And the winner is..... couch!

I did begin the Couch25K regimen last week. I began on the 17th and, well, have only had time to do it two times since. Seriously, I don' t know how people do it. Unless I cut sleeping from my list of things to do, I don't really see how I will be able to work out REGULARLY three times a week... here's why:

Monday we went to the gym. It was less than perfect timing, as we both had meetings after school. Working out is now a "priority" though, so we sucked it up, schleped all three kids to the gym and worked out for a whopping 32 minutes (I know this because that app I told you about has a timer). Regardless, at least we did it. We had to hustle out of there because Mairin had basketball practice. We made plans to forgo our anniversary dinner on Wednesday night and workout instead (does that sound as crazy as it feels to write it???)!

Wednesday came with its own set of issues. We woke and started the usual whirlwind that is our mornings. I got up, got ready, woke the house and went downstairs to feed the dog and make the coffee. This morning something was not right. Casey, my sweet lab, was not herself. Instead of bounding down the steps to be fed, she was yelping for no apparent reason, crying out in pain. Now those of you that know me know that I love my dog. I've written of her in the past. Her yelping continued and was joined by dazed staring and trembling all over her body. I'm not going to lie, I thought we were heading for the end. I was a mess. Even Pat couldn't hide his concern.

We left for work and I made it through the morning. I quickly returned home during my break to see how she was doing- more of the same. I immediately called the vet and BAWLED like a baby while I told the receptionist what was going on (I'm not kidding, I was a freak). You have to understand. Our life with Casey has been quite parallel to the movie Marley and Me. She was so much like Marley (minus the incessant barking) that it's not even funny. Seeing that movie has scarred me deeply. That movie touched everyone, unless you're made of stone, but it hit awfully close to home for us... That is all I could think of on Wednesday.

We got to the vet around 3:00. Having a car ride really perked Casey up. We walked in and she promptly pooped all over the scale... oops! The doctor saw us and she was fabulous. She informed us that Casey has a cervical disc something or other (basically she has an inflamed disc in her neck- common for dogs who have spent much of their lives fetching and catching Frisbees). She's on some major steroids and doggy morphine. My life though, is never that simple and we then found out that the big knot on Casey's leg, well, it's not a knot. It's a tumor. A cancerous tumor. UGH! We'll have it removed after we get over the disc business... The doctor assured me that she didn't feel it was the "bad kind" though... I'm going with that.

After a day like that, who can work out? I needed a beer (classy, I know). We went to BW3s and had wings and beer (Happy Anniversary). Not to mention that Molly came home and promptly puked all over the bathroom... So nope, didn't get to workout on Thursday either! On a side note, it was pretty cute. Molly said, "I feel sick, I feel sick!" right before she vomited. When she finished she said, "I all better. I spit my sick out." :)

Today is Friday. I'm exhausted from the week. I took the girls to piano after school, delivered a meal to a friend who just had a beautiful baby girl, and ate pizza with neighbors. Tomorrow brings basketball and housework. I may try to squeeze in a run at the gym, but you know what? I may just keep working out everything else that life throws at me. There's always tomorrow, right?

Newfound resolve?

Ok, so I know I've sucked at blogging lately. Quite honestly, I've sucked at reading blogs, blogging, writing, grading papers, cleaning house, and so on lately. I have been really good at reading, working on my online classroom, and eating. Hope that counts for something!

So, here's a quick rundown of what's been up here! We had a great Christmas. My mom was here, which was interesting, but it was good to have her for the holidays. We enjoyed the time off work and just with family.

The Colts lost the Super Bowl, but we had fun with our good friends.

It's done nothing but snow here and it's on my nerves.

My two oldest girls are playing basketball for the first time. They seem to be enjoying it. I know their daddy likes seeing his girls out there!

Last week we joined a new gym/workout facility/pool. We went yesterday for the first time. Mind you, I used to be a workout junkie. When Pat and I started dating I worked out five to six days a week. It was nothing to go 45 minutes on the Eliptical, do weights and then go out. If I tried that now, I'd be in bed for a solid two days! I was so fit (and stupid) that I would wear a jog bra and biker shorts BY THEMSELVES! Who does that? That's crazy! It probably helped that I worked out at a place called Ladie's Only! Either way, I was way hotter than I am now... :) I say this jokingly, but it's a horrible slap in the face to see myself in the mirror and know that I've allowed this to happen. I'm not huge or anything. Some wouldn't even call me fat, but I'm not thin. I'm out of shape and I have a jello gut! Three kids, yo-yo dieting and too much couch time have caught up with me. Don't even mention the fact that I'm a hell of a lot closer to 40 than I am to 30...

Regardless, I'm starting anew (for about the bazillionth time). I downloaded an app for my iPod, called couch25K, which is basically a beginner's guide to getting into running (mind you there was a time in my life when I'd run around 4 miles a few times a week). This will be a process that I hope rebirths the runner that I used to be. I need it to do that... I will start this new journey tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes... Wish me luck- one day at a time!

New pics of the chicks...

Thought you may want some updated photos of the ladies. We had a very fun weekend of friendship and fundraising! We spent a whirlwind Saturday first walking in the Buddy Walk for our dearest friends' son, Michael. Then we jetted off to Mairin's soccer game where she scored SIX goals (hello, Mia). We then went to dinner with our wonderful neighbors and came home for football and drinks! Sunday we ran into some good friends at church, then went to my sister-in-law's for a fall birthday celebration. Mairin caught a large mouth bass, and cured her new fear of fishing (after sending a hook through her cousin's cheek a month ago). Here are some recent photos of our fun!

Wedded Bliss

Did you see it? Pam and Jim finally tied the knot on NBC's The Office this week. It was HYSTERICAL! You should really go to hulu and watch it. After a week of lows, this was definitely a high for Pat and me (we're easy to please)... It's made for some great conversations as well!
Take a look at their wedding website!

Sweet Molly is 2!

So, we left Monday to go to Tennessee and it was Molly's second birthday! We had to forgo her party on Sunday simply because we had too much to do to get ready to go to TN. We still had cake, and sang, but we didn't do the full-blown bash we had planned.

She has grown so much. She is talking up a storm! Her vocabulary grows everyday and she reminds me so much of Maggie at that age. Molly will say the cutest things. When we sneeze, she will say, "Bless you, Mommy!" She's always looking for things and people, so she'll ask where things are, "Where ducky go?" We've sung Happy Birthday to her so much that she sings it on her own now. Mairin loves to SCREAM, "Cha, cha, cha" after each verse, so now Molly sings, "Happy birthday to you, chicka chicka!" Love it! She's definitely our charming toddler!

Happy Birthday, Molly Kate! We love you, chicka chicka!

What a difference a day (or two) makes...

My last post listed some wonderful things going on in my life, including my step-dad's waged recovery from cancer surgery. Unfortunately, in the following days from my last entry, his recovery was thwarted and he passed away. It seems that his other lasting ailments were the cause. The cancer was a mere hassle compared to his congestive heart failure, which ultimately took him, it seems. Anyway, we just returned from Tennessee and I have a funeral mass and burial to plan...

It's odd that this does not in any way compare to my own father's death. Instead, I feel a great sense of relief for Fred. He was so sick, so frail. NOT the man that I knew. The man I knew walked tall, told really bad (and often off-color) jokes to all who would listen, loved to watch racing, and wouldn't take shit from anyone. The man he had become was not the same, and I know that it bothered him. He was proud, sometimes to a fault, and being sick and not in control was really hard for him. Mom loved him too much to see this, but we saw it and it was sad.

For some, death is a very sad, very hard thing. For me, with my own father's death, I felt this selfishly, and still do. For Fred, I know he is happier now. He was able to see all his grandkids before he left. He was able to tell my mom the things he needed to say. He made peace with the Lord, and received the sacraments before he left us. No, for Fred death is a welcomed reprieve. He is standing up straight, I bet, fixing something that isn't broken and telling everyone within earshot a story about something he did down here.

While he will be missed, he is surely in a better place. Of that I am sure. Rest in peace, Fred Jenkins. Rest in peace.

Lazy blogger... part one

Two months? Really? Seems I've had a bit of writer's block lately, or as I lovingly refer to it- sleep deprivation! Not to be confused with non-workoutism + eating really badlyism= feeling really sluggishism. Either way, I'm too tired to write and/or be creative.

You see, since I last blogged, we have successfully moved, started school, and stared soccer season. That right there is a full menu of things to write about, so quite simply, I've been living my life off screen. Sorry... I will try to catch you up in ten sentences. Here goes:
1. We LOVE our new house, neighbors, proximity to all things- HOWEVER, I miss my girlfriends and have had a few nightmares about the new people in our old house.
2. School has begun anew. I have a class of 26 kids that are great.
3. Maggie and Mairin have successfully transitioned into their new school. They are making friends all over the place.
4. They've have been equally successful with the neighborhood friends they've made. The number of kids in our new neighborhood is quadrupled compared to our old neighborhood!
5. Maggie had her MRI. Results were normal, and that is fabulous! We've had probably six migraines since we've moved... still too many for a small child.
6. Fred had his gallbladder removed after almost dying from septic shock. Cancer was removed yesterday... God must have big plans for him!
7. The older two are in piano and soccer. This eats Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights, along w/Saturdays and every other Sunday after Bible school!
8. Molly Kate has an upper respiratory infection. We're on meds... stay tuned
9. Pat? I don't know. I never get a chance to really talk to him. He's playing basketball right now. We are going out of town this weekend. It will be our first outing w/o our kids in quite a long time.
10. Molly Kate turns 2 on Monday! I can't believe it!

Ok, more than 10, but a good summary of life right now. Me? I'm fine. Getting chunky and tired, but good. I love my job, my kids, and my hubby, so that helps!

I won't wait two months next time...