Last week til Christmas!!!!

Time is flying by so fast.  I really missed workouts in Week 11, so I re-did Week 11 last week.  I feel much better, kind of plateaued but keeping at it.  I have had lots of fun as I have tried on clothes in my wardrobe and now they are too big.  We are headed to Mexico again next month - CAN'T WAIT.  Had to try on the swim suits, too.  One fits very well.  One suit the bottoms fit perfect, but the top is made out of two pieces of fabric apparently different kinds and one faded.  The other suit has a bottoms and two tops.  Bottoms fit, but the tops are way too big.  They have pre-shaped cups and are way baggy.  I know that is a lot of suits.  They are two piece suits, but not bikinis - they are tankinis.  My stomach is always covered.  Having given birth to six kids there are lot of stretch marks and no one - no one really wants to see that.  Yes, I do think of others.  Anyway, when you are in Mexico, you are always in a swim suit.  Running around for a whole week in one suit gets gross, so you need more than one.  I ordered a new swim suit top to replace the faded one and will have two nice suits to wear.

Meg had her driving temps in her hands all of 10 min before she lost the card.  I didn't stress too much about it, it had to be somewhere.  She did find them 2 days later and all was well in the world again.  :)  Now to plan a time to get her some practice.  I guess Dad gets the first lesson with her.

I had my annual shopping day with my Mom.  We have fun shopping, planning and having a nice lunch somewhere.  This year was Olive Garden.  Their soup and salad lunch is perfect for a busy day. I only have two gift cards left to buy and the gifts are all done, even wrapped!  We have made some cookies and will get busy with more this week.  I has Alexa help me with a collage photo for cards this year.  I have our entire family in the collage.  Snapfish should be shipping my order out tomorrow - then I can get my cards out later in the week.  Probably won't be delivered until after Christmas, but that will just have to be OK.  I'll work on my letter this week. 

We've gotten through two choir concerts and just have the band concert on Tuesday evening.  The choir concerts were very nice this year.  I love Christmas music, which works out well with so many concerts to go to.  I listen to it all the time and get a new CD each year.

With everything that we need to get done at the holidays it is easy to drift away from why we celebrate Christmas in the first place.  I am very grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He has completely changed my life.  He took me as I was and worked with me, guided me, loved me, taught me and strengthened me.  I have a long way to go, but have come so far.  I would not be who I am today without Him.  I am deeply grateful for His sacrifice for us.  I am no one of any great impotance in the world, but He helped me learn I am a daughter of God, with a divine heritage and divine potential.  Long way to go - yes, but He helps me to feel that it is entirely possible.  There are many days I feel like there isn't anything I couldn't accomplish.  I certainly understand many things are possible with His help.  Everyone has trials.  We have them to learn and grow and to learn to rely on Him.  When we forget our selfish wants and focus on what He wants us to do, then we have gained all we could ever hope for.  Amazing how that works.      I have often wondered what Mary felt.  Having given birth to my children and raising them I have a pretty good understanding of things.  But what did Mary feel?  Did she really know how that child would be the Savior of us all?

Pretty amazing,
May you have a blessed Christmas.
Love ya,
Bren

Another soon to be driver in the house!

   Yup, Meg has her temps!  We figure that she needed to get them as soon as possible since Alexa will be leaving for college in August of 2012.  Meg has to have her temps 6 months before she can actually take the behind the wheel road test.  So June 9th is the earliest she can try for her driver's license.   Some days this is just too weird for me.  Where has all the time gone?  Some days it feels like I worried about all the wrong things and as productive as I was getting things done - I feel like I missed so much, or don't remember the things I thought I would.
   I still would love to fly back out to Bry's and help her by just holding that sweet baby.  My heart is just screaming, 'He needs his grandma!'  So much to do here and that flight takes money.  My day job is such a distraction and I am so distracted while trying to work.  My comfort zone is doing several things at once and my brain is always working through some plan or project while getting something else done.  Right now, I guess, it's working for me. 
   The Christmas shopping is about done, yet I feel like have forgotten something.  Keeping it simple, but nice.  Time to get the cookies made so I can get boxes shipped.  Tim and Bry won't be home for Christmas, but sending them some cookies may help them feel 'home'.  Oh, yeah, Christmas cards.  Need to make those, too.
   Still working out, but the schedules are very tight.  It has been great fun to try on clothes in my closet to see what fits and what doesn't.  I found 3 tops and one pair of pants in a bin under my bed.  One of the shirts I had never worn.  It was just a tad tight when I bought it at the Good Will store - well guess what! It fits perfectly now.  Sweet deal!  My shape hasn't really changed, which makes it look like I haven't lost a thing - then I put on old clothes and they are big or now fit.  Felt good to take a big box of clothes to the GoodWill yesterday and drop them off.  Oh and the other day I picked up some more whey powder at GNC and I can't help but talk about the exercise program and weight loss - I just feel so good!  I told the clerk (this big, buff tan fellow) that I was using the P90X program, but it was more like the P30-45X program for me as I have yet to completely finish a cardio workout.  He said that actually was pretty good and most people start out at the P15X.  :)  Yay, Me!!!!
   
Have a great weekend!!!!  And remember, that every bit of a workout makes a difference -
Love ya,
Bren

Back in the Swing

     I returned from being out with Bry, Mark and newly arrived Korbin on Nov. 21st. Yes, Thanksgiving week.  We didn't have big plans for the long weekend, which was so nice; but always lots to do.  I worked the 22nd and 23rd, then Turkey day and getting lots of things accomplished for both scout troops.  Never, never enough hours in a day.  The 28th was back to Seminary in the mornings and just lots of things every day.  Oh, and add Scott's Eagle project to the mix and I don't seem to have much time.
     Don't misunderstand here-I fully acknowledge that I AGREE to do all of these things.  Also know, that I have said NO to some things as well.  I really enjoy being busy and getting things done.  I feel really good knowing that my efforts do make a difference.  Would there be someone else who would step up to accomplish the same things with the scouts? Yup, Seminary? Yup  My job at the school district? Yup.  As a Mom - probably not - at least not for a period of time (knowing that too is flexible). 
      It was hard to leave Bry & her family.  I am such a 'do-er' that I want to be there to 'do'.  I saw and heard a new baby at church today.  The same sounds sweet little Korbin was making.  My eyes teared up immediately and now even thinking about it.  Bry had one rough day last week and I wanted to get on a plane.  I will just put her family in Heavenly Father's hands and keep her number close so I can call or be available if she needs me.  I reflected on my own path of motherhood.  It is a long path, with many wonderful experiences and lots of rough ones.  The path has made me much stronger.  I need to let Bry's path make her stronger, too.  OK, Faith, you and I will become much better friends.  :)
     Keeping myself busy, keeps me productive, happy and a long way out of trouble.  Still working on the P90X program.  I did weigh-in out at Bry's and was down 15 pounds.  I am hoping that number is now closer to 20.  It is really a joy to get into pants that I haven't worn in at least 3 years.  I put on an outfit that I bought in Colorado just before I came home after Bry's heart surgery - It is way too big!  :)  That's just a shame.  Makes me feel fabulous, though!    I start week 11 tomorrow.  The 'baby' tummy I have is being very stubborn, but I will win out in the end.  It will shrink!  I will weigh in again in 2 weeks, take the 'after' pictures and decide if I feel comfortable posting them here.  There will be a noticeable change - that alone feels great.
      We have our January vacation planned and so looking forward to getting away.  January is so blah that it is great to have something fun to look forward to.  Fred & I really need that time, too.  We didn't take the time alone together when the kids were young.  It's really hard with 6-8 kids in the house to get away for more than 24 hours.  When all the kids were out of diapers, and all in school it was easier to have someone else care for them for a few days.  Now we only have 3 teenagers in the house.  They are way easy to care for (as long as the attitude is good) and Tim, being almost 27, can handle them and enforce rules when needed.
     We are well on our way with Christmas.  The high school choir concert was yesterday - very nice.  I am so amazed when my children volunteer for solos.  I did once and it did not go well, so never again.  I think it was one of the best choir concerts they have done in several years.  Must have been the change in music, they did some different songs.  Still the old traditionals, but no 'Santa Baby'.  I detest that song.  High School girls just should not be allowed to even attempt it.  Next time you hear that song, think of a high school girl trying to fill that role.  It will make you want to hurl.
     The middle school choir concert is next in about 10 days and the midlle school band concert is a few days after that.  I look forward to the baking.  Love the gingersnaps - my grandmother's recipe is the best.  Snickerdoodles, monster cookies, marble bark and birch logs.  Then we give most of them out as gifts to the post office, the home mailperson, bus driver, and others that I usually forget but try not to.
   We try to keep it simple, but with our family being more extended each year it doesn't always feel simple. 

May each of you find ways to keep meaning in Christmas this year.  Family - it's one of the few things we will have in the next life.  Make it count.

Love ya,
Bren

Oh, Sweet Baby!

This is so much fun!  I will gladly be a 'Grandma'.   Bry is doing so well, sore all over, but still healing at a fairly quick pace.  She and Korbin were in the hospital until Friday.  She went in Tuesday evening to be induced, had Korbin 5 1/2 hours later (unusually fast) and finally released Friday afternoon.  It took several doctors to release them both and getting all that together was a miracle in itself.

Bry made his little lemon-grass colored hat in the hospital because all the others were too big.  The nurses loved his hat so much that Bry is making more like it to send up for other babies with tiny heads.  He is tiny all over, not just his head.  :)   Such a sweet little man.  He definitely has the little old man look until he fills out.

Here is the proud 'papa'.  Mark is so happy and excited to be a 'Dad'.  Mark loves to hold him, feed him and just plain marvel at the miracle of it all.

Here is Korbin all dressed and ready to go - just waiting for the nurse to take us all down to the car.

Finally get some posed pics of this little cutie!  He was pleasantly awake on Saturday - just before he was hungry enough to do anything about it.  Definitely dark hair.  No hint of red highlights anywhere.

Cute little wrinkly forehead and the blue eyes.

He likes his hat to keep his head warm.

These are Dad's hands and Korbin is trying to focus on Dad's face.  He recognizes the voice and wants to put a face to it now.  :)

It is a joy to just hold this little boy and be here to help the new parents.  All those years of experience can be put to very good use.  Loving every minute of this trip!

Love ya,

Bren

On My Way!!!

  Such great news! Korbin was born 1:21am MST on Nov. 9th.   He was 5# 12 oz and 20" long.  A little guy, but doing well.  Mom is also doing well and Dad is great.   Now I am officially a 'grandma'.  Seems a little odd, but I am sure that soon enough it will seem just the way it should be.  :)  I fly out this morning and will try to post a pic or two here.  Bry has put quite a few pics on facebook, but I won't go there.  It's hard enough for me to update this once a week.          I know I will cry.  I remember that special feeling when each of my own 6 children were born.  There is just such a closeness to Heavenly Father when they are so new.  A feeling that is very difficult to put into words, almost a love beyond measure; like there are angels very near.  Those watchful guardians have been watching over Bry her whole life.

  Well, I think I have everything ready to go, but not entirely sure.  There will be things I forget, but I can either do without or get them in Utah.  No point stressing over it.  I look forward to the trip and spending time with them.

Have a great day and look for the good - you will find it!  :)

Love ya,
Bren

Work pays off :)

I know,  long time since my last post.  I wish time would slow down just a bit - no such luck.  I've kept at the P90X as best as I can.  Missed a day here or there, but not two in a row.  Some days there just isn't time.  I did try to get it in much later in the day - about 8pm.  But I was up quite awake until after 11pm.  That would be fine in the summer, but I teach an early morning Seminary class in my kitchen every day the high school kids have school.  That means that I am up at 5 am every school day.  This is not a complaint - I absolutely love teaching the class.  There are no grades. I do have to teach a lesson, however, I have a great teacher's manual and the scriptures to use.  It is an absolutely amazing way to start each day.  I hope the kids get as much out of it as I do. 

Back to the workouts.  It is official, I am down two sizes.  Boy! Does that feel good or what?!!!  I have not felt this good in about 10 years or this strong in almost 30!  The flexibility I lost a year and a half ago is back.  I was having trouble opening jars, not any more.  For anyone not feeling good - get up off the backside and move.  It doesn't matter what - just begin.  Begin slowly, at your own pace, but do it.  I still do not complete the workouts.  I do keep track of what I am able to do by writing it all down in their workout logs.  Then I can easily see if I have done more reps or worked out for a longer time than I did the last time I did that particular workout.  When I began, I could hardly do 25 sit-ups (this is taking the total of all the kinds situps in the ABs workout).  Now I can almost do 200 total of the different kinds.  The goal is 300, but even if I never make that - I feel I have improved greatly.  I am not competing against anyone but me.  So. . . .  walk, bike, do aerobics, kenpo, taibo, pilates, swimming, anything.  Begin and do a little more each day.

Don't forget to cut out the junk - there is more junk for food than you might think.  Read labels, know what you are eating.  You sabotage your physical efforts if you don't combine it with more disciplined eating.  Do not starve, we need food to move, but what you do eat - make it work with your efforts.  Vegetables, meats, dairy - you can go low fat.  Cut down carbs - but don't eliminate completely.  You will feel tons better when you eat better.

This is keeping me occupied while we wait for little Korbin to arrive.  Bry will be induced on the evening of Nov. 8th.  With any luck, he will be born on the 9th. I fly out to Utah on the 10th.  This will be an awesome trip.   And yes, taking my workouts with me.  I just feel so much better when I workout.

Have a great weekend!!!!  Plan to start your feeling better today!!!
Love Ya,
Bren

Progress and Plans!!!

Another busy week and I have finally made it through week 4 of the P90X.  I did the weight and measurement re-check.  I've lost 9 pounds.  I was hoping for a bigger number here because I feel like I've lost more.  Here's the tricky thing with weight loss and working out - Muscle tissue weighs more than fat tissue because it is much, much denser - more compact and useful.  So I work out to build up muscle tissue, which increases metabolism, burns off the fat tissue faster, but does not accruately reflect the difference in body weight.  I have lost inches, though, and that shows up in how my clothes fit.  This is pretty sweet!  I have gone down almost 2 complete sizes.  :)  Oh, Happy Day!  I have been able to wear pants that I haven't gotten into in over a year.  This feels really good.  I know I have a ways to go, but feel possitive about the results so far.  At the start, just going by pounds, 35 was the goal.  However, if I can get into all those old sizes again, I am not real concerned what the number is on the scale.  Being female - that's how we need to look at it.  

For example: When I graduated high school - at the peak of my physical fitness, I weighed almost 150#, but wore size 7.  That's the old really skinny size 7, not the enlarged size 7 of today. In case you haven't noticed that about our clothes sizes.  They have shifted the smaller number to a larger measurement.  I know - sucks and keep us complacent.  Rotten scoundrels.  :(

Well, we are one week closer to that gand-baby arriving. Bry has her inducement orders for Nov 8th.  Not sure if she'll make it to that exact date, that will depend on her body and the strain of pregnancy on her heart.  If the body feels it is too much, labor will begin.  So far she is doing prett well.  Baby is doing great.  They are so excited for Korbin to arrive and finally get to hold him as they have been seeing ultrasounds of him for months.

OH, more excitement on the horizon!  Me, my sis, and cousins Lynn & Cindy are taking a carribean cruise next October!!!!  It will be so much fun and this is going to make 2012 a very long year.  Between now and then I will become a grandma, Alexa will graduate and be off at college, Scott will become an Eagle Scout, Meg will get her driver's license, then there's youth conference, girls' camp, high adventure, and possibly two scout camps and the holidays to get through.  I guess it will go faster than I think and I will really need that break.

If you don't have anything exciting in your future - plan it!  Fun doesn't usually happen by chance - we need to plan that too!!! Have fun planning!

Love ya,
Bren

October - Flying by!!!!

Sorry,  didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted.  I have made it through 3 weeks of the P90X.  Still hyped to continue.  I worecapris that I haven't worn since the summer of 2010, whoo hoo!!!!  I won't get on a scale until after completing week 4, though.  I still don't want to be discouraged if it isn't as low as I think/feel it should be.  However, good news to report in addition to being able to wear the capris.  I went shopping yesterday for a shirt to wear under a sweater and trying on the clothes - larges were too big.  Sweet!!!!  I know my arms are much smaller and show some definition.  It hasn't been hard to refuse donuts or other sweets, either.  When you work so hard at something you don't want to screw it up and defeat what work has been done.

Scott is finishing up Cross Country, Alexa is done with Football Cheerleading.  Of course, they are both getting ready for the basketball season - which isn't too long for Scott being in the middle school, but cheering for basketball is really a nightmare.  They cheer not only for the boys' home games, but the girls'.  So it is double duty and that can be 3 or more games in a week.  Hopefully, most weeks are only 2 games.  We don't have enough cheerleaders to do split sqauds, so they all do both.

I'm also waiting for Bry to have that baby.  I will fly out to help her for about 10 days.  Sometime after 10/24 with the latest date being 11/7.  It depends on her body, if it feels taxed by the preganancy before the 7th, it will begin labor and the docs will let it go.  Which isn't an entirely bad thing - the baby won't be as big as he would be if she went all 40 weeks.  So far, Mom and baby are doing great.

Then throw the holidays into the mix and lots of things are happening in the next couple of months.

Did I ever say there was a 'dull' moment - didn't think so.  Keeps me busy, happy and out of trouble, which I was usually good at finding when I was in my teens.  :)

Have a great day and keep looking for the good things in life - you will find them and they will make you smile - lots!!!!

Love Ya,
Bren

Homecoming week is done!

  This is always such a crazy week.  If regular school weeks weren't bad enough with homework, sports and everyoe else's schedules - throw homecoming in there and you just go nuts.  Alexa made the Homecoming Court, that made her happy.  It also drove her crazy.  Not only was there Vocal Jazz practice one morning, but they had to practice dancing with other members of the court one morning.  She was also in the Powder Puff football game that had practice before school 3 days.  This game is a tradition in our school where the Junior and Senior Girls face off in a flag football game.  Sounds not too bad, but Gwen had her shorts ripped off when she was a Senior - thank goodness she was wearing leggings underneath!  Underwear these days doesn't have much cloth to them.  Anyway, the game can be pretty rough, I think they maybe should wear the regular football gear.  Often lots of bruises on the girls when they're done.

Our team did win their football game last night.  Not sure the last time they actually won their homecoming game - quite a few years ago.  Now today is the dance.  Alexa, on court, can't figure out how to do her hair - yes this afternoon just 2 hours before she has to leave.  Well, that went over with me real well.  I am such a girly-girl and knew just how to help her.  NOT!  I tried to think of some type of suggestion, but none worth actually doing.  She was mad at me and stomped off to her bathroom.  20 min later I figured I had better go in to see if she was coping.  Her hair was looking really cute and I was able to help her curl the back.  She had it pulled up and away from her face with bobby pins and long curls draping down the back.  Nothing I could have given her direction on.

This is Meg on the left in her $15 dress from Goodwill.  She shortened it and wears a black t-shirt underneath so it is more than just spaghetti strap.  Alexa is on the right in her $36 JC Penney dress.  We added the red layer to the bottom as a peek-a-boo skirt and she is wearing a black shrug underneath to make it modest.  There really isn't a good choice out there this year for dresses.  All are short in length and low-cut on top. 

Something called 'NORMAL' returns next week.  So looking forward to it.  :)

I did pretty well starting back on the P90X.  I missed yesterday's workout and today's.  But will go again with it on Monday.  I might stretch out tomorrow.  I still feel better on the program and will keep at it.

Have a great rest of the weekend!  Go Pack Go!!!!

Love ya,
Ben

Ready to try again!

I had been thinking that I would give the everlasting 'cold' two weeks after Bry & Mark left to go away enough before beginning the P90X - again.  I really felt a lot better at the end of last week, so I started on Monday the 26th.  I feel great!  With the candy-type protein bars and the whey powder shakes of chocolate, I don't feel like I am giving anything up.  That's amazing!  I am not hungry and eat right when I do eat.  One of the main requirements to the program is to eat - I can do that no problem.  I am a little sore with beginning the workouts, but otherwise, feel good physically.  My struggle is endurance, but that will begin improving as I stick with the program.  Today was a Yoga day and I felt rejuvenated when I was done. 

All I have to do is think of my 'before' pictures and motivation isn't a problem.  I see a difference already and am excited to see how much of a change it will be when the complete program is finished.

Next week I begin my 4-day work weeks.  I chose to reduce my hours at work for a couple of reasons.  1) I could really use another day in a week to get stuff done at home that I really never have time to do {like the book work for Fred's offices and cleaning}  2) the school district needs to cut expenses wherever they can and with most purchasing put on hold, there goes most of my job.  I pay all the bills for the district, so if they aren't buying things then there aren't bills that need to be paid.  I also have stream-lined a lot of what I do to be more efficient. 

Now that we have a full month of school done, I am finally settling into a grove.  It takes a while.  When school starts, so does the early morning seminary class I teach to youth from church who attend our school district.  5 am comes awfully early each day, but it's a great way to begin a day.  Then I started the exercising and time goes quickly.  Lots on my plate or should I say 'plates' and it takes a little time to adapt to it all and have it run smoothly.  I'll be very glad when this homecoming week is done, too!

May everyone have success in accomplishing all that they need to do!

Love ya,
Bren

Hoping to feel better

I am STILL trying to kick this cold, or whatever the illness is.  Today begins week 6.  My voice is almost back to normal and I can complete entire days without needing a nap.  I am, however, still feeling worn out and usually cough up a lung in the evenings.  Not back to my exercise program because of the coughing.  I will give it another two weeks, then I begin the program again no matter what.  If I keel over during exercise at least I go out doing what helps me feel good.

I haven't been slacking, though.  The harvest is in from our garden.  62+ quarts of tomato juice, 28 quarts stewed tomatoes, 21 quarts spaghetti sauce, 28 pints salsa, 7 quarts tomato soup, 4 - 2 quart jars of refrigerator pickles and lots of shreded zucchini in the freezer.  Don't worry, we're not done yet.  I will do another batch or two of soup.  Then there is the outrageous amount of butternt squash we have to bake, mash and freeze.  This is Meg after picking all the squash with Dad.  Some of the squash are spaghetti squash, which will be fabulous with my homemade sauce!

Bry & Mark were home for a week, just enjoying a restful week with family.  We really didn't do much just hang out together, have a baby shower, and take a day trip to Dave's Falls about an hours' drive north of us.  It is a beautiful place with great scenery, rocky outcrops, white water rapids, lots of trees and just gorgeous.  We took some of Alexa's senior pics there.  Can't take a bad pic with scenery like that.  Bry is so cute being pregnant.  She has 9 weeks to go and everything looks good.  I only worked 1/2 days to spend time with them.  Adult children are so wonderful to be around.  Teenagers really do turn ito human beings again.  :)

Have a great week and we get further into the Fall season!
Love Ya,
Bren

Still trying to kick this cold

   This has been a long illness.  That fact alone is driving me crazy.  I had to suspend the P90X program, which disappoints me because I did see results.  Nothing too dramatic, yet.  My arms look thinner - lost quite a bit of the 'bingo wings'.  Yippeeeee!!!!  My legs slimmed down a bit, too.  I notice my pants fit a bit looser in the hips.  Another Yippeeeee!!!  No real slimming in the waist - darn it.  Until I get well enough, working out just isn't possible coughing through the whole thing.
   Bry & Mark are coming home for a visit on the 11th and I have HAVE to be better by then.  So the P90X is on hold until after their visit.  I am super excited to get going again though.  If 2 1/2 weeks can have the results above, what will 13 weeks' results be?   Makes me want to dive right in again!!!!!
   School has started, tomorrow we start seminary and we are canning like crazy.  Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes.  We froze lots of zucchini.  We will have tons of butternut squash. We'll also be able to make several batches of salsa.  Not sure what kind of green chili peppers I have, but it will be a great salsa.  Our Roma tomatoes are finally ripe enough for a batch - just at the same time the green chili peppers are ready, too.  Then there are the cucumbers we didn't know we planted.  Fred thought he bought melon plants.  He did get melons, but a few less than he thought.  The darned cukes have been quite prolific.
   Scott is submitting his Eagle project proposal this week.  He is building dog exercise pens for the Humane Society in our county.  It is a big project, but a very beneficial one.  The state passed a law saying all dog shelters/kennels need to give each dog 2 hours of exercise a day.  That's hard for a humane society to do.  The dogs are lucky to be walked twice a day for 20 min each time.  Takes a lot of volunteers.  The dog pens will allow the dogs to be put outside for extended periods of time - without all the volunteers.  He will have to fund-raise the money needed to purchase the materials.  He hopes to have the pens built by the end of May, best case scenario would be by the end of November. 
    Alexa is in cheer again and busy every night of the week with practice and a game on Friday.  Not sure when we'll finish her Senior pictures.  Soon, I guess.  We've taken some, but would like to take more.  Never really a free day for any longer project.

Just keep swimming!  It's better than going with the flow.  :)

Love Ya,
Bren

No. . . . I am not dead, yet!

I have had this really nasty sickness - not bacterial, probably not whooping cough, but something viral for sure.  I lost my voice last week and do not have it back yet.  It started two weeks ago Friday with a little tickle in my throat.  For those that know me, know a little tickle usually turns into a 3 month cough, which drives my family crazy.  Ok, so the littlle tickle was just that for 3 days.  On Monday, the voice was gone and I was feeling awful.  I stayed home from work Monday and 1/2 day Tuesday.  I made it at work all day Wednesday.  I woke up Thursday morning with a very sore throat, felt like a big marble sitting at the top of my throat and very little energy.  Stayed home all day last Thursday and Friday.  Friday was worse than Thrusday, so I went to see the Dr.  He gave me an antibiotic because the throat looked infected with something.  I really wanted to die - felt that bad.  Sleep was impossible, couldn't stop coughing long enough to sleep more than two hours.  Nothing helped the throat other than ice water - helped with the swelling.  Saturday I did not feel one bit better.  The swelling was feeling worse, so I even tried an ice pack on the outside of my throat - eveything was swollen at this point.  Still wanted to die.  If someone had dug me a grave and told me to crawl in, that I'd get some sleep, I would have.  Just cover me up and let me go.

I cleared my schedule all weekend.  I managed two hours at work on this past Monday.  Still not feeling like the meds were really helping.  I consulted with the Dr and he said it wasn't bacterial so I could stop the meds.  Good thing, because I missed work Tuesday because the meds cleaned me out.  Oh, that was fun.  The ice water continued to help the throat swelling, even just a little bit was a big improvement.  I went to work yesterday and today for 6 hours each day.  I am finally feeling better - no voice yet, though.

I have gotten some decent sleep the last 3 nights.  A chloraseptic losenge helps hit that tickle spot - long enough to get to sleep and a hydrocodone helps relax and drift off.  (these are left over from my bulging disc event that I had last November).  I don't take many drugs, but they are wonderful when really needed.

I am so grateful tomorrow is Friday!!!!  Next week, it is back to the P90X and feeling much, much better.  I haven't blown it too badly while sick.  Possibly lost a few pounds because the appetite hasn't been there.  Pants are fitting looser and that's a plus!

Have a great weekend and hope none of you get this nasty sickness - would wish this on no one!!!!

Love ya,
Bren

Not Going to Get Discouraged

I am well into week 3 and keep having these little things try to throw me off track.  So I started week 1 with my hip out and made it through pretty well.  Hip is fine now.  Week 2 was good until day 6.  I have an old sore spot on my thoracic spine that gives my trouble every now and then - it decided to be bothersome.  I limited my workout, but did workout.  I figure something is better than nothing.  I am feeling a little stronger and feel really good with the meal plan.  Over last weekend I developed a cold.  Most people it wouldn't bother too badly, but I get this cough that just won't quit.  I don't have an infection or anything bacterial.  It is even a mild virus at that, but I just can't breathe at all without that tickle in my throat needing to be coughed out.  I am still working out - just not even close to hard, but again something is better than nothing.  A good night's sleep would be a tremendous blessing!

I am seeing some results, just ever so slowly because of these little things.  AND I feel good physically.  I am into this program 3 weeks now and if I quit, I will never know what could have been the complete result.  SO . . . .  I am going to stick it out.  This cold will lessen soon, then I can really get busy with the workouts.

On a week that I should be trying to rest, there is something going on every evening - not exactly restful.

All I can do is keep trying,

Have a great rest of the week!

Love ya,
Bren

two weeks . . . and . . .

Now Two weeks into the P90X program.  I feel pretty good.  In fact, I feel really good.  Body is sore and a slow start in the mornings, but not too bad.  In Week 1 I did what I could with the hip being quite touchy and sensitive.  Now that Week 2 is almost complete I feel stronger and more limber.  The menu plan has not been difficult for me to follow and allows lots of flexibility with what to eat when.  The meals tast great and I have not been hungry!  I have NOT had a potato chip, cookie, brownie, crackers or any other junk food.  Not even really tempted.  OK, I gave the oreos a second thougth - then remembered there was no milk at work to drink with them.  That made it super easy to pass up.  :)   I have not stepped on the scale again and not sure I will until I complete 28 days.  I feel better and stronger, but don't see the shape changing at all.  My pants fit just a wee bit looser, but don't want to be discouraged by that darned scale. 

One great aspect of the workouts is keeping track of what I complete - then I know the next week if I am improving or not.  The second week was, hand down, a much better week.  More reps, a little more weight used, and longer time on the Plyometrics and the yoga.  I didn't do the Kenpo last Saturday, because I was really sore from the legs/back workout on Friday.  Now the Legs/Back workout went very well and I completed it no problem.  At least that was what I thought until I got up the next morning and was that sore!  Didn't realize I did not use those muscles like ever! 

Keep the motivation up there!  If you don't start, you can't finish!  :)  That got me through the AB workout today.  :)

Have a great weekend!
Love Ya,
Bren

Day 3 and still wanting to

Hello, again,  I have made it 3 days on the exercise and menu plan of the P90X program.  I feel really good.  Yesterday was the Plyometrics workout.  It is basically 5 sets of 4 different moves.  You complete one set, then do it again and move on to the next set of 4.  I made it great through set one and pretty well through set 2.  I have to watch my hip movements - still wake up each morning feeling like the truck that hit me didn't leave me much to work with.  I did one movement on set 3 and called it done.  Not great, but next week I will get farther and maybe even through it.  At least I did something, which is tons better than nothing.  I am also keeping to the menu plan.  I don't get hungry and feel really good.

So Yesterday was a win, but not a conquer.  Today I completed the shoulder/arm workout.  I conquered!  Feels awesome.  I enjoy the weights - makes me feel young again.  I was only using the 5, 8, and 10 lb weights.  Because the 15, 20 and 25 lb dumbells would be ridiculous.  Again, it is the place to start.  Nothing started is just that . . . nothing.

Keep forging ahead, because that is so much better than lagging behind!  :)

Have a great week! And yes, my stomach muscles are sore.

Love ya,
Bren

It Has Begun!!!! :)

I wasn't sure the P90X program was actually going to start today.  After lifting some boxes at work Friday, a 6 hour rundtrip car ride on Saturday and waking up sore, as usual, I put my hip out Sunday morning.  I got up, went into the office for an official weight (only have 38 lbs to lose) and came home to make sure the basement workout area was good to go.  This meant moving the sleeper sofa against the back wall - a distance of about 10 feet.  Sleeper sofas are heavy and I figured it wouldn't be too big of a task in small pushes.  About the 3rd push I felt my right sacral joint give way.  Almost couldn't walk up the stairs.  I did, but only by going up with the left leg first.  Fred adjusted me, I iced it and took some ibuprofen.  Made it through church.  more ice and ibuprofen after church.   Sleep was a little difficult because every time I changed position I felt it.  Fred adjusted me again this morning, more ibuprofen and off to work I went and made it through the day.  By the time I got home from work pain was minimal.  More ibuprofen before the workout, though.

I did begin the meal plan.  Breakfast was an omelet, cottage cheese and fresh strawberries.  More than I could eat, actually.  Wonderful!  Menu plans that leave a person hungry really suck.  I followed it all day and feel pretty good.  This may work after all!!!!  Yippee Skippee!!!!

The first workout is complete.  Chest and Back followed by AbsX.  I survived.  It is stressed in the program to only do what you can do safely.  For instance, the push-ups can be done with our body as a plank.  I felt it pull on my hip, a lot.  So, I only did them from my knees instead of toes.  My arms still got a good workout and it didn't stress my hip.    The Abs I did the same way, if there was too much pull on my hip, then I only did one or two or none at all of that particular version.  I am really psyched to continue on with this.

Those before pictures are a great motivator!!!!

Have a great week!
Love ya,
Bren

Forging Ahead?

   Hello, my Firends,  sometimes it seems as if we are trying to make progress in one area of our lives and the longer we look at it, we really aren't sure.   Need some explanation?  I will try to keep this on the brief side, but I have never been very good at the short answer to any question, unless it is a single word.  Anyway,  I am very aware that I am need to lose weight.  My photo from vacation in January was quite obvious.  What wouldn't be looking like a bright sky blue stuffed sausage in a swimsuit?  So, I have been mulling the idea over in my mind for this length of time.  Trying to decide if I have the dedication and determination it will take to put in the effort and make some big changes in my daily diet routine.  A friend of ours completed the P90X fitness/diet plan program and lost 70 lbs. - yes 70!  He looks great.  I know I don't have 70 to lose, but still, to actually lose the now 40 lbs, get fit and eat healthier would be great.  Fred & I looked at the program - pretty intense.  He ordered it, we have it and I am now ready to begin on August 1st.  I went grocery shopping for the menu plan - shouldn't be too bad sans the salts and most of the fats.  Took my 'before' photos last night - boy do I NEED this program to work!  If I am successful, a before and after picture will be posted - at the end of October when I complete the 12 weeks.  There are some limitations to be accepted.  I will not be able to 'bring it' as a younger person and if I can exercise for 1 hour, that will be a miracle.  Endurance has never been a strength.  Fred & I are going to try to work on it together, but we have very different schedules so we'll see.

So, to forging ahead even in the face of possible failure, but the only way to completely fail is not to try in the first place.  If that's the case, then I have already succeeded!

Have a great rest of the weekend and the week ahead!

Love ya,
Bren

A frustrating thing . . .

Our vacation was great and it wasn't too bad getting back into our schedules.  However, when an unauthorized transaction for iTunes hit my bank account I was not happy.  I removed all my banking information from Scott's iTunes account in early June and cancelled my debit card when a transaction hit my account for about $14 or so.  With the new debit card we went on our trip and had no problems at all.  At least until last week when a $103.24 debit hit my account from iTunes.  WHAT!!!!!!  Yup, so much fun.  I called the bank because it was still pending - hoping they could deny it and that would go back to iTunes.  I didn't enter my debit card info into the computer at all and certainly not back into Scott's iTunes account. (iTunes gift cards are the way to go if you have an iTunes account - no worries with those at all!)  Then I looked at where I had used my debit card on the trip.  Only 2 places where the number was out of my control completely.  Jacob Lake Inn for breakfast at the Grand Canyon, they took my card in one of those leather folders, ran the transaction and gave it back to me - then it was not out of the room from where I was and nothing funny appeared to happen.  The other time was in  St. Robert MO where we stayed on the last night traveling home.  We wanted pizza for supper and I didn't want to drive any where, 10 hours was definitely long enough.  So we had it delivered and I gave them my card number over the phone so there wouldn't be a hassle when the pizza arrived.  I'm thinking it was a Dominoes pizza worker.
    I have tried contacting iTunes - good luck trying to talk to anyone at apple.  If they could look it up by card number then they could see who's account got the download.  Seems easy enough, but I am still waiting for an e-mail response.  Don't see that coming anytime soon.  I did get the money back into my account from the bank.  Cancelled the debit card AGAIN and will start over with a new one next week when I get it.

Oh well, what is a person to do other than what I did?  Not much.  I may go to a pre-loaded credit card not attached to any account and use that for online transactions.  Not sure if I could plan far enough ahead to work that out.  The funny thing is, it was only one transaction.  Someone suggested to me that it might be a person who walked by me with a card reader and got the information that way.  I had 5 accessable cards in my wallet - they only used one?  Could they tell which was the debit card?  Would the information be garbled amongst all 5?  Technology is going to leave a lot of us in the dust and soon!  If people could be honest and good, there wouldn't be too much to worry about.  Yes, that is a big IF.

I'm going to work out or something, need to burn off some of this stress.

Have a good rest of the week!  Keep trying to move forward.  I've been told that even a teeny, tiny step in the right direction is still progress. I'm counting on it!  :)

Love Ya,
Bren

Vacation is done & I hit the ground running!

Well, here goes the story of our 4877 miles, 74+ hours driving vacation 6/28/11-7/10/11.  It was long, but oh so worth it!!!

This is us all packed up and ready to go.  That is our new (used) 2008 Saturn Outlook.  A dream to drive, it was great for the trip and fit all the stuff we needed to take out and bring back - comfortably!

This is Wyoming and I-80 that I don't know if it ever has a beginning or an end, it just goes on and on and on. 

We did a detour stop at Martin Cove in Wyoming.  This is one of our church historical sites.  This is the place where the ill-fated Willie and Martin Hand Cart Companies needed to be rescued on their journey west in the days of the pioneers.  Many members of both companies died on their trek west.

This deer/antelope was at the exit of Martin Cove as we left and it paused just long enough for me to take this picture.  It was only about 30 feet from our car!

We made it safely to Bry & Mark's.  This is us visiting Temple Square in Salt Lake City.  It was hot that day, but a wonderful time for us to be there together.

These were in Wyoming, it is awesome to see so many of these wind turbines around the country!

Here is our Bry!!!!  20 weeks in this picture and looking so cute with her 'honey bump'  :)  now she is 22 1/2 weeks - really hoping to make it another 15 1/2 or as close to that as she can get.

Here is a picture from our stop at the Grand Canyon.  That is Scott in the blue shirt with Alexa just behind him.  This is not the place to remember how afraid of heights you are.  I just had to tell the kids they could go out to the lookout points, but without me, and they were to be very careful - no funny stuff.

After the Grand Canyon we headed south through Flagstaff to Phoenix.  This deer sign was just south of Flagstaff and hilarious.  Even in Wisconsin we don't have deer signs like this one.  I know lots of hunters that would just about give their lives to bag a buck like the one picured - isn't that a 30 pointer?!?!

This was a cool cloud/thunderstorm we saw at the sunset point rest stop a ways north of Phoenix.

Now this is Pam (left) and I (right) in her pool.  It was a great way to start our days.  This is actually the morning of the notorious haboob (dust storm) that hit Phoenix.  We didn't notice it too much in the West Valley, just that it got dark much earlier that evening.

Some cool cactus/yucca plants that lined the interstate on our way to Texas.  Yes, I know, the trip isn't done yet.  That was a 14 hour dirve day.  Everything is bigger in Texas, even the miles!!!!!

Gwen & Greg in their apartment complex pool.  We took a swim break in the late afternoon as it was way too hot during the heat of the day.

We saw quite a few dust devils as we traveled from Phoenix to Abilene.  Most weren't good for pictures, but this one was quite close.

Bry taught the kids how to crochet and Meg worked the rest of the trip to finish this one.  She added a button and uses it as a scripture bag for church.  This was finished by the time we stopped in the middle of Missouri on our way home.  Awesome job, Meg!

The St. Louis Arch.  We hadn't planned on going directly to it, but a wrong turn by Mom and we were right at the park.  Which turned out nicely for driving because it was only three or four blocks off the route.  A quick stop and we were back on our way and into Illinois.  No pictures of Illinois - nothing really to see there.

Lots of hours, miles and sights to see.  I am so glad we did it.  It isn't a trip we'll probably ever do again, but it was the only way I could figure we'd be able to see everyone we did.  Now Alexa, Megan and Scott can picture where their sisters live and have seen things you don't see when flying.  They also got re-acquainted with their Aunt Pam & Uncle Dennis, cousins Katie, Jennie, Lynn & her family.  Can't put a price on all of that.

Now that we are home, it was right back into everything and busy as ever.  I have been to 2 scout committee meetings, a Court of Honor, 2 scout nights, volunteered with Scott at the Humane Society, got the girls ready for Young Women Camp this week, worked two full weeks and getting Scott ready for scout camp next week.  My grandmother used to say, "No rest for the weary' or 'No rest for the wicked'.  I'll take the weary.  Some days it's hard to tell.  :)  Fred did miss us and was glad to have us home.  He had dinner ready for us on the 10th.  It was good to be home.

May you have a wonderful weekend, stay cool, and make the effort to plan that once in a lifetime vacation.  We aren't getting any younger.

Love ya,    Bren

good day

Well,  I did it!  I got up early and made the trip to Oshkosh for the Badger State Games to compete in the Women's Discus Throw.  There were only 12 women throwing.  The hard part was knowing exactly who you were competing against.  I did not know until it was all over that there were 3 in my age group.  One lady, Lindsay, thought I was in her group; now I know she was younger than me, but she didn't.  She threw in the 30-35 age group,  I thanked her but let her know I was in the 45-49.   The results?  I placed first with a throw of 74' 8".  I was really disappointed in that distance as I know a few times in practice I had thrown real close to 100' and hit 90' pretty consistently.  The weather was great, sunny, warm-but not overly, and a perfect breeze.  I forgot the sunscreen and there was no shade for anyone there.  So. . .  4 1/2 hours in the sun and I am pretty pink.  I am actually giving off a fair amount of heat from my arms, face, and lower legs.

Here is me on the podium with my medal.  :)

This win qualifies me to go to the State Games in 2013 in Pennsylvania.  I won't go with a throw of only 74'8", but if I can get real close to 100' next year I would consider it.

The picture below is wierd.  I don't know why, but my kneecaps did not burn.  No sunscreen at all and they just have no color.  I know I scraped and cut my knees a few time growing up, but the exact same mark on both knees?

It was a good experience for me.  I will try to fit the competition into my schedule for next year.  I learned a lot about preparing and competing all over again.  It was hard to know how many warm-up throws to take, next year I will take a few more.  I won't get there quite so early and will definitely have sunscreen.  I will also compete in the shot put - might as well as long as I'm there.

Have a great week!  Good luck to all those trying something old again as something new - may you be successful in your endeavor!

Oh, yeah, we are now in high gear for preparing for the driving vacation out west - should be awesome.  Especially in the new Saturn Outlook we got on Friday.  It's not brand new, an '08, but it rides great and will make the trip that much more enjoyable.

Love ya,
Bren

Better Today

Hello, and glad you came back to read my blog.  :)   I was soooo tired earlier this week, but feel much better now.  We are getting excited for the vacation - even if it will be lots and lots, oh did I tell you LOTS of driving?!  My 'little' Alexa will be a senior this school year and some senior pics will be taken on the trip.  In fact, we are going to try to get some pictures at the same park that Bry had her bridal pictures taken at.  Should be way cool!  AND Bry lives just a few blocks from that very park.  Whoo Hoo!  for not a long drive!   We will take some pics at the Grand Canyon, maybe Sedona, and some at the same place Gwen & Greg took their 'engagement' photos in Texas.  They were already married, but that's what that type of photo is called, so engagement it is.  She might be the only senior to have pictures taken in 4 states!

Alexa used her birthday money and worked very hard for the rest to buy a Nook.  She is way excited to have it for the trip.  It is way better than an iPad.  Apple just makes me angry - their accounts, their charges, their service and try talking to a real person.  Good Luck with all that.  Anyway, she is busy figuring it out and getting it ready for the road trip.

It will be interesting to see if Meg and Scott actually survive the trip.  I may leave one, or both, of them by the wayside if they can't find a way to get along better than they do.  We are getting a newer vehicle tomorrow.  A Saturn Outlook, same chasis as the Chevy Traverse and a couple others.  I wanted to keep lots of room for kids, yet. Just to give them space apart and also room to haul stuff - as I still do a lot of that yet.

Good luck to all who are planning a vacation!
Love ya,
Bren

Summer, where have you gone?

I know the calendar says June, but the weather feels like late September or early October!  Up Nort (this is not a spelling error, but Yupper Slang) in Wisconsin is usually colder than almost anywhere else in the states, but this is truly ridiculus.   Maybe it will warm up by July.

We are preparing for our trip west.  So excited to go! 

I threw the discus for a while on Saturday and that went fine.  I really don't want to embarass myself at the competition, though.  What if I scratch?  What if I can't keep it in bounds?  Can't worry about 'what if's'.  I will go and do my best and if those things happen, then they happen.  It's just been so long - 28 years since I last competed.

This is a long week, my neck hasn't been very good.  A big headache, sore neck and stiff with some limitations on range of motion.  Even with all the driving, the vacation sounds wonderful right now.  Can we leave today?

Not much else to say without whining, so I will just leave it at this.

Have a great week!
Love Ya,
Bren

Time Flies

Hello and welcome to summer in full swing!!!!  Busy isn't the right word to fully describe our lives at this moment.  I am practicing discus throwing each Saturday and then me & some scouts head off the to Humane Society to walk dogs for community service.  The boys need this for advancement and the Citizenship in the Community merit badge.  It is an Eagle required badge, so important to make the time to get it done.

Work had been very, very busy.  However, I took two afternoons this week to attend a digital photography/photoshop class.  It was supposed to be 3 afternoons, but I was smart enough to not waste any more time being frustrated with that program and losing work hours in the process.  I guess I am the teachers first drop-out.  Oh well, I don't have time to waste sitting there staring at a screen wanting to accomplish a task and nothing working, being frustrated beyond belief.  I did learn more about my camera and maybe just enough on their program to be a little more fluent in the Photoshop Elements software that I have at home.  I just don't get the layers thing.  This is a 'cadilac' program and I just need a 'chevy'.  Knowing my limits is a wonderful insight, listening to them has not been a strength for me in the past.  See . . . I can learn!

Scouts has been going much better, at least I feel ontop of things and not feel like I am being swept away by them.  The gift-card program is working out very nice.  The last thing I need to do is type up the instructions so some one else could follow them if anything were to ever happen to me.  They are hand-written and just need to be typed.  This is something that I've done on different jobs that I've had and it's been good to do from time to time.  The easiest way to write them is assume that the reader has no frame of reference to what you are talking about.  This helps me to write them very simply and forces me to be very detailed.  Usually turns out well.

I also have helped get the scouts' advancement information in our Troopmaster software program.  This helps with tracking their progress and partial merit badges as well as tons of other information that's handy to have in one spot.  This program will help us upload data to the BSA National database.  Pretty cool.

The big news of the day is that Bry & Mark found out the gender of the baby today  . . .  And . . . . it's a boy!  His name will be Korbin.  She hasn't felt him move yet, but should soon.  They did see him swim around lots on the ultrasound.  He is very active.  The appt with the cardiologist also went well today.  Nothing a concern at this time.  I asked her about the pacemaker.  They don't need to implant one at this time, unless something comes up.  She's doing great and feeling good with very little morning sickness at all.  I really hated that feeling, so I'm glad she doesn't have it.  Don't think all the girls will be so lucky with that, but we'll see.  I can't wait to go visit and take her maternity clothes shopping - just for a few things.

The next two weeks are busy, too.  We are preparing to take our trip west to see Bry & Mark, my sis Pam, and then end up at Gwen & Greg's.  So it will be to Utah, Arizona and Texas!  Whoo Hoo!  Let's hit the road.  Sounds nice, but it will be a lot of miles.  Alexa and I will take turns driving.  We plan to stay one night at a hotel in Nebraska on the way out then one night at a hotel in Missouri on the way home.  One big loop and I am sure I won't want to get into a car for any great length of time when we get home.  Still excited for the trip.  Not sure which vehicle we'll take.  Right now we have a Chevy Venture mini-van, which has lots of room, but we are looking at newer vehicles, so who knows?  I just need to have lots of room for stuff.  I will have stuff to take out and stuff to bring back.

Have a great summer! Hope you find a way to take some type of break from the day to day routine!!!
Love Ya,
Bren

Here we go!!!!

Summer has finally arrived - or almost.  The weather does feel like summer and as usual we went from heating the house directly to needing the air conditioning on.  Feels good though, I really like putting away the warmer coats and putting on capris and flip-flops.

The school year wraps up this week for my kids and we are well planned for the summer.  June looked somewhat empty, but I am filling it up nicely.  Had a crazy thought at Meg's track banquet tonight - why don't I practice each saturday in June and invite any of the HS girls to practice with me?  So, I have created my little postcards and will mail them out to the girls tomorrow.  It's only 4 saturdays, but it will make a difference for me and hopefully them.  I am really excited about it!!!!

Gwen's husband arrives home late tonight from his deployment.  She is so excited and today has been a very long day for her.  Gwen had wanted to take some brats home with her to Texas, but forgot them at Grandma's.  I knew she wanted them as a welcome home treat for Greg, so I had some shipped.  For future reference - that was expensive.  However, for a young man serving our country - well worth it for him.

Tim is staying at college this summer and working.  Things seem to be going OK for him, I think he has 5 semesters left and he will graduate with an engineering degree.  I am so proud of him for making huge changes in his life and getting back to school.  It hasn't been easy, but nothing worth it ever is.  This makes the reward that much more meaningful.  He has a very nice girlfriend, Lindsay.  She helps him be a better man.  Moms only have so much influence, you know.  :)

We will be taking Alexa's senior pictures this summer and here we go again!  This should be really a fun time for her.  Hard to believe that, pretty sure, it was just yesterday I was holding this tiny little Alexa in my arms.  This is true with all the kids, but she is the oldest of my younger 3.  Her graduating and heading off to school in a year will really be felt.  I was just thinking about it today and when the older 3 graduated and left, I still had 3 at home and very busy with them.  Now, as the younger 3 get ready to fly the coop, I will notice it a lot more.  I guess I will get to travel more to see the grandkids as they arrive.  Gee . . .  that sounds awful!  NOT!!!!  It sounds wonderful!  So much to look forward to!

Have a great start to summer!
Love ya,
Bren

Moving Forward . . .

This was a new recipe I tried today.  Chicken Pastel (I know the recipe below says turkey, but I used what I had).  Turned out pretty good.  I will add it to my cookbook.  I used to have lots of cookbooks, but they take up lots of room.  So, I copied the one, two or maybe 3 recipes that I used out of each, got some clear plastic pages, put them in a 3-ring binder and made my own cookbook.  Now there are only recipes that I use in it.  A recipe does not get added until I try it out.  I took all the recipe books to good will and hopefully someone else will get good use of them.

The funny thing with the new recipes I am trying is the story of how I got them.  I went to the dump Saturday and we also have recycling there.  I was putting stuff in all the big dumpsters to sort the papers, tin, plastic, etc... when the two old guys who help out every Saturday pulled an old metal recipe box out of the Mixed Paper dumpster.  They looked through it and figured that if either of them took it home their wives would be finding all sorts of recipes - which they figured they didn't need.  They asked me if I would like to take it home.  I said, 'OK' as I am game for new recipes.  There weren't any old family recipes in the box, just several sets of recipe cards from some recipe card program where they send you a new bunch every 6-8 weeks.  This Turkey Pastel is the first recipe I tried.  It turned out well and we liked it, so I will add it to my binder.  It was also very inexpensive and quite easy to make.  I did not tell anyone that it has cottage cheese in the crust, but you would never know that it did.

Bry is doing much better and enjoying being pregnant (except for the heart stuff).  I will try harder not to let my thoughts run away on me and be a better cheerleader for her.  She found a great deal on a crib today and got the 'nursery' cleared out yesterday so it isn't a storage room anymore. 

Gwen is getting settled once again in Texas as she waits for Greg to return from his deployment, which should be in a week or two.  On Saturday she went to a going away cookout for a few people in Greg's unit that are deploying this week.  It was very windy and they had used coolers and 20# weights to help anchor a tent in the backyard.  A big gust of wind came, picked up the tent which sent those items flying.   A 20# weight hit Gwen on the left side of her face and shoulder.  Didn't knock her out and she didn't even go to see a doctor until Monday.  I absolutely insisted.  Nothing is broken.  She has some deep bruises and a mild concussion.  Ice and ibuprofen will help lessen the discoloration and any swelling.  She was concerned that the Dr wouldn't believe her story and think she was beaten.  This one brought me to tears and I was so ready to get on a plane.  The thought of her being alone right now and injured was a lot for me to deal with. 

She is OK and I did not get on a plane.  All I can do is put my children's lives in Heavenly Father's hands.  Which, really, is all I have ever been able to do.  Just not used to doing it from a distance.  I am working to be a positive voice in their lives and give lots of encouragement.

Today, I can do that! 

Have a great week!

Love ya, Bren

things move - ahead or behind - they still move!

  Long time, I know.  I have decided to go for it with the Badger State Games.  I am not getting any younger and it feels good to work out a bit.  I don't have to kill myself with a 3 hour workout. Just trying to tone up some muscles and get in the groove with the discus throwing technique.  I have thrown 3 days this week and can throw it 80+ feet regularly enough.  I just registered and am all set.  The challenge now will be to get in the conditioning and practice that I need.  It feels good to let a good throw rip.  :)  It's awesome that I remember what it feels like, especially after almost 30 years!

I really like continuing to learn.  Not necessarily book stuff.  Learning new lessons in life is a wonderful insight.  I learned a lot about Gwen while she was home for 3 months.  I gained some insight to her view on life.  I appreciate her feelings more and can accept things the way they are.  As a Mom, we want our children to grow up in the ways we taught them - it doesn't always work out that way.  I am now OK with that, their decisions aren't necessarily a personal attack on us parents.  There are many contributing factors to why we make the decisions we do, some are influenced by other people who were well beyond a parent's control.  I just hope I have given my children enough support and love to know that now matter what decisions they make they are still loved.  I know this is kinda cryptic, but some old, way past situations just shouldn't be brought into the now or future.  Just grateful to have more understanding than I did before.

Bry is happy to be expecting!  Her due date is Nov. 21st.  Her heart condition is causing some concerns, but she is getting through everything one day at a time.  3 weeks ago her heart began to 'flutter' (beat really fast and in a different rhythm).  Her cardiologist admitted her for a few days while they did some monitoring and tried a few different things.  First they thinned her blood to be sure it wasn't clotting in her heart.  Then they did an esophogeal echo (gets real close to the heart without surgery) to see if all the pathways were clear.  Yes, they were!  :)  Then some more medication to cap the heart rate, that didn't work as well as they wanted to so the last thing was to 'shock' her heart. (a re-boot, if you will) It worked.  The 'flutter' stopped.  This last week the rhythm changed to 'junction' because of the sedalol.  Looks like they may need to give her a pacemaker.  The sedalol relaxes the initial start of the heartbeat and kinda makes the heart forget the first part of the beat.  Wierd, huh?  The pacemaker gives the first part of the rhythm and all should be well.  The docs were hoping she would be closer to 30 before needing a pacemaker, but we are all grateful for technology, medical advances, and that there is something they can do for her.  Awesome team of doctors.  It is really hard to be in Wisconsin when she is over 1000 miles away.  I have just always been there for her, to be with her through this stuff.  Don't know if I have enough faith for this.  Not sure if it is a lack of faith or a huge pull on my heartstrings, but tears never seem to be very far away if I think too long on it.  I want to head west to hold a baby, not bury my daughter.  It isn't that serious at this point and I really do know she will be fine, just those thoughts creep in now and then. 

May we all find the good things to focus on, so we can get through the tough spots,
Have a great weekend!
Love ya,  Bren

Relax? Is this ever possible?

    Life has been going by so very, very fast.  Relax has always been a dirty 5 letter word for me.  I don't relax very well and when I try, I fall asleep.  There is always so much that needs to be done, sitting and doing nothing really wears on my brain.  
    I have been working on stream-lining the pre-paid gift card fundraiser for the church scout troop.  The last order took about 7-8 hours of time.  (this is from getting the display board ready, getting order forms ready, taking orders, tallying them, turning in the money, waiting for the check to send in, and putting all the information in computer documents when I get home)  Way too much time every two weeks.  I think I have it figured out better now.  Tomorrow we place another order and then I'll know if it is a better process.  I revamped a tally sheet, and made only one order sheet.  This should work.  One difficult item to account for is the retailers that offer bonus rebates.  These rebated can change each day, so keeping an order form current is a hard thing.  I decided to only have the regular rebate %s on the order form, but only keep the tally sheet current.  It was way too hard to keep printing order forms with accurate information.  That alone will save me 2 hours of the 7-8 total.
    Here are some updates on stuff I have previously mentioned: NAILS - decided to keep them.  I don't like being one of those women who breaks a nail and has to get it fixed, but a broken acrylic nail needs to be fixed.  I like the very soft pink color of polish and have gotten lots of compliments on them.  Guess it's time to really feel like a 'girl'.  Hard work, though.
CHEER VIDEO- no one ever posted any on YouTube.  I was so bummed.  The cheer and stunt team did a great job this year and were very fun to watch!  I will definitely get videos for next year, if I have to take them myself.
DISCUS-not sure yet.  It has rained so much that I haven't been able to get outside to throw.  I have also been so busy that I haven't found the time to exercise at all.  Running really hurts my body, I notice the bulging disc more after anything jarring.  I think I could pull off competing, though.  Just need some conditioning and practice throwing.
SUMMER ROAD TRIP- We're going!  End of June we (me & 3 youngest kids-who are all teenagers) are going to Utah to visit Bry & Mark, then one night at the Grand Canyon, on to Arizona to visit my sister, then on to Texas to visit Gwen & Greg.  It will be a lot of driving, but a great time to visit family.  I have the hotel at the Grand Canyon, one Best Western gift card for the night on the way out to Utah.  I will just need one more gift card for the night on the way home from Texas.  It won't be a very long visit at any one place, but then we don't interfere too much with their schedules and we can get to see them all!
     Today I don't have anything on the calendar.  Meg is at a conference track meet all day, Scott is camping with scouts and that's it.  I will go in to work for a little while - lots to do for the school district. I will get some cleaning done and maybe a little outside work if it isn't raining, wish me luck on that one!  It is pretty chilly out, so no capris or thin t-shirts today.  I will work on printing my menu planning sheets.  We ran out a few weeks ago and when I don't plan menus, then meals are awful.  They are hard to whip up in a moment and we don't eat a good meal.  We don't go hungry, but not a lot of variety or very complete.

Hope you have a great weekend!
Love Ya,
Bren