Today My Name is...Check Up

Let me start this off with a well deserved "WAY TO GO CANADA!" The ladies hockey team is bringing home GOLD!!!!

Now let's cross our fingers that the men's team will do the same!

It's been a rough week and a bit since my hospital visit. I received great news that day and positivity should have stayed with me but for whatever reason I fell  into a slump. I ate crap, more crap, had a drink or two...

 

There's that 11, 11:11, 1:11 always...

Every year after my hospital visit I know there are a few weeks where I am completely off. I'm down, stressed, bitchy...you name it. Stressing is what it is...worrying about what could be...so I put off following any positive path and delve into negatives and feel like crap, regret my choices and then hear good news from the doctor and return to positive paths. Why I do this I have no clue! I thought this year would be different, I was feeling absolutely better than I have (stomach wise) in ages so I assumed I would continue along the same path after.

I think it may have spawned from my scale...a liquid diet the day before the hospital and resulting in my scale showing 5lb gain was a hit I didn't expect. I assumed I would drop 5! Then even a few days after the scale still showed 5lb retention. I have always struggled with my weight...up and down...an emotional eater..I know that the 5lb on the scale was likely water retention but trying to convince my made up mind is another thing so I resort to okaying anything unhealthy because whatever I'm doing isn't working anyways...or so my mind tells me. I can't just walk hand in hand with patience.

So here I am feeling like crap for allowing this over and over and not using will power to press through it. I'm wondering at this point if I don't have a gluten allergy or intolerance or something. I was tested so time will tell. My call to the doctors office reported that results were received but no note was made to call me, which tells me that there's no rush or concern. I will follow up in another few weeks. Now what I have learned about myself is that when I eat a diet free of bread and pasta, cereals, pancakes ect...I tend to feel really very good, more energy, better overall. When I eat bread and the prior mentioned it's like a gate that opens and okays me to eat whatever! I get cravings then for more...and more and then I get bitchy! So I have to think food and diet really impact our lives and emotional well being.

So I am back to my whole juice in the morning, more vegetables during the day, counting points and watching what goes into my body! I can do this!! I am trying....and I am fighting to regain the will power and motivation that consumed me just days ago. Paths like this allow for one to Check Up so to speak on ourselves and rediscover why we are like we are and do as we do...It's a healthy moment when we Check Up on ourselves.

Got a steal of a deal on dog sweaters the other day which is awesome for our Kiedis who loves being warm. I think sweaters to him is another security much like having his crate.

On the positive side over the past few days I have gotten us organized in the financial department which has me feeling quite content especially as we consider our future and retirement one day. That's a real feel good and as far as sticking to my organization mode this fits right in!

Between my husband and I we also got the main floor half bath painted since my last post. I picked light colors, blue beachy hues to open the room up to appear larger. Painting is a huge challenge for me and I paid the day after, thus why updates have been put off. I try to live and still do things, but it's a challenge for sure.

In addition to updating the main floor bathroom my hubs also installed a shower door in the girls bathroom. We had been talking about the possibility of doing something like this since my teen girls have gotten make-up on the white shower curtain and it looks dingy no matter how often I wash and bleach it so I wanted to find something to solve the dirty looking shower curtain issue. These glass doors solve it perfect and add a really fabulous home upgrade! We lucked out and it felt like that lucky path remains for us as we got the doors for a steal of a price...$100 in savings!! Yay us! I like saving! That $100 went to new dark towels for the girls and paint! We're hoping now to get the girls bathroom painted before the end of the month as well. Painting has to be on weekends so that I have recovery time, but when ringette comes into the mix it's hard to find enough time lately. These two rooms are the only rooms we have not repainted since moving in 7ish years ago. Past due I'd say! This being a year of organization, catching up and home/life improvements it was time.

February has been nothing like January in terms of accomplishments and getting stuff done per say but it has been a learning curve and had it's share of highs, lows and a few much needed improvements. Little steps, little bits here and there always make a difference in the long run!!

I regret that I have not read more! I have not yet made it through one book this month. That said February has been insane with activity and our calender has been fuller than previous months so I have found little time to do extra things. We did manage to fit in dress shopping for my oldest daughters grade 9 grad and thankfully accomplished finding the perfect dress in a limited amount of time. It brought tears to my eyes! She looked stunning! I had to schedule dress shopping on the calender if you can believe it! It's months like this that some times I find our schedule a bit ridiculous. These are the life moments to enjoy and times spent together well worth cherishing. My girls are growing up so fast!!

We have been swamped with ringette daily and it's even gotten to my oldest. She never misses practices and games but the nightly ringette caught up and she was unable to finish school work so she had to pass up a practice. I shouldn't say she did, I made her. She had come home on Tuesday and got right to her homework, ate dinner then off to ringette across the city, returning home after 10pm to shower and hit the hay. Wednesday she worked diligently on the work at school, lunch and rushed home to continue in an attempt to finish before ringette again. I saw the stress on her face. She didn't have to say anything and I knew her audition for a High school program for today was weighing on her mind heavily so I made the call. She always feels as though she is letting her team down, but I assured her it was alright. So she got her assignment done and worked on and practiced her audition and feels confident yet nervous. I'm pleased with her feeling confident and nerves are a part of any tryout and audition and to be expected but she is prepared thanks to a good call in allowing for the time. I think mom may be more nervous. Fingers are crossed and counting down the hours now until audition time. Tomorrow there is ringette once again for 4 days, off for one and back at it. I love ringette as do the rest of us in the house but at times it does become a bit much.

The next few weeks will be much like the last. Come April however and spring we will welcome our trailer into our lives and some well deserved down time. I cannot wait! I am so looking forward to spring, snow melting, plants breaking through and returning after a long cold winter.

If no post follows for a bit be sure it is because I am struggling to keep my head above water and just get by...

Today My Name is...Check Up.

 

Today My Name Is...Onward

So yesterday was February 11th and also my day at the hospital. I had anxiety leading up to this day wondering what messages I was being sent from the universe and what they meant....why the 11th, why are these songs that had meaning back in the day all playing now....especially on the drive to the hospital. I am going to say though that much like my girlfriend had said, all of these messages mean I am on the right path. At least that is my assumption.

I was shocked after doing the fast and fluid diet leading up to the hospital visit that I had put on 5lbs! WHAT?!? Seriously? Perhaps it was the intake of Poweraide and sodium content? Water retention? It sucks! Here I thought I would step on the scale the morning of the hospital and actually be at my lowest weight to date. Not the case. Even still, the day after now I'm still heavier than before I started my fluid diet. Gah! Well here's hoping that it's water retention and the lbs drop off and go to....well you know where. It's deflating to see such an increase when I have worked so hard to get to where I am.

Anyways...hospital. Joy! Always love going...I'm being sarcastic. 7:45am is a blessing for an appointment time though when one has fasted and been on only fluids the whole day before. I was first to go in. Of course my veins did not cooperate. I wasn't surprised. They used to be a breeze years ago but now for whatever odd reason they are all a pain in the ass. So first attempt at IV in the right hand....fail. The nurse tried my left hand and voila, it worked first shot. She said in future I should tell nurses that the vein in my left hand is far superior and that they should try there first. I guess my veins in the right hand are very valvy and not overly prominent. Good to know. Left in the future first.

My test went well. I was well drugged, relaxed, asleep and remember nothing. Thankfully! I do remember recovery and laying with my eyes shut and hearing everything happening around me though. I couldn't open my eyes but I felt awake. Recovery wasn't long, and my husband came back to join me and speak with the doctor so that he could absorb what she had to say since he knew that I would be too out of it to recall the conversation.

Apparently I need to 'keep up doing whatever it is I have been doing', as everything looks better than it has in past. So I have been granted a 2yr break from the test. At least that is for right now. If results come back in 2-3 weeks and are good then it's 2yrs until I need to return. If not then time will change but for now this is very positive. I had hoped that everything would go well and that she would say I could return in 2yrs. I was so happy last time when she said 18 months! Now my goal is to continue to focus on my health, what I eat, how I live in hopes that the next time I return she will say 3years!

Now having said all that it does not come without some anxiety as well. My concern is that by leaving the testing for 2years it could put me at risk of the doctor finding cancer at the next check up and that it would be too far progressed to be able to do preventative. It just scares me to think of the what if's when I have my precious family. I need to stop fretting the what ifs and just live....

After releasing me she did ask that I head to the lab for an additional poke and get some blood work done. I didn't want to put it off and still being dopey figured it was a better time than ever to get er' done. She is curious to know if I have Celiac disease or if I have a possible gluten allergy. My youngest daughter has struggled with stomach issues and was tested for it. I however have never been tested so we shall see. She was wondering since I made the comment that I have been feeling better than ever since I started doing whole juice in the morning and eating far more fruits and vegetables.

I am continuing on the positive path and could not be happier with myself. No one else is paving this path but myself. It's exciting to see such wonderful progress on my own accord. Bravo me!

I have been a little slack in February so far in terms of getting things accomplished, reading and what not. Financially my hubby and I are on it and working towards a solid comfortable future. So I guess it has been fairly productive. I'm hoping to get into the basement this weekend and really do a once over on it. Out with the crap, organized is the stuff that stays. Sold Viggo's old Dome cage that was collecting dust and taking up space in the basement. Now to push a few other items and hopefully make a few bucks and clear some space.

So many positives have been taking place lately...my girls as always had amazing report cards, my oldest got an audition for the program she wants to get into for high school, everything is progressing well as we near her trip date, my youngest is once again taking big steps in her riding lessons and gaining confidence back...Life just seems to be good.

I guess 11 is my guide...I am on the right path.

Today My Name is....Onward.

Today My Name Is...Excited

So today I will share the news I've been eagerly waiting to share. This post is about our trailer! 2014 is warming up to be a wonderful year! According to Balzac Billy spring comes early too!

YAY! We are all so excited and it's been a long time coming and long over due. While we have a tent trailer we have longed to have a larger unit without all the fuss of set up and now...our family dreams come true.

Bring on Camping!! I guess one could even call it glamping....the glamorous way to camp. Some would argue that these units take away the roughing aspect of camping. Let me tell you...yes, it's true. I will lay my head on a pillow in a bed, within hard walls and a secure unit with a furnace. I will also use outhouses when we are out in campgrounds that have no power, water or any other hook ups or dump stations, I will go weekends camping without a shower, I will sit outside for the majority of our time camping even if it rains. That said...I will not feel like SHIT the next day from a horrible sleep. For both my husband and I, this is important and more so as we get older. I may be 33 but there are days my body feels much older.

These wonderful hard walls will allow our senior pup to comfortably relax inside and stay warm, as well as our neurotic poodle. We can if we wish, we can bring our parrot along as well.

Last year we went to the RV show and looked around. We got a great idea from looking then at units what we would really like in one when we decided to make a purchase. So this year we went with the intention of purchase and excitement of show prices. We had a list of specifics we wanted.

Hubby- Second door to bathroom from outside, pocket doors, good outdoor storage
Me- Storage! Island would be nice. Closet to hang coats right inside the door.
Our Girls- Double wide bunks

Oddly most units do not have closets near the door. Myself and my mother both said this was a let down. I am not sure why most companies don't. Homes have closets, trailers should too for coats and shoes. Thankfully this unit makes up for lack of closet.

It was simple to accommodate these wishes with so many models and options to choose from. Some units had doors on the opposite sides of the unit so we crossed those off, others had one or more options but not all or even close, some were too heavy or too long, others had the aluminum siding that my hubby loathes....

And then....we went into this unit...

 

 

And VOILA!!

This unit met everything on our check list. Shocking! It was perfect weight wise, had loads more storage than most and gave even more then we expected at a price the others could not beat considering everything. The only downside....it doesn't fit on our parking pad in the back. BUT that's because we went a bit bigger as the smaller units could not meet our list expectations.

So now we look forward to taking this beauty out. Here are interior pictures.

 

In the back by the bathroom are the bunks, double wide for the girls. There's ample storage as you can see by the wall of the bunks as well as beneath the table bench seats. The kitchen with it's island has more storage than we will likely even need as well as the pop out with the fridge, stove and microwave. Bedding can be stored beneath the couch and there's a pantry and lots of bathroom storage too. (<-- Great considering we have girls!) The master bed is opposite the bunks which we wanted and again the storage is fantastic. We said we could easily store golf bags and a goalie bag under the bed! Even the media wall unit will allow for ample room for games, cards and whatever else.

 

We hope to possibly get away in April for Easter camping to Medicine Hat and see family. Provided the weather is good of course. After that we plan to get away a couple weekends at least a month. I am sure we would go every weekend if possible and that may very well happen some months. Being that our unit sleeps 10 we have room for friends to join, or our girls can bring friends and if it is cold or wet for extended periods we can be comfortable inside. We have both said we would like to take a week for sure this summer to spend in it and we look forward to travelling and seeing more now that we have the ease to just park and play basically.

To say I am excited is an understatement. The only thing today that would make my day even better would be if it fit on the parking pad out back. That would be ideal for packing the trailer before going away and just getting it ready to go. Alas it does not, so we will be searching for somewhere close to home to park the unit to keep it convenient.

So the countdown starts to camping...to weekends at Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Slave Lake, Kananaskis and anywhere else we wish to go.

Until then I am focused on health, getting things done that I need to do in advance of camping and once camping season comes it's enjoy weekends away and that will allow for the healthy downtime and balance we so long for in the great outdoors.

Being the focused me I am right now I got on the horn to organize life, financial and create a flow to move forward. Oh happy me!

Positive attracts positive and I am Excited.

Today My Name is...Excited.

Today My Name Is...Nike

February!!!

Well today my name is Nike...lol because the saying Just Do It fits this day day and my outlook for the month ahead. Do it, stick with it, get it done...I have proven I can do it. I did the 30 day early morning yoga challenge, I have lost 10lbs in a month, worked through hormonal Eclectus issues and organized my house and life...I can do February with Gusto ;)

So I am going into this month feeling a little lighter as far as weight goes. Here's hoping another 10 lbs can go find the 10 I have just lost. That would be great! While I might be feeling lighter weight wise I feel as though I've gained extra in the form of financial, but I'm excited as this gain means time spent with family camping.

We put in an offer and are waiting to hear if it was accepted. We should hear by the end of the week and when we do I will share all the details and pictures. I couldn't be more excited! The RV show was great, our sales lady was fantastic and not pushy at all and the unit we found had almost every single detail we wanted in a trailer. Finding so much in one unit is pretty hard. We did last year BUT the unit was either huge, or way too heavy or lacked one of our big wants. So I am pleased and we now need to wait for spring to roll in so we can get our tent trailer ready to list. I will miss our tent trailer. What a great unit, roomy, light to pull and lots of storage. For us this made more sense.

So now comes the task of finding RV storage to park that is convenient. Having made a few calls I am a little worried as most storage areas in our end of the city are full or very close to. We will have to confirm very soon to guarantee a space.

This past weekend was insane, and I really feel it today. My head is throbbing, jaw is tense, arm aches. I did NO lifting or anything physical. The weather is terribly cold right now though and that always aggravates my arm and jaw causing all sorts of issues. I'm exhausted though, we walked around, ran the kids to birthdays, ringette, the Hitman game on Friday, a team DQ celebration for being undefeated and out for a visit with friends. It was just busy.

 

Saturday night I almost bailed on my date with my girlfriends and their hubby's to celebrate birthdays. I was just so tired but because we never get out I pushed myself to go. We had a lovely time, a couple drinks and great company at the casino. For the most part we visited and enjoyed a couple drinks, a few did some card games but it was low key and a nice time. We are all looking forward to spring and camping. Our friends just bought a trailer as well so there's lots of social time ahead for us.

Once we get the financial stuff in a row I will feel better! Planning for the future, retirement ect. is overwhelming. Having gotten on track though with the financial planner I feel good about our future.

This month I hope to:
-find a storage lot close by to allow for convenience.
-get some of the things we will need for the trailer
-organize the basement
-sell Viggo's big cage
-sell our extra goalie gear
-book our site for the long weekend of goalie school
-read 2 books
-get financial stuff done

Being that my mind is now racing about the trailer I sat last night at midnight and had to jot them down before I forgot. It's the little things like getting: a toaster, vacuum, wet jet, bedding & pillows, big dog bed from Costco, 3m hooks, dish cloths/dish towels, towels, 32" TV.... to name a few things.

Did I mention today I feel slightly anxious as I am one week away from my hospital visit? I cannot wait until it is said and done, over and out....and then comes the waiting game to find out results and see when I have to return again. Fingers crossed for a good outcome and 2 year mark. That would be awesome!

Today My Name Is...Nike...JUST DO IT!

Today My Name Is....Check

As 2014 turns.....

I saw this and had to share....for those with Teens it's such a perfect saying to have framed perhaps within the house.

January Check List:

Office - check
Laundry Room - check *and finally got an iron* Guess an ironing board is needed now :)
Master Bedroom - Check
Front Closet & Linen Closet - check
Pantry - check *including getting containers to organize*
Kitchen - check & it feels GREAT!
Basement - In the works
Basement Storage Area - In the works
Garage - In the Works. Hubby dislocated his shoulder.
De clutter Clothes - Check Including Girls, ready to be donated
Monthly Budget - Check *totally attainable*
Meal Planning - Check *I am so looking forward to trying new meals & old favorites!!*

Can we say PRODUCTIVE!!

The basement organization is in the works. I guess I could have completed it however I have been doing it in stages. Listing items no longer needed on Kijiji...stacking for a dump run or organization. Decluttering to a point. The garage is on hold for the time being since my love dislocated his shoulder at a ringette practice. I hope he gets some relief and answers to help recitfy it soon. To make up for lack of accomplishment in these areas I decided to add a Financial goal....I touched base with our financial planner to goal set and get some of our ducks in a row to plan for our future, our girls future ect.

I also got a lot of little side things accomplished such as grooming Kiedis, trimming the dogs nails, pictures and more hung in the office, child care receipts all sorted in envelopes, transplanting a plant, getting new cage & sleep cage for Viggo, dispenser for Master bathroom shower (Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash) & new shower mirror for the hubby to shave, curtains for the master bedroom,  DVD/Game/Music binders labeled, stocked up on meat and some canned goods and school snacks and more all on the side of my January Check list! I feel pretty great. I listed a few things on Kijiji that have been taking up space and collecting dust & turned that cash into a credit card payment to counter ortho withdrawal :) My oldest is booked for Goalie school this summer, got ducks in a row per say for the next few months....Speaking of the goalie school. The old arena collapsed Jan. 20th around 1am, it's suspected heavy snow on the roof may have been the cause. My husband was a goalie coach there for years. It was sad news, but like athletes, the school will persevere and continue in the multiplex.

We have so much sort of planned or maybe more mentioned that the girls want to do through spring, one of which is swim lessons so I booked an evaluation for them seeing as how both have taken lessons when they were younger but we did not continue with it so now I wouldn't have the slightest where to place them. Both are decent swimmers but it's important for us as they get older and venture off on their own more with more freedom that they have water safety and the skills to handle themselves if the need arises. My youngest will still be horseback riding and we hope to camp weekends so hopefully I can mesh everything fluidly to work for us and the schedules. Now that I know what level to book them into helps as well.

It's been an exciting month albeit busy. Esso Golden Ring tournament always consumes one full weekend. My oldest daughters team made it all the way to semi finals undefeated but lost to Lethbridge. As there are two goalies on the team, my daughter sat the game against Lethbridge. It was too bad too as Lethbridge then played Rockyford a team which my daughter's team have beaten on multiple occasions. Rockyford won. That aside while at COP suiting up for a game the women's national hockey team was getting team pictures done for the Olympics in Sochi. As my oldest had Shannon Szabados as a goalie instructor in 2012 she hurried over to say hello, wish her all the best in Sochi and get a quick picture. It was a very exciting and apparently motivating moment. My daughter said in the short moment they shared and spoke she was motivated by how inspirational Shannon is.

As it's been so busy it does take a toll on all of us as well. I thought I'd share a picture I snapped that show just how exhausted we can become after a full schedule and being on the go. I asked my youngest to please put away a game. Being way too quiet I went up to have a look and this is what I found. My youngest has always fallen asleep in vehicles, in laundry baskets, on the floor...you name it so this wasn't overly surprising.

Books Read: A Bend in the Road - Nicholas Sparks
                      Learning to Breathe - Priscilla Warner

Viggo's Hormones - In check and curbed! Clicker Training started. Blog...updated. 360 in terms of hormones for adjustment YAY! Chop for the month made. Full spectrum lighting ordered. Harness arrived so I can attempt to harness slowly in consideration of spring....hoping that come spring I still have all digits haha. I have been on top of things.

Dogs...are staying off the couches YAY! Off the couch but Kiedis has been testing as seen in the picture. I guess he is following orders though. LOL

 

I've been watching what I eat, counting points, drinking my whole juice in the mornings and taking vitamins and it's resulted in feeling better, more energy & 10.5 pounds lost!!! 10.5 pounds in 30 days. The weekend of the Golden Ring I had Peter's Drive through with my parents and youngest for my mother's birthday, and then ate out a few other times since we were on the go all weekend and I didn't pack meals. I did make healthy choices for the most part and passed on things I would normally get like onion rings! Treating oneself is very important and allows a person to focus and stay on track better I think while not feeling completely deprived. I find for myself if I do not treat then I binge BAD when I get in a rough patch. Watching what I eat for the most part is what matters.

To make up for the fact my mother's birthday fell on the Golden Ring I had my parents over the following weekend and we made a Mississippi Roast with ceaser salad and asparagus. We went with all favorites and my oldest and I made my mom a cake that I haven't made in years! It's a Martha Stewart Inside Out German Chocolate cake. She loves the cake and it's ever so pretty and decadent. The last time I made it was years ago and my husband watched me pour a cup of salt instead of sugar into the recipe and said NADDA! It was assalting to say the least. haha. So I made up for that and in doing so taught my daughter how to make this incredibly good cake so that she can make it in future for my birthday.

I made a huge mistake while out running errands prior to having my parents over for that lovely meal. I had stopped in at Great Clips to get a trim. A trim...that generally means an inch right? UGH!!! What a horrible mess! Uneven, lopsided horrible cut! Thankfully I did this on a Thursday and my girlfriend was able to pop over on Friday and fix the mess. What a lifesaver! I will never make that mistake again...So now my hair is shorter, layered but I love it!! A new look never hurt anyone. Things have a way of turning out great....in the right frame of mind and I've been focused on not sweating the small stuff or not renting space for things as my grandmother would say.

Jan 31st we took in a Hitman VS Brandon game as my cousins son plays for Brandon. We enjoy getting out when we can to see him play and visit with family. He didn't play that night, healthy scratch so we got to visit with him instead. My girls love supporting him and seeing their other cousins too. Any trip to the Saddledome is always fun but it's extra special when spent with family and it was extra special as I got to see two of my aunts and uncles as well!

To complete this great month and my lucky streak I won tickets to the RV show for Jan 30th my birthday! Can you believe it? There's that lucky path I've been headed down. It's from the 30th-Feb 2nd. We spent the 30th searching for units that had what we were looking for in a perfect for us unit. Bunk beds, storage (lots and under bench seating), door from outside to bathroom for easy access & pocket doors to the master bedroom vs curtains. Space was important not that we spend a lot of time inside when we camp but for rainy days when lounging and playing games. Additionally we had to consider floor space for the dogs and a dog bed.

We ended up getting....haha not so fast! I will share details in another post as I also want to share all the places I wish to now go!

So January to say the least has been a very productive month, one of motivation, focus and health in mind. There's been a lot of highlights, fun moments, new memories and little life surprises. My daughter's ringette team finished their regular season undefeated! The last game was against Lethbridge and they beat them 7-2. A lot was accomplished and for the most part it was all geared towards organization that will assist me in the months ahead with allowing that perfect balance. I've made a great dent in what I've wanted and it's helped me to see how much can be accomplished in a short amount of time with my mind set in the right place. I am looking forward to February a month that I'm sure will be equally as busy if not more so. No desire to out do January but I will definitely be aspiring to get a lot accomplished once again to find that wonderful balance.

As 2014 turns...my life is in Check!

Today My Name Is....Check!