Monday update

I can't believe Thanksgiving is already over!! Where has this year gone?? Our Thanksgiving was great...very relaxing and fun. I am so thankful that all my wonderful family is close by. And, somehow, this year I got out of almost all cooking.

Anyway, even though I was eating lots, I did continue to go to the gym, so I don't feel that too much damage was done. Today, I have burned 1176 calories since 10:40am. I had a good workout, with a very tough HIIT session at the end. I was going to get off the stairmill when my watch said 4.2, because I was just beat, but I didn't do it.... I just kept pushing...I LOVE MY WATCH!!

Also, I found a new favorite gum, since my previous favorite gym was discontinued (Trident Splash, vanilla and peppermint....now called Peppermint swirl...which is strangely hard to fine). Anyway, at Target the other day I saw Dentyne Blast (similar concept to my Trident version) the flavor though, is Chocomint...yes, chocolate mint. I was a little skeptical, and this combination can go dangerously wrong, but was pleasantly surprised when the first bite tasted like a junior mint. YUMMMMMMM.

Now if my fingers could just warm up, it wouldn't hurt so much to type.....

My lungs are sore....

......from all my sucking air the last 2 days being back a the gym. Today I did just interval cardio again with my watch....trying to hit a training effect of 5.0. Today it took me 37 minutes, which is less than a couple of weeks ago (it should be taking longer, as this means my body is adapting, and getting in shape...however, the 2 week hiatus took it's toll) Seriously, my lungs are feeling it. I've also started getting a little hoarse every now and then, and I'm thinking it might be from sucking wind as well. I'm also quite sore from Monday's workout...which was not any different than the workouts I was doing 2 weeks ago. It just amazes me that 2 weeks made this much difference.

I'm trying to get into some Pilates classes at a new studio that just opened here...they even have the cool Pilates machines. Since it is so new, they have very limited classes, BUT if you get some buddies to go with you, you can have your very own class. Anyone, anyone???? I really want to go, but I can't make it to the times they currently have.

Oh well, I'll get in there eventually.


OH, and good news....if you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll remember that I had been looking for a great pair of jeans...and had no luck..then vowed not to buy jeans until I hit my goal weight. That, apparently, was just too hard. Well, I went into JC Penneys...where I don't usually shop because I think their women's section looks way too matronly, and their juniors section looks way too Britney Spears. HOWEVER, they have recently started carrying Chip and Pepper jeans...which are a very spendy brand in boutiques, and high end stores, but they are now producing much cheaper, but still cute jeans for JC Penneys. I got a pair over the weekend, and LOVE them, and have gotten several compliments on them already...always a good sign. I went back today to see if I could get a different style. I really wanted a specific style but they didn't have my size, so I settled on the same style as I already have, but a different wash. I got them home and tried them on to get DH's opinion, and realized the gal had left the ink thing on them. That's okay, I think I will get another of the darker wash exactly like I have because I think I will be wearing them a lot, and it might be good to have 2 pairs.

Back to Turbulence Training....deconditioning doesn't take long

Today was my first day back at the gym after my 2 week hiatus...boy, was it rough. I could really tell I was deconditioned when I was doing cardio because my heart rate was taking a long time to come back down after the "sprints". My handy watch pushed me through, and is just so smart because it took me only 22 1/2 minutes to get to level 5 (after doing weights for 17 minutes also). Previously is was taking a little over 30 minutes to get to level 5 because apparently I was in better shape. Amazing what 2 weeks of not so great eating, and not working out can do! I'm not getting on the scale anytime soon!!


I stole this from my dear sister's blog, and strangely with only 5 questions to answer, it is quite true I think....

Your Brain is Blue

Of all the brain types, yours is the most mellow. You tend to be in a meditative state most of the time. You don't try to think away your troubles. Your thoughts are realistic, fresh, and honest. You truly see things as how they are. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about your friends, your surroundings, and your life.

What Color Is Your Brain?

A little about me...

Tag--you're it! Copy and paste into your blog and you know what to do.

1. WHAT TIME DID YOU GET UP THIS MORNING? 8am
2. DIAMONDS OR PEARLS? diamonds
3. WHAT WAS THE LAST FILM YOU SAW AT THE CINEMA? Pirates of the Caribbean 3?? Has it be that long
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? There are so many...Grey's Anatomy, Survivor, The Biggest Loser, Project Runway,
5. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY HAVE FOR BREAKFAST? It varies so much...eggs, toast, cereal, oatmeal
6. WHAT IS YOUR MIDDLE NAME? Marie
7. WHAT FOOD DO YOU DISLIKE? seafood
8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CD? Plumb (any of them)
9. WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE? Nissan Maxima
10. FAVORITE SANDWICH? Veggie from Adam's Deli
11. WHAT CHARACTERISTIC DO YOU DESPISE? Arrogance, unjustified anger
12. FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING? Probably my black velour outfit...oh so comfy!
13. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON VACATION, WHERE WOULD YOU GO? Italy, Greece
14. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM? basic off white...like the rest of my house
15. FAVORITE BRAND OF CLOTHING? I don't buy clothes because of the brand
16. WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE TO? Someplace warm near the ocean
17. WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY? Ummmmmm
18. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? Volleyball
19. FURTHEST PLACE YOU ARE SENDING THIS? I guess wherever you're reading from<--Kelly's answer
20. WHO DO YOU LEAST EXPECT TO POST THIS BACK TO YOU? ??
21. PERSON YOU EXPECT TO SEND IT BACK FIRST? Hmmm.
22. FAVORITE SAYING? Can't think of anything right now
23 WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? April 17
24. ARE YOU A MORNING OR NIGHT PERSON? Night Night Night
25. WHAT IS YOUR SHOE SIZE: 8
26. PETS? A cat named Daisy, and a fish named Garfield.
27. ANY NEW AND EXCITING NEWS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US? Having a girls night tonight...woooohoooo
28. WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE? A nurse..since I was 5
29. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? Great!
30. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CANDY ? Chocolate...specifically I LOVE Lille Belle Farms chocolates
31. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER? Roses
32. WHAT IS A DAY ON THE CALENDAR YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO? Feb 9th...going to Cabo...wooohooooo
33. WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME? Kristen Marie Ballew
34. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Jack's big music show....and the washing machine
35. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Cereal
36. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? no
37. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? ocean blue
38. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? Gloomy :(
39. FAVORITE SOFT DRINK? Diet Coke
40. FAVORITE RESTAURANT? Kaleidoscope, Porters
41. SIBLINGS? 1 dear sister
42. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? Christmas
43. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? Ummmm
44. SUMMER OR WINTER? summer
45. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs
46. COFFEE OR TEA? coffee
47. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? chocolate
48. DO YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO POST YOU BACK? yes
49. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? It's been at least a week..I can't remember
50. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED? An old comforter
51. WHO IS THE FRIEND YOU HAVE HAD THE LONGEST? Elyse
52. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? went to church
53. FAVORITE SMELL? ocean, bread baking, fresh cut grass, after the rain <----strangely all Kelly's answers too :)
54. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? The boogie man...seriously
55. SALTY OR SWEET? generally sweet
56. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR RING? I don't know, and I don't want to get up to count
57. HOW MANY YEARS AT YOUR CURRENT JOB? 3.5
58. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK? Saturday
59. HOW MANY TOWNS HAVE YOU LIVED IN? 3
60. DO YOU MAKE FRIENDS EASILY? Depends

I have a what in my eye...

This morning was another follow-up visit with the Lasik eye doctor. It seems to be an adventure every time I'm in there. Today he discovered a piece (fleck) of metal in my eye. 1) How does one have metal in their eye and have no idea... 2) How the heck did I get a piece of metal in my eye?
When I asked how one gets a piece of metal in their eye, he stated that it can come from your pipes. Hmmmmm.

I wanted to ask if he was sure it wasn't just some of my sparkly eye shadow...but I figured with his magnifying glass/light/torture looking machine, he probably would be able to tell the difference.

Thankfully, he easily got the fleck out, and everything else looked good. My vision is now 20/15...woohoooo! Doctor made no mention of the previously detected "fiber" in the same eye ...I wasn't in the mood to ask about it...or more so, I wasn't in the mood to hear what lame answer the doctor would give .

The only problem that I'm having is VERY dry eyes right when I open them first thing in the morning. It's almost worst than when I'd wake up with my contacts. So I still have to keep eye solution on my night stand, so I can lube up. :) Other than that my eyes do not feel dry (which is usually one of the main complaints post-Lasik.

Thought to ponder

Why are tennis balls vacuum sealed? You know, they have the plastic lid, then under that there is also a metal seal lid on it, just like a Pringles can. But why? Do tennis balls go stale?

I had PT today on my neck, and if someone could just hold my head while I work I think I'd feel a lot better :) All pain went away when the PT sat there applying a little traction on my neck.
Physical therapist recommended getting tennis balls, taping them together to do some stretching, traction, massage type things...hence the question above. Sure felt a lot better than the chiropractor!!!

Watched Transformers last night as the kiddos went to Grandmas. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Seems that most of the movies I really like don't do that well on Rotten Tomatoes
Almost all of my favorite movies are rated somewhere in the 40-50% range. Oh well, I guess I just like predictability. Hot Fuzz, however, got great ratings. Here's one of my favorite scenes...




Anyway, that's all the random thoughts I have today (well, not ALL), I could probably go on forever....

Is it bad that....

.....I've had my workout clothes on all day, but didn't go workout?? Ah well, I guess I'll go do some people watching at Walmart...I should fit right in there.

Anyone want to go to Cabo with DH and I? I'm a little sad that it will be just the 2 of us this year. Is that a bad thing? I'm sure we'll have a blast, but not as much fun as last year.

Happy Monday!

TGIF

So I am thankfully fully recovered from the traumatic weekend. I still am not fully convinced that the onset of vertigo had nothing to do with the Lasik, but I am just so glad it's gone!

The following are some random thoughts/rantings...

1) It's a good day when the little peely security thing on the tops of CD's and DVD's comes off in only 1 piece instead of the infuriating 5-10 pieces

2) Do not judge a movie by it's title. Hot Fuzz was actually a really funny movie, although I am still a little baffled as to how they came up with that title. But hey, it's British...they do things a little differently over there.

3) It is a bad thing when parents (read: me) cannot hold on to Christmas presents for my children until Christmas...., I'm just too excited and give them things that should wait until Christmas.

4) It is even worse when DH is just as bad as I am with buying and giving "Christmas" presents to our kiddos.

5) It's a bad bad bad idea to sit down with a quart of ice cream while watching TV....3 nights in a row.

6) I am thankful that the cat has "learned" to vomit on the rug instead of the carpet.

7) There are 46 shopping days until Christmas.

8) Having an Amazon wishlist should be a requirement for getting Christmas presents.

9) There has been a half finished jigsaw puzzle sitting on my dining room table for 3 weeks.

10) Our sense of smell peaks in our late 20s or early 30s, and gradually declines after that.

11) It is a GORGEOUS day in Southern Oregon

12) I've had 6 shots of espresso today (2 triple Americanos)

13) Dear son has declared he's going to be an "explorer" when he grows up, while dear daughter states she is going to be a "princess", and when I explain that you can't make money as a princess, she has now decided to be a doctor.

14) I have had a HUGE bag of spinach sitting unopened in my fridge....for over a week ( I had good intentions).

15) Target popcorn can count as dinner if you're in a pinch

16) I could make a lot of comments about the following video, mostly I just think it is ridiculously cute





Have a great day!!!

I just discovered this charity through another blogger, and wanted to encourage others to have a look. Child's Play is a gamer-run organization that holds a toy drive for childrens' hospitals. On their site you'll see little controllers on the map, each of those controllers are hospitals. You click on the controller and it takes you to their Amazon wish list where you can buy toys and have them delivered straight to the hospital.

In 2005 they raised a little over $600,000 in toys. In 2006 they raised over $1 million in toys. This year will probably be even better than last.

It is so easy to donate, especially if you already have an Amazon account or Paypal. I donated to Legacy Emanuel Hospital up in Portland, because I used to work there. I have also emailed the charity to ask about Rogue Valley Medical Center being added to their list.

Anyway, you don't have to be a "gamer" to donate.

Is it strange...

....that my kids thought it was really funny to flush their dead goldfish down the toilet? They each got one at the Harvest party at the church 6 days ago, and one went belly up (well, really he just sank) yesterday, and DH did the duty of flushing him to fish heaven...I hear them laughing from the other room, then hear Maree say "can we flush the other one too". The other one was still alive! Well, until today...it sank too, and had to be flushed. What's with goldfish?? We're not bad fish parents either, we have a Beta that has lived for 11 months!! But we lose both goldfish within 6 days. Now I have a whole thing of goldfish food, and no goldfish......




In other news, I'm feeling good today...no spinning at all. I still feel slightly off balanced every once in a while, but MUCH better than the previous few days. YEAH!!

Improving??

Today was a busy day...well, compared to the last 3 days. This morning while getting ready for my appt, I had a major vertigo spell, proceeded to get very nauseated, and had to lay down for a bit. Then, I had my eye doctor appt, and this doctor took a very quick look at my eyes and declared everything look good. So I asked if he saw anything under the flap under my right eye (the other doctor on Saturday had to lift my eyelid a bit to get a good look, and this doctor did no eyelid lifting), and he said well ya, but the swelling is really improved....from what the other doctor documented. This sounded a little fishy to me as I don't know how you document the degree of swelling in a flap of super thin tissue. That's just the nurse in me, and I'm not an eye doctor so whatever. So then I mentioned that the other doctor had mentioned that I might need to have this piece of fiber removed if it remained there. This doctor said, nah, it's not in your line of vision, we wouldn't worry about it. Mmmm, okay. I had mentioned upon arriving that I felt miserable with vertigo and nausea and he said, you must have the flu or some kind of but, it's definitely not because of your eyes. Mmmm, okay. So as soon as we got home I had DH make an appt with my regular doctor, and they got me in within 2 hours....well I had to wait an hour and 1/2 before actually seeing the doctor, but he apologized profusely, and is super nice, so I forgave him. At first he questioned what anesthesia I had been given for the Lasik, and I said only Ativan, and he asked several times if I was sure. Um, yes, unless they slipped me a quick one without my consent. But, for whatever reason, this didn't seem possible to the doc so he called up the Lasik placed and verified this info, to which they confirmed my story. After ruling out a reaction to anesthesia (especially since I felt fine fine fine on Friday), he then does some listening and looking, and diagnoses me with a middle ear infection (which you cannot actually see in an exam, so really it's more of a guess). He also said my stomach was making absolutely no noise, which is very unusual, so he said whatever virus was affecting my inner ear was also affecting my stomach...I was nauseated. So anyway, he recommended some over the counter motion sickness meds (Meclizine) which he said usually work really well for vertigo. All in all, I did feel encouraged after hearing another doctor say it was NOT my eyes causing these symptoms, and just a crazy coincidence that it happened right after having Lasik. I was getting a little peeved with myself for having an elective surgery for which I did not really research the possible side effects...AND wearing contacts didn't really bother me that much..I was just a contact abuser and I thought that having Lasik would be more beneficial to my eyes than abusing contacts and all the risks that go along with that. It just seems that all the people I knew that had Lasik did just fine. Heck the doctor's wife on Dr. 90201 (ya, I watch it every once in a while...but only when there is nothing else on ) had it done, and my regular eye doctor had recommended it to me, so it had to be safe.
However, I'm not entirely convinced just yet, as I have done some Google searching, and seen some very disconcerting stories about people having disabling chronic vertigo and nausea that mysteriously occurring immediately after having Lasik, accept no one believes that it's from Lasik, and no doctors can figure out how to treat it.....EEEKKKKSSS.

The spinning does seem to have improved over today, and I'm not sure if it's from the meds, or just me getting better. The doctor said the Meclizine usually knocks people out, and I was somewhat hoping for this affect as I'd rather be sleeping than dizzy and nauseated! No such luck, I took the max dose and still managed to stay quite awake. Oh well, at least the world is staying still!! Hoping for no episodes tomorrow!!

Thanks everyone for all your prayers. I appreciate them so much!

Monday update...UGH

Well, I think I am doing a little better...although I seem to get worse as the day progresses. It's like motion sickness. I don't get it...shouldn't my brain have figured this out already? Am I slow? If I bend over or bend my head to the left or right, the world starts to spin.
I am praying that there is nothing under the flap today at my appointment...I really do not want them to have to lift the flap again.
Tam, thanks so much for your oh so kind offer!! That is so sweet of you. Thankfully, DH has been off the weekend and today, and has been taking care of me and the kids. Tomorrow my MIL comes over to watch the kids, and will likely take them home with her. I'm suppose to be working today-Wednesday, but with my eyes and my neck/back I'm just not sure how it's going to go. I feel so old, lol!! Just take me out to pasture!
I don't like anything that messes with my daily routine, so this is rather irritating!
Anyway, I am thankful that my vision is great...although I'm still adjusting to up close vision. It's another beautiful day outside, and today I'll actually get to go outside...I didn't step outside at all yesterday..I'm stir crazy!!
I really miss working out!
I've eaten nothing but carbs for the last 3 days. Although I'm not eating much so it shouldn't really matter.

Recovering from Lasik....harder than I thought

Well this will be a quick note, but just wanted to give an update on my Lasik procedure. The actual procedure was fine...short. Right after the procedure I felt like I was going to pass out...you know stars, no sound in one ear, cold sweats. That passed after a couple of minutes and some juice. The rest of the day Friday was fine, I napped, listened to books on tape (thank you Kelly), and generally felt well (still had Ativan on board). I don't know what happened between Friday night and yesterday morning but it wasn't good. I woke up with the world spinning, and I was so nauseated. The had a post-op appt, where they discovered I had something under the flap of my right eye....if it doesn't work it's way out then I'll have to have the flap lifted again and washed out...and I had to increase the ant-inflammatory drops to every hour. The rest of the day I spent in bed trying to keep my head in one position...and trying to remember what drops to put in when ( I have 3). Thankfully this morning I am feeling a little better. I am not nauseous, but I'm still a little off balanced. I have a hard time believing that it's because my brain is adjusting to the different vision (which by the way is great), so I'm no sure what is causing my vertigo. Your balance center is in your ears, and I'm not sure how that was effected by having Lasik.

Anyhow, my vision is good, I'm feeling a little better today, and hopefully, whatever was under the flap will be out by tomorrow's follow-up appointment.

It's Thursday!

Well it's a gloomy day here in Southern Oregon. Today marks a very exciting milestone...the Cabo counter is at 99 days. Mind you I started the counter somewhere over 300 days, so getting under 100 is exciting. We went to Cabo San Lucas in February and had such a fantastic time that we decided while we were there that we had to come back next year. When it's gloomy like this outside, it's fantastic to be able to imagine myself in Cabo....it really gets me through a lot of gloomy days. For your enjoyment :) I'll leave you a picture of a view from my lounge chair in Cabo..... from last February

In other exciting news, I am having Lasik surgery tomorrow. EEKS! I'm a little nervous, but I'm sure after a little happy pill I'll be just fine. After surgery you have to come home and take a mandatory 4-6 hour nap (helped along with a happy pill). However, you aren't allowed to watch TV, read, or look at a computer screen for 24 hours!!! Wow, that's going to be tough!

In workout news, yesterday after another fun (read: painful) visit to the chiropractor, I went to the gym. I really really really did not want to workout, but I was already sitting in the parking lot, and I knew I'd feel better if I just got it done. I had decided not to do any weights, as I really want my neck/back to feel better and so I was giving it a rest. So I did the Stairmill until my watch hit 5.0...which took a long time! I hit 5.0 at minute 38. That was the longest HIIT that I have ever done...it was hard!!! After doing really well eating all day, I finished the day with a bowl of ice cream and a reeses peanut butter cup.... I have such a hard time staying on track when I'm not feeling just right. Anyway, tonight is 1.5 hours of karate, so that should cancel out the treats yesterday...right??