BOLC - Weeks 1-3

Housing chaos.  Early morning PT and tedious classroom/auditorium sessions.  That just about sums it up. 

Housing.  We lived off-post for two weeks, then moved on-post.  Only a few people stayed at the new Candlewood.  Most of us are housed at Bldg 592 and Bldg 1384.  These are the old bachelor's quarters that have been converted into Holiday Inn Express.  We had roommates in our off-post hotels but were alone in our on-post quarters.

While less-than-thrilling, there is definitely information to be gleaned from this death by Power Point.  There is a lot of valuable info about finances and such in the auditorium sessions.  USAA will likely, at some point, offer an off-post meet-and-greet type of thing.  Go, even if you already have USAA...they have great door prizes and pass out Starbucks gift cards like candy!  The catered meal is really decent, too. 

There was a midterm and a final exam, each a week apart.  But they give you review sheets and all of the Power Points on a CD that is given to each student...just take an hour, get what you need, and study that.  There were a few sneaky questions, but mostly they're straight forward and straight from the lessons.

We were in formation by 0500 every morning and did PRT in platoons.  Done with PRT no later than 0630, then into classrooms by 0800.  Out between 1600-1700.

Things to know:

1. There is a convenience shop (shopette), Starbucks, and Subway on the bottom floor of the schoolhouse.  Plan on at least 10 minutes if you're going to get Starbucks and can make it to the front of the line.  If you're not at the front, just go to the shopette and get coffee or wait till next break...you'll never make it otherwise.

2.  DO NOT be late.  You risk causing formation to be earlier and earlier until everyone is there on time.  This happened to our class thanks to a few people who thought the rules didn't apply to them.  Don't be that person.  And when I was there, the clock at the back of the auditorium was 5 minutes fast.  Go by that clock, not your watch.

3.  Sign up for IHG rewards (points for your hotel).  Even though you're not paying for the room, you can accrue points.  A ton of them. 

4.  We didn't have a lot of free time in the first week, so you will probably want to get a jump on things you'll need (travel, DEERS, CAC card, etc.) as soon as possible and at any opportunity.

5.  That thing about having 10 copies of your orders?  Not necessary.  Bring 20.  You'll go through that many.  Several people want 2 copies for whatever paperwork they're doing.  You'll need to carry a copy with you everywhere until you get your CAC (pronounced "cack") card.  Better to have too many than too few.

6.  Better to have and not need than need and not have.  I brought originals of everything (social security cards for my family, marriage license, birth certificates, etc.) and got a certified copy of my husband's driver's license.  Make sure the coloring on the certified copy will be OK with another scanning, i.e. make sure it's not too dark.  It is also a good idea to make at least 2 copies of each birth certificate and marriage license.  Otherwise you'll be running to a copy machine.  FYI, I needed all of it.  Then when my husband came to visit he took it back home with him.

7.  If you're going in BOLC while it's warm in TX (most months of the year) do yourself a favor and buy a.) new canteens and b.) a Camelbak.  You could buy a Camelbak on post for a LOT of money, or you could go to the military surplus store on Harry Wurtzbach Rd. and get the Army-issue version of the Camelbak for about $20, new bladder and everything.  You can also get a small flashlight for your FLC (pronounced "flick", stands for "fighting load carrier", it is the vest you wear every waking moment in the field), and an extra set of ACUs or PTs a la cheapo.  And they're nice. 

8.) Kim's Alterations and Cleaners on Harry Wurtzbach Rd. is legit.  They will alter and clean your ASUs (Army Service Uniform, AKA dress uniform), and will also put on your ribbons, etc.  This is a chore especially for the women, since there are no pockets to use as reference for alignment.  For a small fee they'll relieve you of that stressor.

9.) The food at Rocco DFAC (the dining facility to which we are assigned for free food..."DFAC" is pronounced "DeeFack") is decent, but it is busy and it is easy to overeat.  I opted to have most meals in my room.  A rotisserie chicken and a clamshell of salad greens goes a long way, and they have these handy-dandy little vinaigrette things at the Commissary.  They're like coffee creamer cups, except they're balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  So awesome. 

10.)  Break in your boots before you go to the field.  Identify hot spots, and get insoles if you need them.  I got, and LOVE my Belleville Sabre 333 boots.  They're like high top tennis shoes.  Super comfy, and I HIGHLY recommend them.  Yes, they're a little more pricey, but they're worth it.

11.)  Moleskin and bandaids.  Buy them.  You will want to have them if you're breaking in boots, and likely for the first week in the field.  If you can identify hot spots before they become blisters and put moleskin on them, you will likely have a more pleasant experience. 

Much more to come!

Two weeks of crazy!

Well, I didn't quite get the opportunities I wanted to update on the DCC course.  Ha!  I DID think I might steal a few moments to update a couple of times, but the internet was SO bad it was unpredictable at best and completely non-functioning at worst.  Verizon loves me this month...I chewed through my data in days and had to buy several increases in data just to make it through to the new billing cycle.  Blah.

So.  I suppose this will be an all-over recap of the course, as best as I can possibly remember.  We were so busy 99% of the time up until the last days that days just blurred one into the next and I lost track of time completely.  Days were marked by wake-ups, PT sessions, and hard times, then we would fall into bed exhausted at the end of the day just to wake up and repeat.

The second week at the DCC (other than PT every morning) was spent in the classrooms and around the barracks preparing for our coming week in the field.  We cleaned and assembled our gas masks and learned how to put them on quickly - you have 9 seconds from the alert of "GAS, GAS, GAS!!" to have it on, tightened, sealed, and breathing normally.  Beyond that there is a whole suit to put on: pants with suspenders, a jacket with hood and a crotch strap (to keep the jacket down), double gloves, and boots.  You have 9 minutes to get the whole kit and caboodle on, which is MUCH harder than it sounds.  It's hot and you're in a hurry, trying to get all of the gear on without hyperventilating in the mask.  And putting on a charcoal-lined suit and gas mask on in the middle of the summer in Oklahoma is HOT.  As in clothes-drenched-with-sweat hot.  They would take us completely by surprise.  We would just be sitting there, then suddenly "GAS, GAS, GAS!!" and we'd spring into action.  If you didn't have your mask on in 9 seconds, you were "dead" and had to do pushups to revive.  Then on to the suit, and more pushups if you didn't have it all on in time.  My record time was just over 5.5 minutes! 

We also learned land navigation using a compass and protractor.  We were given coordinates, then we would find them on the map and plot an azimuth.  We learned map topography and how to back azimuth, etc.  We went out into the field behind the barracks and learned some tactical formations, as well as how to take organized action if fired upon.  All the while we are being told how the "Badlandians" across the highway don't like us and want to do us harm while we're out in the field (FOB Mow-way).  Between learning these things we had leadership classes and talks from various high-ranking officers who came in to see how things were going.  Our WONDERFUL platoon leader brought us a Keurig for the classroom on the second week, and we were ecstatic!  We took up collections to buy more supplies, so from the second week till the very last day we had K-cups and green tea to help keep us from conking out.

During this week we had a run where we were separated out into ability groups.  I have to admit that I took umbrage to being placed in the slowest group.  I know I'm not the fasted runner, but I didn't expected to be placed that low.  So I really worked on my running to improve form and speed given my new hot and humid circumstances.  On my first run I did really well, leading the pack by several paces with our OIC running beside me, chanting my own personal cadence..."In your nose...out your mouth!  You can do it!  Keep it up!"  I pull over to the side of the road to dry heave, he says "Keep going!  It's all in your head!  If you don't hate yourself a little bit after this then you didn't push hard enough!"  So I kept running.  I arrived at the same time as the middle speed group and was very proud of myself.  I even got a high five from my OIC!

Now...enter Father's Day.  We were told at the beginning that we could crack the windows but don't open more than 4 inches or the alarm would go off.  On Sunday after church my roommate and I were doing laundry and trimming threads and making repairs and it was hot.  I go to open the window.  I open it 2-3 inches, then lay in bed and enjoy the breeze slipping in.  Until someone comes pounding on the door a minute or so later.  "Did you open a window?!  The alarm went off!"  UGH.  4-5 fire trucks and a lot of drama later, I become famous for opening a window.  *sigh*  I'm serious.  I will never live this down.  It's funny now...any time someone sees a fire truck now they're like "Did you open a window again?!"  Haha, people.  Hilarious.

On the third week we went out to the field.  I think that deserves a post of its own.

My first week in the Army...

I'll start out my "first week at the Direct Commission Course (DCC) course wrap-up" after this late entry:

6/14/15

I lack internet access at the moment, so this will be a delayed post, but here goes nothing!

First, I had wanted to write about how I felt about joining the Army.  The depth of emotion, gratitude, and honor that I feel to have the opportunity to be a part of something so much bigger than me, and not just so much bigger, but so very important!  I want my 5-years-from-now self to be able to look back and read about how it was when I joined.  I don’t have much time before lights out so I can’t go into GREAT detail.  But let’s just suffice it to say that I’ve gotten choked up more than once.  Trying on the uniform and realizing I AM WEARING the uniform of our country’s Army!  Driving out here to Oklahoma for training and realized that I didn’t listen to music for more than ¼ of the way because I was too busy in my own mind, in my own thoughts.  It’s amazing.

Then I arrived for training.  Dorm rooms.  Wool blankets.  No fitted sheets…have to do mitred corners and make it TIGHT.  Rolling and folding your clothes a certain way and putting them in a certain order in certain places in certain drawers.  It’s like another planet compared to how I am used to living!  Master of my own little world, my bubble – no more!  Learning how to stand at attention and march and shout “Hooah!” after cadre asks a question.  Learning about my battle buddy (roommate), and my classmates.  Learning about our cadre, for that matter! 

As it turns out, this pilot program DCC class was created to not be “boot camp lite” but instead be “boot camp condensed”.  The recent observations were that the directly commissioned officers did not get enough “soldier” training, and thus were left lacking in several departments.  This course is meant to be the answer to that issue.  I am actually pretty happy about this (easy to say on the first day, I know).  I think it will help me relate to and be more relatable to the soldiers and their families that I will see and serve on a daily basis in my practice.  And let’s just face it…trial by fire usually works pretty well! 

I’ll try to dish more in a recap at the end of the week.  We have some time off on Sunday.  The chaplain here is a Baptist, so I’m interested to see how the base service goes.  J  Meanwhile it’s 20 minutes till lights out and that means it’s time to wrap things up. 

 

OK, folks...so now it's Saturday night and I've been here for a full week.  Here is the recap.  Every morning we wake up sometime between 0430 and 0500 for PT first thing, then breakfast after that.  We did a dry run for the PFT (physical fitness test) on Thursday, and I did well.  I'm still a slow-ish runner at a 9:30-10:00 minute mile, but that gets the job done!  We have to take a legitimate PT test toward the end of our time here, and I plan to shave my time down from 9:42 min mile average to less than 9:30 min mile.  I also want to be able to get more sit-ups.  I passed on all three activities, but I want to be better!  The cadre has offered additional PT three days per week for those of us who want help with improvements, so like a crazy person I signed up for it. 

One reason for that is because we are not allowed off post and are not allowed out of the barracks without cadre.  Tomorrow we get to go to church on post if we want, in ACUs...I'm going to the Traditional Gospel service.  We also get a 3-hour on-post pass to go to the PX or gym or whatever we want, as long as it's on post and in uniform.  I'm under the impression  that the reins will gradually be loosened if we do well.  We're working hard toward that. 

So since we only have 15-ish minutes to get from waking up to formation, I take "shortcuts"...legal ones.  Ha!  I sleep in my PT uniform with socks on so all I have to do when I wake up is clip back my bangs and put on my shoes.  I also sleep on top of my made bed with only my dust cover and pillow...that way I don't have to remake the entire crazy thing every morning.  I simply wouldn't have the time.  My battle buddy and I have our morning routine down pretty well to have our room inspection-ready!  Oh, and I should mention that we have "fire guard" for one hour every other night.  This is a night watch in 1-hour increments.  So far we've had 0300, 2300, and 0100.  Tomorrow night we have 0200.  When you're only getting 4-5 hours of sleep anyway, waking up in the middle of the night for an hour and going back to bed is a real pain.  But it's part of the experience, I suppose.

We did lots of inprocessing stuff this week.  Dental, audiologist, blood draws, immunization boosters, paperwork for finance, getting ID cards, getting my family into DEERS, reviews of policies, etc.  We also did a lot of drill and ceremony the first couple of days.  We did an obstacle course for leadership development (think 5-6 stations where you have 30 minutes to accomplish a mission with limited resources, a lot of ingenuity, and muscles) after which I was drenched in sweat, filthy, and so happy!  We didn't pass every obstacle, but we learned a lot about teamwork.  We also did a 3-mile ruck march today with light-ish kit.  We'll add more bulk to our ruck marches to culminate in a heavy 4-mile ruck march in full battle gear before we graduate.   Today I also disassembled and reassembled an M16-A4.  Cool stuff.  Felt like Forrest Gump.  Not as fast, though.  Haha!

With inprocessing my biggest word of advice is to bring EVERYTHING you think you may need, and perhaps a bit more.  Better to have too much than too little!  For the first week, I recommend that you break in your boots at home if you can, or wear double socks...preferably with the layer closest to your foot being dress socks.  Helps avoid blisters.  I haven't had any foot issues, thanks to the good advice of cadre and friends.  I can't say the same for some of my classmates, unfortunately.  Take good care of your feet!  Oh, and I can't emphasize enough the need to have a workout routine before getting here.  Push yourself - believe me when I say you'll be pushed further here!  And BRING BUG SPRAY.  The toxic DEET kind.  The mosquitoes here are as big as birds and are apparently immune to natural/plant-based mosquito repellent.  They will literally swarm you so you can't possibly slap them all away.  Just spray on the poison and take a shower right after you're done with PT.

I haven't been able to talk much with my family, just because of exhaustion and time zone differences.  We text frequently, though, and have talked around every other day.  Speaking of which, I'm going to cut this off now to go call my family.  I miss those guys, and my beasties, too!

The long and short of this is:  it has been far different than I expected, but really good so far.  I miss making decisions for myself.  I'm told when to wake up and go to bed, what clothes to wear, how to stand, how to walk, what to do, how fast to eat, when to eat...the list goes on.  As one of our cadre said, we're here to protect democracy, not live it.  *sigh*  I'm thankful that this stage is rather short...I graduate July 10th.  However, I am extremely grateful for it.

Now that we have some limited wifi I'll try to update more often. 

 

 

 

Have orders, will travel...but how?

It's a real mindjob to be moving cross-country not knowing the details of how it is all going to pan out.  I won't be able to plan the moving of my household goods until I get to Ft Sill...or possibly even Ft Sam.  This means that I'm probably going to come home to Fresno after OBC to an empty house unless the movers are available EXACTLY on the week that I will be home before we set out on the road.  Hubby and kiddos have been invited to bunk up with some friends, but then we have the pets to consider (we have two dogs, three cats, and two rats).  Then there's the actual trip.  It's looking like we're going to have about 7-8 days on the road, realistically.  When we came out to California from Florida the trip only took 5-6 days, but then we only had two kids and no pets.  I've been looking at options and it seems like it might be a cost-effective and fun option to camp our way cross-country.  Apparently KOA campgrounds have military discounts, and with the right equipment it could be a good time, and a good way to let the littles and beasties stretch their legs.  Of course, it could be a real bummer.  Haha!  But hopefully not.  An RV isn't really an option, and we could plan to say in a hotel one or two nights if needed (they'd have to be pet-friendly).  We'll see how it pans out.  We'll have to plan everything out before I go or while I'm gone to OBC.

I've also been trying to figure out what I need to have done ahead of time.  Setting an appointment with my OB to have an exam/pap done so I don't have to do it there.  Looks like the dental exam has to be done by the Army?  I'll find out more about that soon...that's just the way I understand it now.  I've also been trying to get my student loan situation squared away.  There's a mandatory forbearance form that has to be filled out initially and then yearly while the Army is paying off your loans.  I had a guy on the phone with FedLoan be a real butthead and say that only people who are deployed qualify, etc. and I had to argue with him.  In the end, I was right (of course) and he helped me with a short-term forbearance until the paperwork from the Army is situated (they have to fax the form that I signed and they signed stating that they will be paying off my loans to FedLoan).  I am going to get a nice file folder together to put multiple copies of all of my paperwork into until everything is in the system.  According to my recruiter, we should be able to get my ID and my hubby and kiddo's IDs before I leave, as well as get all of our info into DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System - for Tricare eligibility).  That would be really helpful.  I'd rather be over-prepared than under-prepared!

Meanwhile I still need to lose about 10 lbs and finish getting my situps...they are my weakness right now.  Running I've got, pushups I've got...only about halfway there on my situps.  I'll keep plugging away! 

Two years later...I'm in the Army now!

Well, that happened.  Two years rolled by like the blink of an eye and here I am.  Done with school for a full year, board-certified.  Still in Fresno.  Still at my same hospital working as a nurse.  Made significant progress on my weight/health goals. 

School got really tough.  Between work and school and my family my entire life went into doing the necessary things.  Advanced classes.  Clinicals.  Working full-time during clinicals.  Changing work positions and shifts during clinicals.  Studying for comps (the comprehensive exam that passes you from the program with your Master's degree).  Passing comps.  Studying for boards.  Passing boards.  Wondering what to do now...should we stay or should we go?  Roots have been put down here, yes, but it has never quite felt like home.  We miss our family, and rarely get to visit.  Should we try to get back East?  Paying off student loans is a priority now.  Should I take the job I've been offered at my clinical site?  Should I try to get a job at our local FQHC and apply for loan forgiveness through the government, hoping that I get it?  Look for an FQHC back East?  Lots of questions.  Big, potentially life-changing questions.

Meanwhile, a friend in my class who finished a few months ahead of me joined the Army as a CNM.  She was prior service, then went back in at the same time that her husband was getting out.  I got curious.  She is getting her loans paid off, great benefits for her family, relative stability as far as the Army goes due to her specialty, while being able to serve those who serve our country.  Sounds pretty darn awesome.  But ME?  I don't know.  I gained weight during clinicals and found myself just shy of being the highest weight I'd ever been.  I'm SO far from Army ready.  But I figure "What the heck...I'll call a recruiter and see what they say."  So I did.  I'm told that I would have to lose about 60 lbs to even be considered.  I'd have to be fit, too, not just thinner.  But the board doesn't review for my specialty but once per year in November at this time, and it's March.  Could I do that?  Hubby and I talk, and we pray.  We decide to go for it, and pray that God will close the door if it's not His will.

I watch as my friend goes through training.  Ask a million and one questions.  Work hard at getting my health together, but it's a long road.  Meet in person with a recruiter.  One of the first things he asked was if I knew the requirements for the Army (while eyeballing my less-than-svelte physique).  Yes, I do.  And I know I have work to do, but I'm determined.  And if I don't get into the Army it's not going to be because I was too fat, I tell him.  He smiles and says "Ok, go for it then!"  I keep working hard.  Months pass.  I fill out paperwork.  I'm still not quite there with my weight, but SO close.  I'm told that I need to get to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) ASAP to have my physical evaluation done, but I should do a weight and tape in Fresno before driving to San Jose to make sure that I pass.  I do it and fail by 1% body fat.  I ask for another chance.  Two-a-days for two weeks.  Yikes!  I do it again and pass!  My recruiter is thrilled!  I'm introduced via email to my recruiter's superior as my recruiter will be out of the office for a week.  I call him with a question and learn that his wife is currently a Frontier student nurse-midwife!  What are the odds?

Drive to San Jose and check in at the hotel's Officer Club.  Given orders about how to behave.  Curfew.  Meal and departure times.  Yes, sir!  Go to the hotel gym for my "last-chance workout", then shower and to bed.  Wake up with a headache at 2am, 2.5 hours before our wake-up time.  Take an Excedrin and go back to bed.  Wake up and go down with the late teen and 20-somethings group and off to MEPS.  Standing in lines.  Don't move till you're called.  Given a camo-covered NIV Gideon bible.  More paperwork...the Army writes their dates weird, so make sure you get it right.  Blood drawn, vitals taken, vision and hearing exams, urine sample with someone watching (thank God for morning coffee and a full bladder...and I suppose a bit of a lack of shame), male and female separated, strip down to your underwear and bra and do exercises.  Weight and tape.  I'm 161 lbs with a table weight of 154 lbs and pass tape at 30% body fat.  Whew!  Off to see the NP who does a physical exam.  I pass.  Deemed fit for duty.  Off to see another superior about my dual citizenship.  I sign a paper saying that I renounce my Canadian citizenship if I get selected.  Talk to recruiters, then drive home.  "Fit for duty".  Me.  Sixty pounds lost. 

More paperwork and more waiting...it seems like every day brings another form.  Fill it out, sign it, scan and email it.  Yes, sir.  The big day arrives - 17 November 2014.  The board reviews.  Most of my family doesn't even know that I'm trying to get in, but a few people know and they pray for me.  Then more waiting.  My recruiter texts every now and again that there's no new info, and that we're still waiting.  Then 17 December I am sitting on the floor of my kid's room cleaning when I hear my phone ring.  I don't even see the caller ID and I just KNOW this is it.  Time to learn my fate.  Sure enough, my screen says it's my recruiter.  I take a deep breath and answer.  He asks do I want the good news or the bad news first?  Then he starts laughing and says that it's all good news, that I am officially one of six selected! 

It feels so much more real now.  Still a lot to do.  More paperwork.  Don't slip on the weight!  (hello, holidays) Still waiting for the scroll, then orders.  Scroll comes through - I am officially a direct commission.  I need to go to San Francisco to do - wait for it - MORE paperwork and swear in.  I will be a First Lieutenant, O-2.  The whole family comes and we make a day of it.  The oath is solemn and exciting.  Next comes orders.  Will we make it back East?  I requested all eastern states in my packet.  What if it's Alaska? 

Orders arrive 1 April 2015.  Georgia.  We're going to Georgia!  I tell my family, finally, and they are supportive. 

So here we are.  I have two months until I have to leave Fresno for training.  This brings me to the reason that I started blogging again, and will attempt to more often for at least a little while.  I will be in the first class of a pilot program for direct commissions.  From what I understand, it combines two extra weeks of education with pre-BOLC.  So I go to Oklahoma for a month to do this class, then to Texas for two months for BOLC.  I have gotten a lot of information and advice from people who have been down the direct commission path before me from their blog posts.  I appreciated it so much!  So since I'll be in this first new class I wanted to document my experience for those coming behind. 

Start with the end in mind

That's what we're supposed to do, right?  Start with the end in mind.  Or so says Covey.  I won't lie...I've never read the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, but I think the principles are pretty good.  If you have never heard of this before, the 7 habits are:

1.  Be proactive - your life doesn't just "happen", you are responsible for your own life, and the choices are yours to make.

2.  Start with the end in mind - this will help direct your goals to the things that matter and give you a vision.

3.  Put first things first - the physical work toward your mental vision...it's all about balance.

4.  Think win-win - our worth is not based on comparison or competition, and cooperation with other people is a good thing!

5.  Seek first to understand, then to be understood - it's all about listening.

6.  Synergize - two are better than one, teamwork is better than attacking single-handedly.

7.  Sharpen the saw - pay attention to you, self-renewal and inner balance is as important if not more so than the goals we have...because without these we will inevitably "hit the wall".

So I'm starting 2013 with its end in mind.  Where do I want to be, what do I want to complete in this year?  I'm hoping this will be the year a year of completion for me.  I want to meet my health and wellness goals.  I want to finish school (my finish date will depend on how quickly I can finish my clinical hours).  I have goals for my family that I'd like to meet.  I want to run several races and even complete a Tough Mudder.

I have a lot that I'd like to do, but I can't really what my true resolutions are yet for this year.  I suppose my main resolution is to be effective in the many facets of my life.  To finish my days having worked toward my many goals.  To not let circumstances get in the way, but to find solutions and move forward.  To listen and have patience and learn every day.

My December Whole30

Just got back from a 2-week trip to visit family in Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.  I was doing well with Paleo eating (not Whole30, but Paleo) up until the trip, and was holding steady in my weight.  Now only 2 short weeks of NOT clean eating later I have gained 8 lbs and have terrible sugar cravings.  So, back on Whole30 I go.  My sis-in-law is joining me this time...always nice to have a partner in crime.

I'm trying to take pics of what I eat this time around, just for kicks.

So on my first day, I do not feel exceptionally hungry, but am jittery and shaky and full of sugar cravings.  I have never had a first day feel this bad.  Whew!  And I've already overdone it a little in the fruit department today (even though I've mixed them with proteins/meals rather than eating them straight up, I've had a banana and an apple today plus a bite of a dried fig roll).  No more fruit today, and no more than one piece and a little dried fruit max from now on.

That's it for now.  I haven't posted for a loooong time because life has been so busy.  Getting near the end of midwifery school, contemplating my future, possibly moving, etc.  It's a lot to think about.

Sequoia - July 2012

Our friend from back in Florida flew over to see us for a week or so.  While he was here, he wanted to see the giant redwoods...so we were Sequoia-bound!

Josh and Trav in front of the General Grant tree, the 5th biggest tree in the world!

My fearless rock-climbers and hikers!

Dad and boys in front of the General Sherman tree, the biggest tree by volume in the world!

Deklan on the fallen largest branch of the General Sherman...this branch was as big as a large tree!

See Trav beside the branch?  It was taller than HE was, for some perspective on the size of this "branch"...

My all-time favorite pic of the day

We had a great time enjoying the cool forest air, a nice departure from the intensely dry heat of the valley floor.  We hiked all around the General Sherman tree and General Grant tree, and everyone was in awe of the size of these ancient trees!  There was a fallen tree that was sawed for a cross-section and was found to be 2,210 years old by ring-counting!!  This tree was smaller than the Sherman, believe it or not.  That tree was alive before the birth of Christ!  Such a crazy thought...

Only half-way

This post is really about two things.  The first is my half-way point in weight loss.  I've been hovering there for the last long while, which I'm sure is why I feel like I'm ONLY half-way there.  Don't get me wrong, I know this is a huge accomplishment, but I just feel stuck.  It is nice to have people compliment your pics, though...like this one that I posted on Facebook from our trip to the Sequoia National Park this weekend:

Great family pic, no?  It makes me smile, looking at our little family.  It also makes me smile that I wasn't huffing and puffing up and down the trails, even with 25+ lb baby on my back (much love to my Babyhawk) because even with him tied onto me I still weighed less and had more endurance than when I started this fitness journey.

This brings me to part two, the long and yucky part, of this post.  I've been doing this half-way for about 2 months now.  I've been maintaining my weight, even lost a stray pound here and there and am definitely toning up, but I'm just not trying 100%.  I've been doing CrossFit 3 days per week (not this last week though, since we have a friend in town) and was actually running 2 days per week as well, until I got tired (after a couple of weeks) and started having a shin splint flare up again.  Now my shins are better but I haven't run.  I eat Whole30 all day until night comes, then snack on crackers and peanut butter.

So now that I'm thoroughly discouraged by my half-way behavior and the results of it, now that I'm owning this flaw, I'm prepared to move forward.  No more half-way.  I'm running again starting tomorrow, CrossFit 3 days per week again starting Wednesday.  Whole30 again starting today (hello, Day 1!).  Additionally, I've felt for a while that I've probably been overdoing it in the fats department, even though they're healthy fats.  So I'm going to use my SparkPeople account (which I haven't opened for months) for tracking for a week or two until I get my proportions straight again.  I just think it'll be helpful for me to see what I'm consuming throughout the day.

I started this in September of last year, in earnest.  My 30th birthday was a huge reality check for me, and was just the thing to kick me in the butt and get me moving.  But I'm creeping up on my 31st birthday now and I'm only at the half-way point when I should really be close to my goal.  I have to start training religiously for the half-marathon in November or I'm not going to be able to finish it.  I need to keep up with CrossFit because it makes me incredibly happy and tired and I like seeing my arms lose the jigglies and gain some definition.

I'm making a determination RIGHT NOW.  I will be at my goal weight before my 32nd birthday.  If it took me a year to get half-way there, surely I can finish the other half in another 14 months.  I desperately want it to be much before my birthday, but one thing is for certain:  I will not have another birthday pass with me being unhappy with my state of fitness.

Back on track

Well, I've been off the beaten path for the last couple of weeks.  I went off for our anniversary and have made a couple of half-hearted attempts to get back on, but have really just been slacking.  I haven't weighed myself or anything and I've continued to exercise, but I don't feel great...I feel bloated and sluggish, so it's time to get back on track.

In order to inspire myself, I put together a little list (on painting paper, with crayon...gotta work with what you've got!) and posted it at my desk in my room.  This is what it says (color and all):

June 18th - Monday
* Back on Whole30 (meets GAPS) (back to back till 31st birthday)
* Stay on!  Print cheat sheets, etc.
* Run 2-3 days per week, CrossFit 2-3 days per week
* Wake up early to exercise if that's what it takes
* No weighing till end of Whole30
* Ship out clothes to Lolo (NO GOING BACK!)
* Be strict - easy on the kombucha, easy on nuts/dried cranberries

Soft Goals
* Be at 2nd goal (no longer overweight, 145 lbs) by my birthday
* Be at goal by November trip (for looks, pics, and weight during events reasons)

Events
* Finish B210K by end of July
* Start 13.1 training beginning of August
* Heart Walk/Run Sept. 22
* Color Me Rad Sept. 29
* Warrior Dash Oct. 27
* 2 Cities Half Marathon Nov. 4

I say "Whole30 meets GAPS" because I'm adding supplements from GAPS and doing more traditional/fermented foods like GAPS, but not actually doing GAPS.  Weighing during my Whole30 is something I have to make a conscious effort not to do...I actually have Travis hide the scale.  I set soft goals in addition to the events because I have some milestone types of things coming up and (yes, this is pure vanity) I would like to look good!  We'll be doing a ton of family pictures, etc.  Not only that, but I have a LOT of events starting the end of September, right around my birthday.  The less excess weight I'm carrying around, the better!  I'm planning on doing the Heart Run for time, to actually try to come in at a certain pace.  On the other hand, I'm trying to recruit some people from work to do this as their first 5k, in which case I would pace with them to keep together as a group.  We'll see how many people join up.

I listed the events because I want to keep them as a focus.  It's been so blasted hot that I've been doing CrossFit but not running for about a month now, which is purely unacceptable if I have a half-marathon in November!  So this next paycheck will buy me a used treadmill so I can run at home/at night/with a fan blowing on me...whatever works.  Meanwhile I'm going to attempt to switch my workout routine to the morning.  That will not come easy for me, as I am not a morning person by any stretch.  But I have to do what I have to do!  I need to register for these events so that I get that swift kick in the pants that comes along with putting money down on something. 

In all honesty, I've gotten complacent and I'm scared to death about gaining a bunch of weight, and I feel cruddy.  It's time.  Back on the wagon.

I have one more week in this term.  Let the cramming begin.

I got promoted to manager at work.  It's been a pleasure to work with the people I used to work with, even though several have moved on to other areas or hospitals.  But a core remains, and I'm looking forward to working more with them and getting to know the new crew.

Time flies...

I can hardly believe how time seems to be flying these days.  I've had a few milestone things happen in the last month.

Firstly, it seems that this term is really flying!  There are only a couple of weeks left.  Next term is ALL midwifery courses, as opposed to this term (Primary Care and Pharmacology).  It'll be nice to kiss this term goodbye and get into the nitty gritty, although I do realize that courses get more intense as you move through.

Second, Travis and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this month.  Wow.  Ten years...a decade.  We've moved 8 times in 3 different states, had three kids (and one miscarriage), worked many different jobs, and been through SO much change.  I think about the vows we made..."to have and to hold for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live"...I've learned the importance and the depth of these vows.  The last 10 years have been awesome.  Not always easy or happy or the way we planned, but they've been awesome because we've been through everything together and supported each other every step of the way.  I'm looking forward to more decades to come!

Third, my biggest baby finished another year of school.  I'm so proud of him!  He made "A" Honor Roll and also got awards for most work completed, scripture memory, and art.  He'll be going into his 3rd grade year in the fall.  My middle man will start kindergarten.  It hardly seems possible.

I'm running a 10k on Father's Day.  I'm scared because I don't feel ready for it.  I felt ready for the 5k, and had run the whole 5k before the day of the race so I knew I could do it.  I've gotten up to 4 miles, but that's still a far cry from the 6 miles of a 10k.  Susan signed me up, though, so I have to suck it up and do it, even if I have to walk part of the way.  Guess I need to start eating right again too so I'll lose more weight and recover better.  I've been off Whole30 for a few days for my anniversary, but I'm feeling it now in my workouts and really need to jump back on it.

CrossFit kicks my butt, but it's addictive.  How can this be?  I'm almost always the last to finish, and I have to do some modifications, but I'm getting muscles and it's awesome!  I look at the athletes around me and am in awe.  They inspire me, and I feel so comfortable there.  I don't feel like everyone is watching me...heck, we're all working too hard!  But at the same time they all cheer me on.  When they see that I'm dragging they cheer me on.  When I finish they congratulate me.  There's a camaraderie there that's just so cool, and the feel is so much different from a "Globo-Gym" type of set-up.  I'm hooked.

One of my friends asked that I be with her for her recent home birth.  I was honored and thrilled to be there, and even happier that the little man waited for a 3-day weekend to arrive!  We had a great time, chatting in early labor, putzing around...I helped with the kids (6 kids, 7 when I left!) and made dinner, cleaned, did some laundry, and tried to support her the best I knew how.  She and her husband know that I'm a birth junky and were so gracious letting me into their sacred birthing space.  It was her 7th home birth but her first water birth.  She loved it!  The birth went so smoothly (after a LONG prodromal labor) and I was just elated to have been a part of it!  I can't WAIT till I'm a midwife and get to be "with woman" all of the time!

Altogether new...

Well, this week is a week of new beginnings.

First category: fitness.
I started my 10K training program this week using the Bridge to 10K (B210K) app.  I had a near-death experience running in 94 degree heat in the sunshine (duh...) and resolved to haul my lazy bones out of bed in the morning and run before it gets hot.  I will attempt this tomorrow morning.  My running buddy has be roped in to a 10K on Father's Day, so I need to get crackalackin' to be ready in time.

Finally, I started CrossFit.  The folks over at CrossFit Fresno got me off to a great start and were very encouraging.  The workout of the day (WOD) kicked my butt.  They showed me some basics and helped me correct my form, then gave me my very first "Foundations" WOD.  It was rowing 500 meters, then sets of air squats and pushups, followed by another 500m row.  There were 10 sets of each exercise, decreasing the reps each set...so I did 10 squats/10 pushups, 9 squats/9 pushups, and so on.  My arms and legs are noodles.  Soggy, wet, overcooked, wobbly noodles.  In addition to my sports bra I wear a compression tank to hold the goodies in place, and I couldn't even get it off to shower when I got home because my arms were so noodly.  Holy moly.  I go back Monday.  I'm hooked.  And I won't look like an idiot when I do Warrior Dash.

Second category: nutrition.
I started another round of Whole30 on Monday.  I had a weekend of chocolate cake-eating and highly regretted it.  It took until just yesterday to get my guts straightened out again.

Third category:  work.  
I'm taking an interim position as manager of the floor that I used to work on.  This is inspiring and scary and nerve-wracking and awesome all wrapped up in one ball of insanity.  I've been on orientation with the current manager this whole week (tomorrow is her last day), and I *think* I'm ready.  I just want to do right by the floor, the staff, the patients.

All of the above makes me so tired...must sleep...pillow is calling.

5K race? Check!

Well, I get to check something off of my New Year's Resolution list today...I ran my first 5K!  And afterward I felt great and still had energy.  As Susan, my quasi-coach, coworker, and friend says..."We finished in the upright position, without vomiting, and wanting to do it again!"  I was nervous about finishing without taking a walk break, I'll admit it.  But I did it!  I'll tell you what, having cheerleaders every mile was nice, and coming down the final leg to the finish line with people cheering for you and clapping is an awesome feeling!  

Before the race...

 After the race!  A little more red in the face, but otherwise no worse for the wear!

It was also a pleasure to have been able to do some fundraising for such a wonderful group.  It was a solemn thought...after the race and festivities they released balloons with messages attached to the little ones that we've lost.  There were a lot of balloons.  To think that every person there had been touched by the loss of a baby...solemn indeed.

The boys did great in their races, too!  They got little medals and I'm hanging their bibs on the wall in their room.  As for mine...it's on my Board of Inspiration on the wall beside my desk.  :)  Oh, and I'm off Whole30 for the weekend, starting back on Monday.

Rolling (and running and studying) merrily along...

Warm weather has returned to the Valley!  I'm not especially happy about this as I'm a definite cold-weather gal and I detest the insane power bills that are sometimes unavoidable in the summer in an area where triple digits are the norm.  But warm weather brings pool fun and summer vacation for the boys, so I'm happy about that.  As things heat up I'm going to have to either get used to running in the heat, buy a treadmill, or join a gym.  

Speaking of training, not only is my first 5k only TWO WEEKS from now (squee!), but Trav and I are going to sign up for the Warrior Dash in Hollister happening this October.  I'm really excited about this as it gives me a goal toward which to train.  I've learned that that is THE key to sticking with working out...I need a goal.  Not just a weight loss goal, but a point on a timeline at which I MUST be finished with something that requires training.  Registering for the Angel Babies 5k has really helped me break through my running barriers and keep going.  Oh, and if you'd like to donate to support this wonderful group and us as we run, please click here.  I'm only 2 weeks from the run and only at 10% of my fundraising goal...yikes! Anyhoo, there is a group from the Neuroscience unit who is signing up for Warrior Dash (along with their spouses and even grown children), and we're going to run it together.  It is a 5k obstacle course (think Tough Mudder but only half of it), and I'm going to really have to work on my upper body and core strength in order to complete it.  Oh, and we'll get a fuzzy Viking helmet and a metal when we finish...how stinkin' cool is that?

This is not us...just so ya know...

I'm two weeks in to this Whole30, feeling great and going strong.  True to my usual stick-with-it routine, I weighed myself this morning (yeah, I know, I know...not supposed to weigh for 30 days...but it helps me stay encouraged!!).  I started this Whole30 at 186 lbs (yup, put a few pounds back on during my week off last time), and I am now 178!  I have broken the 180's plane!  Woohoo!  Not only that, but this number puts me only 4 pounds away from my first weight loss goal of 174 lbs.  The link is to my blog post explaining my goals and why I set them.  So, 36 lbs down, 4 more to go till 40 lbs/BMI category of "overweight" instead of "obese"/first goal!  My first goal also puts me just short of the halfway point in my weight loss journey.  NOW, I know that the point of Whole30 isn't weight loss...weight loss follows if you're eating healthier and have excess weight, naturally.  So I have to put in a plug for the health effects of eating clean.  We got a bug.  Typical cold/upper respiratory crap.  And it has been so mild for me that I've wondered several times if it wasn't just allergies.  I've been drinking Kombucha every day and eating well and drinking plenty of water...and it just seems like I'm kicking this bug better.  Nice.  Oh, and I'm not bloated and icky-feeling.  Nice, too.

My scars from my accident have proven to be a pain in the butt...or ankle/shin to be exact.  The area where the boat prop severed three tendons in my ankle has become filled with scar tissue, and the posterior shin splints that I was getting were improving but still present.  Certain movements were causing my ankle to literally lock up and I'd be hobbling around like I had injured myself.  So I went to Ruste, my trusted, wonderful, best-ever-in-the-world chiropractor.  She does crazy myofacial release and I was hoping that she could work wonders on the scar tissue in my ankle.  And work wonders she did!!  It nearly made me cry, and I broke out in a cold sweat from the pain, but I have NONE of the problems that I had before!  Love that lady!

Long-winded post, I know.  But I have one more thing to add.  I joined the birthy group in the area, the Childbirth Resource Network.  This is something that I've been wanting to do for a long time, but I always felt that I wouldn't really be settling here, so why bother?  Well, we've been here for 4 years, so I figured it was time to stop procrastinating.  I want to be involved.  I want to be a part of the change.  I want to help.  I'm excited.

Was it really worth it?

Creme brulee at Fleming's?  Bread?  Cheese?  Holy moly, I have felt like crud for the last 24 hours.  But it was sure fun while I was partaking!  I woke up congested and feeling generally bad, didn't drink hardly any water today, didn't eat really great today either (as in an egg and sausage for breakfast with no veggies, two hard boiled eggs and cantaloupe for lunch), then went running when I got home from work.  I increased again, running in 9-minute increments.  I really feel like I'm getting past some invisible duration hump!  However, around 2.5 miles in my inner calves along my shins started cramping up.  I sat down for a minute and massaged out the muscles.  I attribute this to eating poorly for the last day and drinking next to no water...I think my muscles just didn't have the fuel to make it through!  I did, however, finish my run and didn't bail out in my increase.  Woohoo!  Go me!  Oh, and Whole30 starts again tomorrow.  Booyah.

So, my buddy-ol-pal has entered the blogosphere!  Please go show The Clucky Housewife some love!  She's a real hoot, a fabulous woman, and a wonderful momma to her chicks.  And she has an amazing VBA2C story that will bring tears to your eyes!  I've been friends with her since she was pregnant with her first baby (and me with my second), so I've gotten the privilege of seeing her make the journey that she has made to being an informed, strong, knowledgeable mother.  Go watch her stories/montages about her c-sections, her plan to homebirth, then the subsequent birth of their third.  It's worth your time.   

Another term bites the dust!

That's right!  Another term down!  I got As in all three classes, and I'm totally stoked that I have only 2 classes this coming term.  This last one was not easy...Research wasn't nearly as much fun as I thought it would be.

Well, I'm wrapping up the first of my two back-to-back Whole30s.  It ends Tuesday officially.  Although it wasn't quite over, I weighed myself this morning for the first time in nearly a month and found that I am down about 12 lbs this round, making for a total of 30 lbs lost since I started this journey.  Yup, I weighed somewhere between 183 and 184 this morning, and I started at 214!  That's really a lot of weight.  Pick up a 30 lb bag of dog food and carry it around with you for a little while.  That's how much extra weight I was carrying around EVERY SINGLE MOMENT of my life.  It hardly seems possible.  You know what also hardly seems possible?  I fit into a size 14 now!  I started at a 20, could squeeze into an 18 but it was tight.  Now I fit comfortably into a 14.  I can't even recall the last time I wore a 14.  I'm pretty sure it was before I started having babies!  :)  I'm trying to get a couple of friends on board for my next round of Whole30 starting April 4th.  That way we can support each other.

My weight loss so far...

I'm on Week 5, Day 2 of C25K.  I've gone from running in 30-45 second intervals to 4-5 minute intervals.  Next run will be my first 6 minute interval.  I slacked off for a little more than a month due to sickness (pertussis then norovirus...it was a rough month or so) and traveling out of state.  But then I registered for my first race, the 8th annual Angel Babies 5k run to benefit Hind's Hospice's Angel Babies program.  I thought that would be good, and significant for me having an angel baby of my own.  It happens May 5th, and if I stay on task with C25K I will be finished with the program a week before the race.  So when I really don't feel like running, I do it anyway because I HAVE to in order to be ready for my first race.  I also signed the boys up for the kid's fun runs...they get their own t-shirt and bib and everything.  They are so excited!

After I finish that, it's on to Bridge to 10K (B210K), then the half-marathon.  I hung a list of my New Year's resolutions in my office and at my desk at home to remind me.  I really need to stay on it in order to be ready in November.

My new niece, Emma!

So I went back home in February for the birth of my niece.  Little Emma was born while I was there...the day before I left, actually.  My baby sister is a mommy!  She pushed that 8 lb, 3 oz baby out of her tiny little body and I am so proud of her!  It was an action-packed trip that will require a post of its own.  Lots of family stuff.  But one family-unrelated thing happened that was SO awesome.  I went by Rosemary in hopes of recharging my emotional batteries and seeing Harmony for the first time in about 4 years.  She was there and it was so good to see her again!  She showed me the things that had changed and gave me the encouragement and wisdom that had come seeking.  Then the unspeakable happened...she offered me an apprenticeship!  This is something I have been thinking, dreaming, and praying about ever since I started midwifery school, but I didn't know how to ask or if it would even be possible.  It will not count toward my clinicals, but it will be a balancing experience that I NEED.  She offered for me to come down for a month or so during their busiest time to offer another set of hands and to get some practical homebirth, LM-guided midwifery practice.  I tell you, I was walking on air.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Well, 2011 is officially coming to a close.  It's hard to believe, as it feels like the year just started (with me awaiting the birth of my youngest).  In less than a week we will celebrate my babe's first birthday, and a few weeks later the fourth birthday of my middle son.  Amazing.

As for me, I've been AWOL due to end-of-term followed by a week-long trip to the in-laws followed by some time off with the family for the holidays.  I return to work on Monday.  *sniff*  I wish I could just stay home.

I've been off Whole30 since Christmas and have not been running regularly for a couple of weeks, again due to holidays and trying to get things done while I'm home.  I can't WAIT to go back to Whole30 on the January 1st! 

I have a couple of resolutions for this year.  The first is to do two Whole30's back-to-back for a total of 60 days.  I can't think of any way to start the year out better health-wise than to eliminate junk from my diet again.  Although I've been staying off of dairy and (for the most part) grains, I've had sweets and forbidden foods off and on over the last few weeks.  C'mon, green eggs and ham and french toast for Christmas breakfast/brunch is a tradition!  (as are peanut butter balls and ginger-pecan biscotti).  In spite of all of the above, I haven't gained an ounce and have continued to eat well between treats.  The second is to complete C25K and Ease into 10K.  I'm going to go back to week 3 and start from there to get back into the groove next week.  Then my third resolution is to run my first half-marathon (the Two Cities half-marathon) in November of 2012.  I know I can do it.  And I can't wait to cross that finish line and hang my medal on my board of inspiration!

I'm trying to get organized for the coming term (which starts in a week and a half).  In the process of this, I decided to steal an idea from a fellow student and post my program of study on here.  You'll find it in the left-hand column.  I am exactly two years away from being done with school, if I finish on their timeline.  That's two years away from boards.  Two years is NOT long!  I'd actually like to finish a little sooner if possible.  I have a minimum of 675 clinical hours to complete.  If I gauge it just right and end up having to do just that many or slightly more, I'll need about 4.5 months to finish all clinicals at the rate of 40 hours per week (full time).  I don't know yet where I'll be doing clinicals or the work circumstances I'll have going on when I'm doing them, but  if I could do more hours I could get done sooner.  I don't know.  We'll see. 

Anyhoo, back to cooking and organizing! 

I'm Baaaaaaack!

Well, I'm in Phoenix, Arizona for the next couple of days.  My boss sent me and two coworkers to the 30th Annual Barrow Neuroscience Symposium.  Today was the first day, and it promises to be really good!  So far the speakers have been engaging and the topics have been excellent.  I've also gotten to know the newest member of our team better.  She came from Michigan a couple of months ago to fill the Manager position for the unit.  She's literally old enough to be my mother, but we have SO much in common!  It's been really awesome to find out that she loves so many of the same things that I do, and we actually think a lot alike.  She is a very strong personality which I know some people might misconstrue, but I really think she has the well-being of the unit in mind.

So, I started running again today.  Week 2 Day 3 of C25K after a 2-week hiatus due to runner's knee.  I'll tell you what, that was no stinkin' fun.  Since I'm in Phoenix and don't know my way around or the degree of safety around here, I just ran on the treadmill in the fitness room at the hotel.  I wore my new shoes and compressive braces on both knees.  It went very well!  I still have a tiny hint of residual soreness from time to time on my right knee, but otherwise I feel 100%.  My right ankle has been on the weak side ever since my accident and I feel like I land a little harder on that foot than I do my left.  I don't know how to fix that, but I am trying to be aware of it and step lighter.

I'm going back to hard-core Whole30 eating when I get back home.  The bloating and gut issues have been really uncomfortable and it's just not worth it to eat those foods.  Well, the blueberry bread pudding at Switch last night was worth it.  Very worth it.  I DO make good choices though...for dinner I had lettuce wraps with fresh veggies and lamb, and they were super tasty!  I've been eating good food as a whole, with a little wheat here or a little dairy there, etc.  Ick.  Just not good for my body.  So this time the family is going to gradually join me, whether they like it or not.  Ha.  I'll splurge a little at Thanksgiving and Christmas and during our week with the in-laws, but that's all.  Need to eat clean.  Wheat and dairy hate me.

My milk supply has been good so far.  I don't think I brought enough bottles for my expressed milk.  Oops.  I'm going to have to buy some bags.

Well, it's time to study.  Got stuff due this week and I need to make good use of all of this quiet, uninterrupted time.  I miss my crazy family, though.  Really.  A lot.

Um...ouch

Long story short, I developed a very painful case of runner's knee and some additional pain on the inside of my knee because of my weak-ish thighs.  Nice.  Nothing like a reminder that you're out of shape.  Anyhoo, when the knee pain progressed to the point of near excruciating, I stopped.  I figured it had moved from just pain to injury, and needed a break.  I got some supports for my knees and went to Sierra Running Company for gait analysis and new shoes.  They hooked me up with a pair of shoes that should help to correct the slight overpronation in my ankles, and hence help my knee pain.  I'll tell you, taking those short runs on the treadmill and around the store were misery.

So, nearly two weeks later, with the help of Aleve, knee supports, and ice, I'm back to 100% and ready to start running again next week!  Although I haven't run during this timeframe, I do not feel as if I have let anything go or quit anything.  I'm really looking forward to running again!  I have found something that I actually enjoy, and I have goals that I'm reaching toward.

Today is the Two Cities Marathon, Half-Marathon, and Relay.  I have several friends running (or "wogging" as one friend put it!) and it's really inspiring to me.  I WANT to reach that goal for next year.  I WANT to join them!

I went out with a couple of friends Friday night and had some of my favorite food at a favorite restaurant, Rousseau.  Part of this meal was the bruschetta with fresh mozzarella, the goat cheese with roasted garlic and crostini, and the pot de creme, a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate worth-every-bite dessert.  I paid for it the next day, but it was sure yummy!  Again it was confirmed that I don't miss bread, but I LOVE my cheese!  I'm learning that lactose and I don't really get along so hot anymore though.  I weighed myself yesterday, and although I had some candy and a funnel cake at Halloween and the afore-mentioned meal, I haven't gained any weight.  I haven't lost, but I haven't gained.  That's a good thing I guess.  I need to be stricter in my diet (my daily food is Whole 30-compliant, but I have some cheats here and there) and start working out again.  Family pictures are in 20 days and I'd love to lose a little more weight!

My bonding leave starts December 5th.  It'll be nice to have a month off.

I'm flying out to Phoenix tomorrow for a conference.  It'll be the first time I'll have been away from my whole family, including the baby.  I'm bringing my pump, but I'm concerned about my milk supply.  I guess I should bring my More Milk Plus tincture just in case.  It'll just be Monday evening through Thursday evening, but that seems like an eternity.  I plan on getting a lot of school done during the nights, though.  I have some catching up to do.

Anyhoo, that's it, by way of updates.  I hope my re-introduction to running goes smoothly!

When I'm a midwife, please remind me...

1.  Not to be judgmental of other's choices (Explanation:  When I had my well-woman visit yesterday with an NP who I didn't know, I was talking about birth control preferences, etc.  She said "And you don't have any children, correct?"  I said "Oh, no...I have three." She came back with "So the WHY do you want more children?"  Really, lady?  Rude.)

2.  Be understanding of other's preferences (Explanation:  At afore-mentioned visit, when I stated that I preferred non-hormonal birth control for various reasons, all I got was plug after plug for hormonal birth control in the form of pills and IUDs because that's what they carried and that was the NPs preference.  I already said I'd like to avoid them, thank you, and gave you the reasons why.  I'm a nurse.  I'm educated.  I know my meds and my side effects and risk vs. benefit.  I didn't come to be preached at about what YOU think is best for me, I came to discuss options within my comfort zone.  Thank you.)

3.  Not preach my preferences at other people.  Present the information as appropriate, then let my client decide based on the information and her preferences.  (Explanation:  See #2)

4.  Have office personnel with personality.  (Explanation:  The medical assistant at yesterday's visit barely made eye contact, barely spoke to me, didn't tell me my weight or blood pressure but simply wrote them down and walked away.  Weird.)

Those little tidbits are just from one office visit.  I should keep a running log of these comments and situations...I run into them on a regular basis and always tell my husband "When I'm a midwife, please remind me..."