they would be able to get everything. Surgery might extend his life by days, weeks, months or it might not work at all. Sometimes a straight answer is all you need. Luckily my sister is very strong and very good at making BIG decisions. Me on the other hand, I would need someone to tell me what to do. I wish I had that strength she has.
I got to the gym last night and had a nice 40 min. run on the treadmill, I was worried my time off was going to make it a difficult night but the time flew by and if I didn't need to get home I probably would have lifted for another 30 minutes. I did find out that the gym I am going to is trying to start up a Boot camp class in the afternoons, my bod-buddy and I are very excited and the first names on the list!
WI is tomorrow. I will check in with you then!! Have a great day everyone!

What a weekend...

This weekend brought good news followed by sad news. On Friday a bunch of my girlfriends came over to my house for a few drinks and some light appetizers. One of my girlfriends brought the news that she got engaged over Christmas!! Hooray for another wedding! We have all been waiting for this news for some time and it seemed appropriate that she already has nearly the entire wedding planned out already! That's just her!
So Friday was fun and Saturday Rosie came over for lunch and a nap while my sister took the family dog to the vet. Riley has been breathing very heavy and not quite acting like his perky self. It turns out that Riley's lungs and chest were full of fluids, the vet thinks it is caused by a mass on his heart. They were able to get the fluids out, but it is just a matter of days before they will be filled again. The vet does not feel that surgery would be a good option as it is very risky and they have no idea what they will find when they get in there. Riley will be put down on Thursday. My sister is taking it pretty hard and I in turn am feeling a lot of sympathy for what she is going through. We talked about everything and we know that God has a plan, it is very hard for us to hear that the "best option" is to make the call to end his life. I am still praying and hopeful for another option or way.
On another note, my birthday is on Thursday! Yes, it will be a happy day with a sad event. We are going to be very good about not associating Riley with my birthday as Rosie shares her half birthday with my birthday and we do not want her to see it as a sad day. My grandparents took us out to brunch on Sunday to celebrate. It was so nice to see everyone and spend some time with my grandparents before they fly south for the winter!! I didn't go crazy on food at all, actually I skipped the dessert and waffles (my downfall) and stuck with some turkey, fruit, veggies and a small salad. I felt great about my choices.
Sorry this is getting long, I have a lot on my mind I guess! I am going to the local gym with my girlfriend tonight. We both have the same work out goals and we work on the same schedule so I think it will be a good thing for both of us. Hopefully I like the gym and I will look into a membership!!
Well, I will report back on the gym tomorrow!! Have a great day everyone.

Oh, and congrats again Dazey...Twins, how exciting!!!!

Guess who just called me?

Guess....?!?!? Give up? It was Rosie! Yep, she is talking on the phone. My sister has to call me and when I pick up she says right into the speaker "HI" and then all you hear is her breathing really hard. It was so cute I almost passed out.
That's it, just wanted to share my wonderful phone call!

I just hate when that happens...

Yesterday was a long day. After I left work I booked it home to get some cough syrup relief. I can't take the syrup at work because it makes me so tired. I relaxed on the couch for about an hour had a couple pickles and a cracker or two and then it was off to my board meeting. By the time I finally got out of the meeting my stomach was killing me, probably a combination of too much cough syrup and an empty stomach. Anyways, I had plans to make some healthy turkey paninis on the stove but Derek had other plans. I pulled up to him waiting in the driveway, he wanted to go to Chili's. I was so tired I agreed it would be okay. So anyways I search the menu and find the Chicken tacos, three small tortillas, grilled chicken, lettuce and salsa (I asked for the sauce and cheese on the side). The food comes and they forgot to put the cheese on the side, it wasn't much so I decided to not complain and just use some flex points. What's the big deal? I did some research and according to one source the this meal has 27 points!!! WHAT?!? I didn't eat the rice or beans or the sauce so I only counted it at 20 points. STILL! What I thought was a "good" choice turned out to be a huge mistake. Needless to say I am on day 2 of the week with 17 flex points to get me through.
Here is to keeping on track and keeping my fat girl mouth shut!!! I have plenty of good choices at home and there is no reason for us to eat out anymore this week. I think I will save the rest of my flex points for Friday, we have about 20 close friends coming over to celebrate Derek's birthday. I know that if I plan wisely that day I can stay under my target!!

The newly painted bathroom!

Well, we managed to finish the master bathroom over the weekend. Derek was kind of hesitant to let me put up the wording but I think it will grow on him!!! I really want to make the bathroom relaxing and a place I can go to and not feel rushed to get out. I still need to find some accent pieces for around the tub, "one thing at a time"!!

A visit to the Doctors...

Well, I finally broke down and went into the doctors after 2 nights of coughing and no sleep. The doc did some listening to my chest and cough and ordered some blood work. Acute Bronchitis, probably caused by a virus or sinus infection that didn't get treated. I got 4 shots in my upper arms and 3 prescriptions. I left the doctors office feeling a bit like a geek!
I really wanted to fall over on the couch last night and rest but I promised Derek we would go out for dinner (it was his birthday). We met my sister, BIL and Rosie at the Texas Roadhouse and had a very nice dinner. I didn't go overboard at all, mostly because I can't eat much in between coughing.
I WI this morning and let's just say the scale and I are not talking right now. 123 :( argghhh! Hopefully once I start feeling a little better the scale will go back down. I really wanted to start running again this week but I am limited to very low activity for at least a week. My one year anniversary with WW is next Friday so I was really hoping to be back at goal (120 lbs).
Well, I have pictures to post so I will be back a little later today. Have a great OP day!!

I've got news!!!!

This weekend was wonderful (other then the fact that I am still battling a horrible cough)! Saturday my two best friends drove up to go to the bridal shop with me. We tried on all the dresses and I have "THE ONE". I am totally in love with it and I cannot wait to have it. They took my measurements and I was shocked to hear my waist measurement of 28" I don't really know if that is great but to me it sounded fantastic!!! Dress shopping was followed with a great salad lunch and an intense workout!

I slept in on Sunday, I have had this horrible sore throat and cough for a few days now and it is keeping me up most of the night. I had good intentions of staying in on Sunday to start painting the house, but my sister called. We met up and went to a bridal fair in Minneapolis. I think I found a photographer and a cake designer!! Yippeee!!! It feels great to start checking off the "to-do's" on the planning list.

This is for you Steph! I'm not sure if I posted this yet, Rosie has figured out exactly where I keep my camera and whenever she comes over now she finds it sits on my lap and says "mile". We take a lot of pictures. She has also found my childhood "Bun-Bun" and carries him around saying "Bum-Bum mine". She is growing so much and her vocabulary amazes me! When she was first born I asked my sister to start working on sign language with her (I nanny for a young girl with a learning disability that affects her speech). I bought her several signing videos and I cannot tell you how awesome it is. Rosie knows at least 25-30 signs and she uses them! I definitely think this is a very cool trend for toddlers!

Let's see, what is new on the weight loss front?!? Well, I stayed OP over the weekend!!! It was difficult with all the free samples of wedding cake, but I stayed strong and only sampled on small piece! I will officially WI this Wed. morning!

Work is making me sick

It's true, I have never been sick as much as I have this year and it finally hit me why. I am working in and around sickness ALL day. The project I am on is an addition and renovation to a hospital. Not only is it a place people go when they are sick but it is always busy, which means tons of germs. I try to wash my hands often but it still seems like I am sick every other week. This week it isn't anything bad, just feel a little stuffed up and my throat feels a little dry.
Anyways, I haven't filled you all in on my great finds over the holiday weekend. My sister and I decided to go out on Monday to check out the clearance and sales at a few craft and department stores. We found crystal snowflake tealight holders for $0.25/ea., several snowflake ornaments and jewels marked down 75-80%, snowflake frames to hold table numbers marked down 50%, a cake serving set originally priced $35 marked down to $12!!! We were totally on a roll and it was a blast to start getting ideas. I have about 5 huge bags of stuff in our basement for the wedding now!!! 365 days away!! Can you believe it!
I have been totally OP since Wednesday with 20 points/day! The scale was down .5 this morning so hopefully I will loose this holiday gain with no problems! It has been so nice to be able to come home and cook dinner instead of running to campus and sitting in class till 9:30! I have made a few new recipes from different sites, I really missed this!
This weekend I have the house to myself. I am planning on some R&R as well as painting the master bathroom!! Yippee!! Have a wonderful OP weekend!

Looking back at 2007

Well I finally sat down last night and looked back at the last year. I don't remember setting new years goals but I do remember telling myself I was going to start watching what I ate and make it a point to get off my butt at night! I joined weight watchers online on my birthday (January 17th, 2007) and slowly started to see the pounds drop off. It was slow but it was working.
In February I said goodbye to my grandfather and I temporarily got off the WW wagon. Within two weeks I had put on about 1-2 pounds of the 10 pounds I had lost. We went on a short vacation and by the time I got back home I was back to tracking and the scale started to move down again. In March, two of my best friends and I decided we wanted to make our mark in the fight against cancer. Each of us had been affected in some way by the disease and we each felt the need to make a stand. We signed up to walk 60 miles and raise at least $7,000 to fight breast cancer.
I took the challenge seriously and in May when I reached my 10% goal in WW I started training nightly for the walk. I walked/ran 5-10 miles everyday. Over the next few months my weight loss stayed the same. I was still OP but the scale would not budge. On August 24, 2007 we set off on our first 20 miles. The following two days included many hills, sleepless nights and sore muscles. At the finish line I was surprised to find Derek down on one knee and all my family their to cheer us on!
School started back up in September and the scale finally started to move once my training slowed down. I finally lost the final 6 pounds and saw my original goal for the first time in November.
I experienced many emotions over 2007, some I would like to trade in others I would never give back. I have learned so much about myself, my strength, my passion, my fears, my faults, but most of all my ability to make a difference.
Well, enough looking at the past...I can't wait for what's to come!!