progress

When I was a mere 18 months old my parents, concerned about my swollen, stiff knees took me to my pediatrician.  Several x-rays, specialists and hospital stays later I was among the youngest diagnosed cases of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Up until I was 13 I still had the braces that I wore that resembled those that Forrest Gump had and just this past week, I shredded 28 year old x-rays of my little body that my parents had been hoarding somewhere since I was one and a half.  I was treated with injections and pills, treated to monthly blood work trips (that I became an absolute pro at - my left arm and an excellent vein for pricking), and a panel of doctors that were, I guess, pretty fascinated by me.  Add in an unexpected and never before seen reaction to the treatment I was on...I was pretty much a regular in the med center.  I went through school being particularly careful and avoidant of most high impact physical activity.  Swimming was my thing, sorta.  Around 7th grade with my flare ups in remission for several years they closed my case and considered my arthritis dormant.   Into my 20's I danced my nights away and later dared to take part in high-impact step aerobics. Loved it.  Then I had my baby.  Postpartum I was hit with the most painful mornings, swelling, and misery that I've known oh so well.  I went back to my specialist and what do you know? A flare up.  I must admit the drugs not are far more intelligent and effective and in a total of less than 3 months I was back on my feet and able to maneuver comfortably again.
Now, its a year later and pain isn't my enemy, its time.  Keeping up with a fitness routine is among my top 5 priorities but time is working against me. I have to be realistic.  As much as I'd like to hit the gym every day, I know that I won't so I have to make very good use of my time, the 3 days a week that I make the time to do it.  The couch to 5K program is blowing up at this time and while I've NEVER dreamed of being a runner, I decided to give it a shot.  It was amazing. Running, in small increments to make it manageable...brilliant!  Its such a great, almost cleansing feeling after I've sweated it out for 30 minutes. (Only 30 minutes makes it even more appealing.)  To know that I have the tolerance to run, even for just a little while, and more importantly, to do what I've never been able to do before, is a great feeling.  And I like it!  I may be getting a little ahead of myself in week 5 of 9 but I'm even browsing around for a fun run to do with my new found skill.  That's when I stumbled upon the Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run.  Unfortunately, its only in San Antonio...but running for a cause?  Bingo.  I can't wait.  I wish I the doctors that knew me as a sad, scrawny knock-kneed toddler could see me now. 

falling into place

It was just this afternoon when I was riding back from Port Arthur with my coworker and it has just turned 1:00 pm and it was quite clear that my work day was over.   How do you make a Friday even better??  That's how.  I went home to my hubby who had just brought home the newest addition to his precious (albeit earned) collection of bicycles.  He was still glowing a little from the test ride he had taken at the bike shop.  I had an hour and a half to kill before my doctor's appointment and I got to spend it with him.  Normally, he would have already been on his way to or already at work (and so would I) but it hit me: it was falling into place. Our jobs have finally allowed us to be close to home...and those same jobs are making it possible to continue to make this house a home and this family to grow.  I can't remember another day that I was afforded such personal freedom by a job.  A JOB gave me freedom...I've always known jobs to do the opposite.  Its pretty awesome.  So its now a mere 4:53 in the evening and I'm waiting for Kylie to sleep off a late nap before we have our first of many Friday Mommy/Daughter girls night.  I'm happy.

Here I YAM!

GASP!!!! I’m coming up for air from the crazy life I’m leading these days.  I don’t even know where I’ve left off.  At least once per day I think of something I need to mention or talk about and I leaving a mental note for myself just isn’t cutting it.  I’m thinking right now of like a gazillion points to make but at the same time my mind if collapsing on itself. So let’s start with my new job.  Love it.  There was fear.  Never the kind that made me wonder if I had made the right choice, just fear of the unknown.  It is a small office of a rather large company, but small offices can be more cliquey than anywhere else but its not too bad. My coworkers are pretty awesome and the guy who is training me is phenomenal. I have, and will learn a lot from him.  The paycheck is really nice and so are the hours.  Being close to home is a blessing, and with our schedule changing again because of Nick’s new job, being nearby is a must.  Kylie is a little weirded out by her schedule in the morning. It used to be get up and rush out of the house, but now we have a nice long leisurely morning before school.
I've been casually following the Couch to 5k program.  Never have I been a runner. In elementary school we used to do walk/jogs around the green belt.  Putting aside the fact that only like 4 students totally could actually sprint the whole loop, actually expecting a 5th grader to exert themselves in such a way is completely unreasonable.  So here I am 20 years later trying to prove to my left and my gym teachers of yesteryear that I CAN run 3 miles.  Surprisingly the knees are holding up.
I have not been to productive with the crafts lately...except for surfing my favorite blogs for projects to add to the to do list.  I think is going to come down to a week's worth of evenings to be devoted to craft projects.  I'll commit myself to that right now for the week if the 14th.
Kylie is still a little spitfire.  In the last two days she has been making more organized vocalizations.  I think the language explosion is about to happen for her.  I really can't wait to hear what she has to say.  Right now, she says dog, bath, duck and door with so much gusto you would think its Christmas morning. Conversely, she is grunting (or whining) and pointing a lot too. 
I guess I needed to surface real fast before 2 months passed with no post.  With the holidays coming up I feel like the next 6 weeks are going to be such a blur.  Life already goes too fast as it is.