Does anybody ever feel like they have days where they are just surrounded by negative things? Well, I do. It just seemed like today at work, everywhere I turned people were telling me all kinds of negative stuff, just complaining about other people and carrying on about things that annoy them. I find myself getting caught up in it at times and going along with the conversations. Then later I feel bad for being a complainer. I hate complaining by the way. :) I just feel that there are way too many things to be thankful for, than to spend time focusing on negative things or simply just being a whiner/complainer. Today was one of those days. Everybody I talked to had something to complain about. At the end of the day I found myself in not the best mood, even though my day at work went really well, and we have plans to hang out with our awesome friends tonight! It was as if the negative rubbed off on me. haha! I was just thinking of all the things I'm thankful for!
I'm thankful first and foremost for my relationship with Jesus! It has completely changed my life. I grew up in church, but when I truly gave my heart to God and developed a relationship with Him it has changed my life! I'm thankful for the amazing wife I've been blessed with! Monica is so good to me! It's an unbelievable feeling to know that you're loved! I know my family loves me, but for someone who is not related to you to come along and love you for you.... it's awesome! I love her more than I ever thought I could love someone. I'm thankful for my family. My parents made so many sacrifices for my sister and I and my extended family as well. They have given us the best life! They are two of the most selfless people I know! They are extremely supportive and give of themselves to everyone they meet who has a need. I'm thankful for my health! My FEV1 last visit was 60%. It went down 2 percentage points after 2 weeks of IV's. Stumped me along with my CF team. I felt better so we rode it out. I've been doing my part staying on top of treatments and exercising and have been feeling really good lately! I'm thankful for that, my PFT's could be much worse.
I could keep going, but I don't want to bore anyone. My buddy Ronnie does a thing called Thankful Thursday where every week him and his wife say a thing or two they are thankful for. I really like it! We may just have to start that on our blog too! There's ALWAYS something to be thankful for! What are you thankful for?
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Just Do It
On the heels of my hubby's post on exercise, I figured I would add my two cents and make my first post on our blog! :)
I will start off with saying I am so very proud of my hubby! He motivates me every day! He motivates me to never take a day, or a single breath, for granted! It AMAZES me when we pray together and Jeremy will pray, "... and thank you Lord for our health, for keeping your hand on us, and keeping us from sickness." Maybe it's just me, but to hear my hubby (who has a chronic disease with which he battles daily) say, "Thank you Lord for our health", I can't help but think, "WOW, God you gave me a Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful man! Would I be able to pray that if I had Cystic Fibrosis?!" I know people who could complain every day over an ugly toe... random I know... that's the first silly thing someone could complain about that came to mind. :) You get what I'm trying to say though right?!
Anywho... on to the real reason for this post. Exercise. I labeled this post "Just Do It". I did that... this may sound so silly... because I am so motivated by Nike's slogan "Just Do It". Whoever coined that phrase is a genius!!! :) Just three simple words, but to me they say so much! When I see it posted somewhere what it really says to me is, "Quit making excuses.. and "Just Do It!!!!" I feel the absolute NEED to work out! Not only for myself and my health, but for Jeremy as well! Anytime I work out, he is motivated to work out... and vice versa. And he HAS to work out for his health. I want that boy around as long as possible... and I know all of you do too! :)
A couple of months ago Jeremy and I began jogging a 5 mile trail by our house. I don't think we had a clue what we were getting ourselves into the first time we did it, Jeremy commented, "Are you sure this is only 5 miles? It seems so long!" I told him, "My goal is to someday do this all the way through without stopping!" From the shape I was in I thought it'd take years before that could ever happen! I snicker to myself thinking about that first jog. It took us 1 hour and 13 minutes. Not too great...I know... probably because we walked more of it than we jogged! :) I proceeded to do it in an hour, then 50 minutes, and today I did it for the first time in 45 minutes! I've continued jogging it every week since then, 2-3 times a week. I've also recently started going to a Zumba class once a week. My whole point is, we had to start somewhere. We got off the couch, MADE THE TIME, and just did it! Still a work in progress, definitely, but we can do more than we could the first time we did it!
When I first started running the trail regularly I had to stop at least once a mile to walk and catch my breath, I then got to where I was able to go halfway (2.5 miles) without stopping, then 3/4 of the way, and today I made up my mind I was doing the whole thing without stopping once... I got halfway and thought, "Oh yeah I've got this! I can do this! I just have to do that again." ... fast forward to the 4 mile mark and I wasn't so sure, my legs felt like jelly and I thought, "Ok, not today, I'll just do it next time maybe?! I've got to stop or I'm gonna die!" (I know a bit exaggerated).....and right when I was about to give in and start walking the song (Fireflight "Stronger than you think") started playing on my ipod, and a man who had to be almost 60 buzzed passed me running like it was nobody's business. It was like God said, "Uh uh, today you're doing it! If he can do this, you can do this! You are stronger than you think!" And guess what?!..............I DID IT! I ran 5 miles nonstop in 45 minutes! I was so Excited when I got done! People at the park probably thought I was crazy walking around by myself grinning from ear to ear! Got some fitness goals that you don't know if you'll ever acheive? The first step is getting up and starting... you won't regret it! So lets quit making excuses... and "JUST DO IT!"
I will start off with saying I am so very proud of my hubby! He motivates me every day! He motivates me to never take a day, or a single breath, for granted! It AMAZES me when we pray together and Jeremy will pray, "... and thank you Lord for our health, for keeping your hand on us, and keeping us from sickness." Maybe it's just me, but to hear my hubby (who has a chronic disease with which he battles daily) say, "Thank you Lord for our health", I can't help but think, "WOW, God you gave me a Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful man! Would I be able to pray that if I had Cystic Fibrosis?!" I know people who could complain every day over an ugly toe... random I know... that's the first silly thing someone could complain about that came to mind. :) You get what I'm trying to say though right?!
Anywho... on to the real reason for this post. Exercise. I labeled this post "Just Do It". I did that... this may sound so silly... because I am so motivated by Nike's slogan "Just Do It". Whoever coined that phrase is a genius!!! :) Just three simple words, but to me they say so much! When I see it posted somewhere what it really says to me is, "Quit making excuses.. and "Just Do It!!!!" I feel the absolute NEED to work out! Not only for myself and my health, but for Jeremy as well! Anytime I work out, he is motivated to work out... and vice versa. And he HAS to work out for his health. I want that boy around as long as possible... and I know all of you do too! :)
A couple of months ago Jeremy and I began jogging a 5 mile trail by our house. I don't think we had a clue what we were getting ourselves into the first time we did it, Jeremy commented, "Are you sure this is only 5 miles? It seems so long!" I told him, "My goal is to someday do this all the way through without stopping!" From the shape I was in I thought it'd take years before that could ever happen! I snicker to myself thinking about that first jog. It took us 1 hour and 13 minutes. Not too great...I know... probably because we walked more of it than we jogged! :) I proceeded to do it in an hour, then 50 minutes, and today I did it for the first time in 45 minutes! I've continued jogging it every week since then, 2-3 times a week. I've also recently started going to a Zumba class once a week. My whole point is, we had to start somewhere. We got off the couch, MADE THE TIME, and just did it! Still a work in progress, definitely, but we can do more than we could the first time we did it!
When I first started running the trail regularly I had to stop at least once a mile to walk and catch my breath, I then got to where I was able to go halfway (2.5 miles) without stopping, then 3/4 of the way, and today I made up my mind I was doing the whole thing without stopping once... I got halfway and thought, "Oh yeah I've got this! I can do this! I just have to do that again." ... fast forward to the 4 mile mark and I wasn't so sure, my legs felt like jelly and I thought, "Ok, not today, I'll just do it next time maybe?! I've got to stop or I'm gonna die!" (I know a bit exaggerated).....and right when I was about to give in and start walking the song (Fireflight "Stronger than you think") started playing on my ipod, and a man who had to be almost 60 buzzed passed me running like it was nobody's business. It was like God said, "Uh uh, today you're doing it! If he can do this, you can do this! You are stronger than you think!" And guess what?!..............I DID IT! I ran 5 miles nonstop in 45 minutes! I was so Excited when I got done! People at the park probably thought I was crazy walking around by myself grinning from ear to ear! Got some fitness goals that you don't know if you'll ever acheive? The first step is getting up and starting... you won't regret it! So lets quit making excuses... and "JUST DO IT!"
Thursday, April 5, 2012
I Work Out!
Well, I started working out regularly again last week. About time I know! The past couple months have been a bummer for me health wise. Up until a week or two ago I've felt crummy since January. Been fighting fevers, congestion, incessant coughing, rattling in my chest (which I never have had before and induced more coughing), and the inability to clear secretions. I don't mean to whine or complain. Every time I tried working out, it would drain me for a couple days. Probably because I push myself too hard. Not that I'm super fit, I get down on myself for slacking and try to compensate by over-doing it when I work out.
Anywho, I'm super glad to be feeling good and getting back into workout routine! I started back up doing P90X! Get supersonic "X" style ripped! :) It's what works for me. After work, doing my treatments and eating dinner, it's usually around 6:30. By then I just don't feel like changing and driving to a super crowded gym (6-9pm is peak workout time at the gym by us) to work out for an hour and then come home. This way I can workout in my basement and Tony Horton (P90X guy) really pushes you, which I like!
I like to have a regiment, a routine, but it's easier to have someone tell me, do this, this, and then this. Know what I mean? I don't have to come up with a workout routine or think about what to do, just start the video and go! It's high intensity and really gets me breathing hard and coughing up gooky stuff! AND.... it builds muscle at the same time! I'm thin enough as is, so I want to get my aerobic exercise in without risking losing weight. This way I can workout 3 days a week (I don't do the full 6 day a week schedule) and supplement additional cardio by running. It's a win/win for me! Plus, Monica is a HUGE motivator! Since we're looking into IVF and hoping to start soon, she has been really pushing herself to be in the best shape she can before hopefully getting pregnant. Seeing her workout and push herself helps me to push and we feed off each other, another win/win! We're hoping to get a set of decent bikes soon so we can include biking into our barrage of exercisio. Anybody know of a good place to look? Or a good brand to buy? I'm clueless on what to look for.
I hope this helps push you to get out there and GET MOVING as my buddy Ronnie would say! Start wherever you can. Even if you just dedicate yourself to going for a 30 minute walk once a day. Everybody can find 30 minutes to just walk! If you have a treadmill, drag it out, get the dust off, put it in front of the tube and walk to your hearts content while watching your favorite show. Start somewhere, and STICK WITH IT! that's the key, make up your mind to keep doing it! That's the biggest battle of working out, to keep with it. That being said, I'm off to do Shoulders & Arms! Let me know what you did this week to GET MOVING!
Anywho, I'm super glad to be feeling good and getting back into workout routine! I started back up doing P90X! Get supersonic "X" style ripped! :) It's what works for me. After work, doing my treatments and eating dinner, it's usually around 6:30. By then I just don't feel like changing and driving to a super crowded gym (6-9pm is peak workout time at the gym by us) to work out for an hour and then come home. This way I can workout in my basement and Tony Horton (P90X guy) really pushes you, which I like!
I like to have a regiment, a routine, but it's easier to have someone tell me, do this, this, and then this. Know what I mean? I don't have to come up with a workout routine or think about what to do, just start the video and go! It's high intensity and really gets me breathing hard and coughing up gooky stuff! AND.... it builds muscle at the same time! I'm thin enough as is, so I want to get my aerobic exercise in without risking losing weight. This way I can workout 3 days a week (I don't do the full 6 day a week schedule) and supplement additional cardio by running. It's a win/win for me! Plus, Monica is a HUGE motivator! Since we're looking into IVF and hoping to start soon, she has been really pushing herself to be in the best shape she can before hopefully getting pregnant. Seeing her workout and push herself helps me to push and we feed off each other, another win/win! We're hoping to get a set of decent bikes soon so we can include biking into our barrage of exercisio. Anybody know of a good place to look? Or a good brand to buy? I'm clueless on what to look for.
I hope this helps push you to get out there and GET MOVING as my buddy Ronnie would say! Start wherever you can. Even if you just dedicate yourself to going for a 30 minute walk once a day. Everybody can find 30 minutes to just walk! If you have a treadmill, drag it out, get the dust off, put it in front of the tube and walk to your hearts content while watching your favorite show. Start somewhere, and STICK WITH IT! that's the key, make up your mind to keep doing it! That's the biggest battle of working out, to keep with it. That being said, I'm off to do Shoulders & Arms! Let me know what you did this week to GET MOVING!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Feeling Blessed
So I had the opportunity to go to a mini march for CF today! It was at my sisters daycare, The Nurturing Place in Springfield, MO. They were raising money for Cystic Fibrosis by taking donations and then all the little kids in the daycare (about 80 today) were going to march around the parking lot to raise money. I had been excited about this for a long time! Last night however, I was up all night long with a bunch of sinus drainage causing the back of my throat to itch/tickle and making me cough nonstop. I managed to get about 2 hours of combined sleepage time! lol! I was very close to calling and cancelling on the mini march because of feeling so crummy. (This past year and definitely past few months have been havoc for my health, constantly fighting colds and viruses, Missouri "weather changes" have been crazy this year) I knew the people at the daycare had been working very hard to make this happen and were expecting me, and come on, who can let down 80 little kids?! Not me!
So I made my trek down this morning, and of course it was raining. I say of course because I had this little feeling that a certain someone living under the crust of the earth :) didn't want me to go today because of the fit I had coughing last night. So I assumed there would be some other "road blocks" to having everything go perfectly. Other than the weather though, everything did go perfect! All the little kids were great! They were so excited to go on their march! Most little kids get shy when they meet someone new, but not these guys! They warmed up to me right away and were giving out high fives and hugs like crazy! The march went phenomenal! The staff at The Nurturing Place were awesome! They had the place all decorated in purple and all the little kids and staff were wearing purple! It was CF'd out at the daycare!!! They all made special mini march hats to wear and had streamers and stuff to wave while we marched!
Overall they raised $400 for the CF foundation and are going to continue raising through the end of the week! I have to admit, getting to spend the morning with these guys and seeing them march around with their streamers, hats, purple gear, and little CF mini march stickers on touched my heart! I know most of them were too young to really understand what CF is or does. To them it was walking around waving stuff and wearing the hats they made, but to me it was incredible! It meant so much to get to be there and see all the hard work that the people at The Nurturing Place put into this march! So THANK YOU to everyone who had anything to do with the mini march for CF today!
On the way home, I was feeling very greatful for the opportunity to participate in the march as well as very honored. The daycare chose to raise the money for CF because of me. From what I understand they have done fundraisers in the past for other organizations, but when they found out, through my sister who works there, that I have CF they chose to raise the money for CF this year! They invited me down for it and treated me like an honored guest! :) Every time I look at a child I see the miracle of God's creation in them. Today I got to see around 80 little miracles marching their hearts out for CF! It was a blessing and one of those "reality" moments when you realize just how great He is and how blessed you are!
UPDATE!! I talked to my sister yesterday and the final amount of money raised for the CF Foundation was $500.55!! That's pretty amazing for a little daycare in Springfield, MO! If pre-schoolers and a handful of kindergarten and first graders can do that what can we do? AND... They are already talking about other fundraisers they can do throughout the year or the CF Foundation! I'm amazed at their generosity!
So I made my trek down this morning, and of course it was raining. I say of course because I had this little feeling that a certain someone living under the crust of the earth :) didn't want me to go today because of the fit I had coughing last night. So I assumed there would be some other "road blocks" to having everything go perfectly. Other than the weather though, everything did go perfect! All the little kids were great! They were so excited to go on their march! Most little kids get shy when they meet someone new, but not these guys! They warmed up to me right away and were giving out high fives and hugs like crazy! The march went phenomenal! The staff at The Nurturing Place were awesome! They had the place all decorated in purple and all the little kids and staff were wearing purple! It was CF'd out at the daycare!!! They all made special mini march hats to wear and had streamers and stuff to wave while we marched!
Overall they raised $400 for the CF foundation and are going to continue raising through the end of the week! I have to admit, getting to spend the morning with these guys and seeing them march around with their streamers, hats, purple gear, and little CF mini march stickers on touched my heart! I know most of them were too young to really understand what CF is or does. To them it was walking around waving stuff and wearing the hats they made, but to me it was incredible! It meant so much to get to be there and see all the hard work that the people at The Nurturing Place put into this march! So THANK YOU to everyone who had anything to do with the mini march for CF today!
On the way home, I was feeling very greatful for the opportunity to participate in the march as well as very honored. The daycare chose to raise the money for CF because of me. From what I understand they have done fundraisers in the past for other organizations, but when they found out, through my sister who works there, that I have CF they chose to raise the money for CF this year! They invited me down for it and treated me like an honored guest! :) Every time I look at a child I see the miracle of God's creation in them. Today I got to see around 80 little miracles marching their hearts out for CF! It was a blessing and one of those "reality" moments when you realize just how great He is and how blessed you are!
UPDATE!! I talked to my sister yesterday and the final amount of money raised for the CF Foundation was $500.55!! That's pretty amazing for a little daycare in Springfield, MO! If pre-schoolers and a handful of kindergarten and first graders can do that what can we do? AND... They are already talking about other fundraisers they can do throughout the year or the CF Foundation! I'm amazed at their generosity!
Monday, March 12, 2012
CF Talk
What up ladies and gents! So I'm not sure if I mentioned it yet in a previous post (pretty sure not) but in October of 2011 I was asked to give a presentation to my department about what it is like to live with CF. I work at Barnes-Jewish as a respiratory therapist. So I gave it and it went over really really well! I gave it 3 times in 1 day actually so all the shifts could hear it. When the director of our department heard it, she said she wanted me to be submitted to give the talk on a state and national level and work on getting it published! Total shock to me!
Well I got approved on the state level!!! On April 27th I will be giving my presentation to RT's from all over the state, some from out of state, in the Lake of the Ozarks at the Lodge of the Four Seasons Resort!! The conference is called the MSRC (Missouri State Respiratory Care) Conference. I also found out that Monica can go with me! Whoo-hoo!! So she's gonna chill at the resort, shop, swim do whatever while I attend some other presentations and earn some CEU's and then we'll have our evenings together! I'm really excited about the opportunity and can't wait to see where this thing goes from here! I also signed myself up for a 5K down there! Monica and I have been running 5 miles once a week so I think I should be moderately prepared as a 5K is only 3.1 miles. My goal is to run the entire thing, no breaks! Right now I wouldn't make it, but hopefully by then I will! Who wants to sign up for one with me?!?! Any takers?!
Well I got approved on the state level!!! On April 27th I will be giving my presentation to RT's from all over the state, some from out of state, in the Lake of the Ozarks at the Lodge of the Four Seasons Resort!! The conference is called the MSRC (Missouri State Respiratory Care) Conference. I also found out that Monica can go with me! Whoo-hoo!! So she's gonna chill at the resort, shop, swim do whatever while I attend some other presentations and earn some CEU's and then we'll have our evenings together! I'm really excited about the opportunity and can't wait to see where this thing goes from here! I also signed myself up for a 5K down there! Monica and I have been running 5 miles once a week so I think I should be moderately prepared as a 5K is only 3.1 miles. My goal is to run the entire thing, no breaks! Right now I wouldn't make it, but hopefully by then I will! Who wants to sign up for one with me?!?! Any takers?!
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