Lump sat alone in a boggy marsh...

Surgery for lump removal has been a success! Got to the hospital at 6am for what I thought was a 8am surgery, got pushed back to 9:15 and was wheeled back at promptly 9:15. Was out and eating lunch at SATCO (YUMMMMMY!!!) by 12pm. All went smoothly and I felt surprisingly well after surgery. When I had my tonsils out way back when I was crazy groggy and out of it all day long, so I suspect about the same for yesterday's surgery. But I was up and ready to go as soon as I had 5 min to get my eyes open. I am thinking it was left over adrenaline from Saturday's 1/2?
The last I had pain meds was about 10pm last night though the pain is getting increasingly worse as I am up so I am headed to the couch and for the bottle as soon as I am done here.
The will send the "lump" aka benign tumor off to pathology but I am told the likely hood of it being anything other than that is slim. I am just glad to be rid of the blasted thing and be done worrying about it! I have dis solvable stiches from my tragus to behind my ear lobe just a bit. Basically feels like someone punched me in the jaw with some slight pinching and sharpish pains from time to time but not too bad. All of this is good, very good as it means I am still good to go for Boy1's field trip on Thursday and Boy3's birthday party on Sunday! Rock on!

Speaking of Boys....they were AWESOME on Saturday. They (My mom and the guys) all stood waiting for me around the 1/2 way point---which was super motivating knowing they would be there. I ran up gave them all kisses and ran on. And then as I rounded the corner for the last 1/8th of a mile there they all were again. And when they finally got to "see" me at the end Boy1 ran up to me and lept into my arms he was so excited for me...telling me I had won! They were all so darn cute about it! Which is wonderful as they are part of my motivation...I want them to see me (and THE man) leading healthier lifestyles. Namely exercising. No offense to my family (ma and pa and so forth) but none of us are much for over-exerting ourselves. Typically if it's hard we quit...I am trying to change that at least a little :) I am hoping to lead by example.

Anyway I am off to the couch!

Results are in...

So finally no more whining and pissing and moaning about the 1/2 Marathon! It's done, it's over...I (and my ankle) survived! YAY!

I am stoked about it all. The entire event was just fabulous. The "fans" just the overall feel of it was enough for me, I am hooked! LOL.

As previously stated I was COMPLETELY unprepared for it. At least not in a "real runner" prepared kind of way. I started my "training" mid January (complete from scratch...as in never exercised before)....got sick sat out for 2 weeks....started back up in February. Hurt my ankle and was out for nearly 1 month. I did try to keep doing my cardio and what not and just overall strength training but did no running at all during that time. Went to the podiatrist who told me to stay off the treadmill and to quit my marathon "career". I said pooey on him and got my foot better did a few small distances on the treadmill. Hit the streets one time...and realized I had no time left this was as good as it was going to get LOL.

We left Murfreesboro at 4:30 in the morning to head to Nashville. Got stuck in traffic for nearly an hour, stressing we weren't going to make it. Got there...ran around like crazy trying to get to a bathroom in time...crazy lines EVERYWHERE. Finally got to go potty (in a secret place LOL)....and got in our corals nervously ready to go. Then finally around 7:45 we were off. I ran the 1st mile and slowed to a quick walk for a bit, then ran for a bit, walked a bit...continued that the whole time and managed to finish in 2:51:12...puts me at a 13:04 pace/mile. I am SUPER happy with that all things considered! I was expecting somewhere between 3:00-3:30, was going to be happy with 3 so I am beyond happy with my finishing time.
I feel great really. After we finished it felt like someone had take a hammer to my toes and I am probably going to loose a toe nail but it doesn't hurt too bad. My legs are a bit achy but not bad at all. I am excited for next year and a year to train for it to kick butt! LOL.

Jitters...

So I am really trying not to be a whiney freak out baby about this whole 1/2 marathon thing...but well um I can't help it. I am totally...not prepared...at least not like I would like myself to be. I am virtualy positive I can finish the blasted thing...I am just not positive I can finish it in a timely fashion. I went out to run today...outside. Because of the no sitter thing most of my running has unfortunately been on the treadmill at the gym. Then the ankle thing came about and then the [nutty] foot doctor said I am "allergic" to the treadmill and to be for sure off of it so I tried to stir clear of it...then decided short distances would be ok because I HAD to do at least some running. So the hitting the blacktop thing hasn't happened like it should AT ALL. So I went today just so I could test the waters one last time. Needless to say I was not pleased, not pleased at all. But oh well....at least my butt is exercising like I should! Or at least 1/2 way like I should or something.

And um totally random but these are the cutest shoes ever....I would wear them....in fact I think our whole family should have a pair...though the cuteness would wear off if we did that...

And it's Earth Day did you turn your lights off for 60seconds at 9pm??? I have been hearing about this all week...but maybe it's only on the kid channels? LOL. Happy Earth Day!

Spring has sprung!

I think it's safe to say Spring is finally and officially here in Mid-Ten. Yes the calender says it began exactly a month ago however this is Tennessee and weather is nuts here. But we are headed toward 80 degree weather this weekend and 70's all week. I am BEYOND stoked about this...I can for real start putting away winter clothes in the kids dressers and get it ready for summer baby.
The boys are very excited for the pool to come back up (yes the redneck pool is in storage in the garage) and are excited for their summer camps at the Discovery Center, as well as a HOPEFUL trip to the beach at some point. Boy1 is pumped to be a 2nd grader and Boy2 is super excited to start Kindy....I am thrilled and nervous for both of them.
Geesh I am seriously stuck for words lately.........
How about I hit the highlights----
* 1/2 marathon is THIS Saturday...I am beyond NOT prepared and beyond nervous...
* I was fitted for orthotic inserts for my shoes a few weeks ago, picked them up today...yeah they suck and hurt my feet boo on that, thanks but no thanks!
* I am scheduled to have surgery next Monday to remove the benign tumor on my jaw...not really worried about it, most likely out-patient, 1 week down-ish and then I am good to go.
* Am slightly sickened at how much they have to cut around my ear and to know that my parotid gland (saliva gland) could potentially "leak saliva" into the skin...can we say YUCK!...glad to be warned but wish I didn't know that COULD happen...ewwww
* May reschedule surgery because of so much going on but can't think of other times when there isn't "so much going on" until vacation time...no thank you.
* REALLY need to get off my duff and do something about this ginormous pile of papers on my desk, thank you first grade LOL.
* Am slightly shocked that I haven't managed to loose 1 single flipping pound and I have been working out 4-5 times a week since Mid-January. Muscle weighs more, Muscle weighs more, muscle weighs more.....
* I am super proud of myself for sticking with it :-D
* Have tried to get my family and others on the exercise train but it's not happening...and I won't rant about it but seriously people...
* Gavin and I went on a bike ride the other day and it was a) a decent little work out and b) a gorgeous day to do it. He was in his seat on the back of my bike.
* My friend Angie's baby went home last Friday and I am SUPER happy for her and Nick. And can't wait to meet baby Sam!!
* Maybe this is how I should write from now on...random thoughts in random order...it's about how I think...

Rolling out

some more photos for ya...Here's some from the past little bit...

Memphis Zoo..




A New fave of my boy3

Learning to skate..


at the Eggstravaganzoo!


This child has more faces...



There...relatively caught up!

You ready for this??

Some serious picture postage is about to take place. I will do it in phases for your viewing ease...cus I am sweet like that....or something.

Let's go with a few from March first...

Boy2 obvious face painting going on...giving me his tiger face...


Boy3 obvious hair goop going on...giving me his "who me?" face...after he decided hand soap would be good shampoo (I caught him like this with his head under the bathroom faucet...nice)


Boy1 obviously having a birthday...Happy 7th!


Ice Skating!!



Welcome to Ober Gatlinbuuurrrg


Boy1 testing for his Gold Belt...his is in the middle right in front of the column

Boy2 testing, he was the lone tester as we were out of town when they tested his group and they were awesome enough to do him seperate.

Blog Slackers r' us

Surprised to see me? Hmm so sorry about the lack of activity lately. Just busy with the going ons of life I suppose. And honestly I haven't been feeding the ole addiction quite as much...it's been slightly replaced with a new one recently...nope not gaming. READING. I am sure some are familiar with "The Stephanie Plum Series" by Janet Evanovich. Yep I am all over them lately. Like reading a book a day there for a bit. I am onto book 14 and just haven't had a chance to hit up the store and grab it hence my appearance this evening. But I am completely hooked...in fact I, lately have been invisioning myself as a clumsy but oh so cool bounty hunter...it's me I am sure of it.
I am currently trying to catch up with the recent family photos...and wow, I am WAY behind. I don't know where to even begin for sharing on here! Just trying to get them converted is overwhelming much less blogging them as well. I am officially done with Boy1 and Boy2 on the 365's. Boy3 is soon done as well. And honestly I am relieved. The weekly reminder of how much I tend to be a slacker for the past year has worn me down LOL. I am anxious to get their little books done though I am sure they will rock :) .
Lots has gone down here in the past few weeks. We made a trip to Gatlinburg with the fam...my dad included. We actually had a surprisingly nice time. We stayed in a much too large "cabin" and ventured around quite a bit. The boys went ice skating for the first time and that was ridiculously awesomely exciting. I was so proud of all THREE of them for giving it a whirl.
We just got back for a short 2 night trip with Robert to Memphis. And of course Easter.
Big news for us in the 'boro has been the recent Tornado(s) that have hit our town. The amount of damage is completely devasting to so many. It was declared an F4 tornado and 2 lives were lost and many were injured. News reports are stating over 700 homes damaged many of which completely destroyed or unliveable. We fortunatly were out of town and our house and neighborhood suffered no damage...and no one we know was injured or lost their home. It's horribly sad and very scary seeing all the damage, I haven't personally drove around to scope things out just out of respect but the news footage has shown quite a bit and it's amazing more lives were not lost. It's just horrible. Prayers and thoughts for those affected are definitely needed.