Making Progress towards some of my goals!!

Wow!  I’ve been doing a lot of running to and fro, hither and yon….and admittedly, around and around in circles chasing my elusive tail lately.  It’s been a busy start to the year!  I’ve been working a lot, taking call every other weekend or so and seeing patients…..and we just got back from a wonderful, magical, relaxing 5 day cruise to Mexico for our 25^th wedding anniversary!  <3  I’ve been hitting the gym and watching my diet and I’ve lost a total of 64 pounds so far!  I’ve been cooking up healthy recipes that I found on Pinterest and I’ve developed a somewhat embarrassing addiction to fried pickles!  We've made reservations for our November trip to Nappa Valley!  I've bought several items for my Japan scrap book to memorialize our trip last fall.  I have all sorts of plans for my garden this spring.  I have completed the first 3 chapters in my wound care online course.  We’ve finished tiling the craft room floor and we’re almost finished with the grout so that I can begin moving stuff into the room!  I’ve tackled several things on my New Year’s resolutions list already….and I’m well on my way to dreaming up new goals every single day! J

I bought 10 packets of seeds day before yesterday and I’m chomping at the bit for it to warm up enough for me to plant them!  I got all kinds of goodies! Basil, cilantro, oregano, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, carrots, marigolds, zinnias, peppers!!!  I can’t wait to see the little seeds sprout into seedlings, then turn into plants and then finally produce a harvest!!  I have been saving egg shells to start the seeds in too…..hope that will work!!  I’m ready for spring time and flowers!!  We’re in that strange February weather pattern here….60 degrees one day, 16 degrees the next.  I’d like to re-do my back porch and repaint my wicker furniture and make things look nice out back!  I plan on spending some quality time on the porch this spring when it warms up enough to enjoy being outside!  I bought some GORGEOUS white porcelain teacups at the Goodwill to plant some herbs in too...and some Rootone so that I can try my hand at propagating from cuttings!  I'm going to visit my Mom's this spring and swipe a few branches from my Grandpa's fig tree!  I'm also on the lookout for a Lemon and a Lime tree!  I am sooo ready for springtime!! I've got the itch to garden!!  Maybe it's because I'm getting older and can see the valuable lesson inherent in growing something.....maybe related to going through seasons of change in my own life.....maybe that's just too deep and I just want to play in the dirt.  Regardless, I'm ready to DIG! :)

Our cruise to Mexico was nothing short of wonderful!  Jaron went with us and it was SO good to get to spend a little extra time with him.  We drove half way on Sunday evening, spent the night at a hotel in Bessemer, Alabama and then drove the rest of the way the next morning.  We had a great time in the car….talking and laughing.  The cruise itself was great….Steve and I mostly spent our time relaxing and reading and just enjoying not having any demands on our time.  I worked out in the gym once or twice every day and took the stairs every time we left the cabin to go up on the decks.  I got to dress up in fancy clothes and go to the Captain’s reception for past guests and I actually felt kindda pretty this time (and not like a beached whale…like the last few times!)  I tried all kinds of new foods: alligator, escargot, sushi, smoked salmon, frog’s legs….and while most of it was “okay”….some of it I liked very much!  I found that I enjoyed the adventure of trying something new more than merely the taste of the food.  I didn’t really find that I wanted a lot of sweets and I ate mostly fruit when I did want dessert.  I suppose the best thing about the entire vacation was that it simply was a great time to recharge my run-down batteries and enjoy being with my guys! 

We came back to New Orleans early on Saturday morning and once we were off the ship, we walked all over the French Quarter….at least 4-5 miles!!  I really enjoyed the walking and getting to see everything!  All of the houses and shops were decorated for Mardi Gras and everything was purple, green and gold and VERY festive!  We did stop at the Café du Monde so that I could get a Café au-lait (Amazing Fact??? I didn’t even WANT a beignet!) and I enjoyed my coffee very much while we browsed around the French Market and came back up around Bourbon Street.  I took tons of pictures as we walked, appreciating the architectural details and drinking in the warm morning sunshine.  It was windy and chilly at first, but the walking warmed us up quickly and it was quite pleasant.  We left New Orleans headed for home about 10:30am. It was great to be able to exercise and stretch our legs before the 8 hour car ride home.  The ride home was nice too though….we enjoyed talking and laughing in the car and even stopped at Cracker Barrel for dinner. 

Once we were home, Steve was already looking to make reservations for our fall vacation.  He made reservations at a Bed and Breakfast in the Nappa Valley for the week of November 5^th!  I can’t wait! J This afternoon, it was cold and snowy outside...so we stayed in all day.  We watched Videos and read reviews of restaurants and vineyards on Trip Advisor and we made reservations for a ride on the Nappa Valley Wine Train!  A restored antique train with  Pullman dining cars and observation lounge cars and open-air cars!  I can not WAIT to take that 3 hour train ride!!  The train cars have HUGE picture windows that look out over the vineyards as you clickty-clack over the tracks...and we'll be served a gourmet 4 course meal along the way!!  I can't think of a better, more romantic way to see the countryside!  I've always wanted to take a trip on a train!  We also planned which wineries we wanted to tour.....and where we could picnic....and where we could rent bicycles!  Imagine that!! ME...looking forward to riding a bicycle!!!  I do love how my life is changing and becoming more active!!!!  I find that I have more enthusiasm and vigor and a general increase in interest in all of my activities now that I'm feeling more healthy! 

I did find out this week that my surgery that I had on my right foot last month didn't work.  It was merely 70-80% effective....and I still have a significant amount of inflammation in that foot...and the other foot as well.  I'm rescheduled for a repeat RFA on my right foot and an RFA on my left foot on 3-9-12.  I'm looking forward to getting that over and done.  It was quite unpleasant the first time....and exquisitely painful for a couple of days afterwards...and having 2 numb and bum feet at the same time.....well,  that could prove to be an adventure in itself!!  I'm not generally know for being graceful under the best of circumstances.  haha!  Oh well, I have to focus on the outcome!  I want to be able to walk and be active without acute pain.....so I have to pay the price....the pain of the procedure is only temporary...and hopefully the benefits will far out weigh the discomfort.  I did purchase a new pair of sneakers yesterday!  They aren't the most beautiful shoes I've ever bought....but they're supportive and they fit and they don't hurt my feet....and I can't wait until tomorrow morning to give them their first gym-workout!  :)

I have been very faithful to exercising!  I have even found (much to my amazement) that I actually enjoy it!  First time in my ENTIRE LIFE that I've enjoyed exercising!!  When I first got on the elliptical machine, I could do 30 seconds of exercise and I was huffing and puffing like a goldfish that jumped out of the aquarium.  I added 30 seconds the next day.....and added 30 seconds every single day until I got to 15 minutes....then I started adding a minute every time.....I'm now up to 30 minutes on the upright elliptical and I finish up with 15 minutes on the recumbent elliptical.  I'm going to bump it up to 35 +10 this coming week!!! My goal is to do the entire 45 minutes on the upright standing machine!!  if you would have told me 8 weeks ago that I'd be doing anything near that, I'd have laughed.  What is it the ad said, "You've come a long way, Baby!"   I know I still have a long way to go...but I'm thrilled with my progress so far!  :)

Let's see.....what else is going on in my little world?  Oh!  We love, love LOVE our new church!  We're going to World Outreach in Murfreesboro !  I really enjoy the pastor's teaching style and it seems like every service, the topic is just exactly what I need to hear.  The music and worship time is amazing and I feel like we've finally figure out where we belong.  Steve's getting involved in choir and singing too.  I'd like to join a small group women's study...but with Steve being out of town so much, it's hard to commit....because when he's not home, I have to come straight home after work to tend to Sophie...she stays locked up in her crate all day as it is....so it doesn't seem fair to delay coming home if someones not here to take care of her.  But I am LOVING the church! We have services on Saturday evening and Sunday mornings...and I love to go on Saturday nights and then be able to sleep in on Sunday mornings!!!  Steve and I are reading thru the Bible with the church and I love being able to share that with him.  I'm so glad we finally found a church home that we both enjoy. 

I've been trying out new recipes!!  Pinterest has been such an inspiration in that department! haha!  I have tried several recipes for shrimp and fish that I ordinarily wouldn't have tried...and I've LIKED THEM! hahaha!!!  I'm trying to stick to the healthier recipes and so far, we've been very happily surprised with the outcomes!  I think out of about 25 dishes that I've made from those recipes, there has only been one that I wouldn't want to make again.   I have a recipe for a Mardi Gras King Cake that I'm going to take to work on Wednesday for case conference and it looks so pretty!  I hope it turns out well too!!  I bought beads and even bought a baby to hide in the cake!  I love celebrating, no matter what the reason! haha! 

Well, that's about all I can think of for an update for now......I suppose I'm tired of typing! haha!  All in all, this year is off to a GREAT start!  I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has to offer.  :)