If you were to look up the word lazy in the dictionary you'd see my picture

Remember last week? How I kicked butt with the workouts? This week was a whole different story. Me thinks someone got a little too cocky. Here's what we have:

Sun: ran 2/2's 7x on treadmill. felt really good.
Tues: ran 2/2's 7x outside. felt good/sore next day. thought for sure I was on the way to 4/2's.

Until...

I got really lazy and sat on my butt when I should've been working out. I've been using a sore knee as an excuse, but let's get real here: it doesn't hurt that bad. Oh yeah, and I could've at least gotten off my fanny and gone to get new running shoes. But nope.

Next week will be better.

Tests...

My mom will be sent for more tests this week - a PET scan on Monday morning at 7:30 and a biopsy on Wednesday morning (she checks into the hospital at 6:00). The specialist she met seemed pretty positive. It could be as simple as a viral infection or as complex as...cancer. These tests will show what it is for sure, then the doctor can come up with a treatment plan for whatever is wrong. I just continue with my prayers that there will be quick diagnosis and quick, effective treatment. I'm also praying that she will know what is wrong soon - like by next Friday if at all possible.

It's funny how I always try to control the little things but I never try to control the big things. I know there's nothing I can do about this. It's all in God's hands. God has handled SO MUCH in my life and in the lives of the believers I know that there is this inherent trust He built into my heart. Don't get me wrong, this is not my own will trusting God, but I know it is the faith He has given me. It's not that I'm not feeling anything, it's just that He's given me the faith to get past my emotions and move onto trusting and relying on Him.

He is my ROCK.
He is JUST.
He is INFINITE in His knowledge of this situation.
He is LOVE.
He is the true source of JOY. of PEACE.
He is IN CONTROL.
He is THE GREAT PHYSICIAN.
He is MAGNIFICENT.
He is the LIFE GIVER.

Any One who would die willingly, who would give His Son on the Cross for me and for my family is trustworthy beyond all measure.

1 Peter 5:7

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

My mom went to meet her new doctor last week, and she mentioned something she thought was silly - that she coughs a lot sometimes unexpectedly, like when she laughs. The Dr. did a chest X-ray and saw a spot on her left lung, so she sent my mom to get a CT scan on Monday. She got the results today; it's a lesion, and she now needs to go see a pulmonary specialist tomorrow to discuss tests to find out exactly what it is. I am worried. I know this could be many, many different things, and if this is cancer it's probably small enough and caught early enough that it can be treated. But I'm still scared. This is when faith must take action. This is when I must trust my Lord. My mom is His child, and she belongs to Him. Because of this, I know I can trust Him with the results - no matter what they are. I pray for peace for her and for us in the time we wait for results. I pray for the doctors who will see her and that they will have a clear and concise diagnosis with good treatment options if necessary.

A lady at BSF gave a beautiful picture of faith in action last weekend. When I heard it, the Lord registered in my brain as something I need to always remember. She said: when we leave our requests at Jesus' feet, we then need to climb onto His lap an look in His eyes, because when we're looking in His eyes, we can't see all that we've laid at His feet.

Lord, I lay my mom at your feet tonight. I pray for peace and for quick diagnosis and if need be successful treatment. I trust you to handle this as you have handled so many things in my life and her life before. I cast my anxiety about this situation upon you, because you care for me.

Holy Developmental Leap, Batman!

I love to read others' parenting stories and adventures on the interwebs, and I also enjoy following certain blogs. I have found much good advice, funny anecdotes and relatable stories. About a month ago I purchased a book which I had read several mommies rave about, and of course, I love to read and gain as much good wisdome as I can. It's called "The Wonder Weeks: Eight predictable, age-linked leaps in your babies development characterized by the three C's (Crying, Cranky, Clingy), a change...and the new development of skills." I bought the book after Zooey had already gone through two leaps, the first "wonder weeks," at ages 5 and 8 weeks, and I wish I had purchased it sooner. Looking back at those ages, she was super fussy, and there were times nothing seemed to comfort her. I ended up carrying her around or wearing her in the Moby to get her to calm or nap many days. I just chalked it up to gas or to a growth spurt or the witching hour. I'm glad I have it for this leap, labeled in the book as the longest leap, sometimes lasting up to 6 weeks! I don't think her leap will last that long, but it's starting, and thanks to this book I have understanding of why she's being more fussy and what's going on in that little brain of hers. For most babies, this leap starts around 14-16 weeks and lasts through their 19th week. Zooey turned 16 weeks old on Monday. Starting Sunday night, she's been fussy and crying when I put her down for bedtime - she never does this (well, at home anyway). She's also been less interested in eating the last few days, instead prefering to stop and smile or look around. When I put her down for her independent playtime, she squaks madly or whines until I come pick her up. She stops and just stares into space or looks at something; she isn't smiling or laughing as much, it's as if she's just simply taking everything in and pondering over it. This would also probably explain the obsession with her hands. I think one of the new skills she's trying to master is bringing objects to her mouth (including getting her finger/thumb). She's started to do really well during tummy time, pushing herself up and holding herself up, looking around for quite awhile. She'll go from being smiley to crying and back again. All these things, the book explains, are signs of a major developmental leap. Zooey is learning new skills: physical, vocal, cognitive. By the end of this "leap" she will notice transitions in her day more, her movements will be more fluid, her babbling more organized. It's really pretty amazing all the changes that will take place. I am finding that the knowledge of these leaps is making it easier for me to "deal" (for lack of a better word) with her fussiness and cliginess. I understand this time what's going on that is making her fuss like this, and thanks to the suggestions in the book, I have a better idea of how to comfort her and also encourage her newfound skills and knowlege to blossom. I'm less uptight about her crying and am more empathetic. I am really trying to put myself in her shoes. I imagine what her brain is going through is similar to studying new information all day in class and getting brain overload. This makes people crabby! Or if I had to learn a new skill, like when I rode my bike in clipless pedals and kept falling over - it was tough and very frustrating. But once the learning ends, we have the knowledge and have good control over the skill, we are much happier people. The next few weeks will probably be rough, but then Zooey will be more confident and be her bright, sunshine-y self once again.

First workout week was rockin'!

Ok. I couldn't think of a better adjective than "rockin'," but I did manage to workout 4x this week - woohoo for me! I think I even have a good idea of where to fit it in my schedule each day. Plus, I'm super excited, because my dad offered to take me to his gym with his guest pass and I'd love to do a spin class or something. Going to keep track on my blog/journal/log, so I can keep stay motivated and hopefully stay on track to train for the tri in June. I'll need to start training in March for that and am hoping to be up to running at least 30 min. by then.

Mon-ran 2/2's 6x (ran w/orthotics; l. knee pain and shin pain-shoes??)
Tues-rode trainer, wu 10 min./hard 25 min.
Wed-rest
Thur-ran 2/2's 6x (ran w/o orthotics; ankle pain. Need new shoes.)
Fri-rode trainer, wu 10 min/hard 25 min.

Going to attempt baby yoga tomorrow...but I'm feeling good so far. Minimal soreness and feeling great mentally. Proud of myself for meeting my small workout goal this week. Same goal for next week with same workouts. If I feel good, then in 2 weeks I'll up my run to 4/2's and my bike to 40 min. Unless I join Dad's gym, not planning on swimming until March or April

Hands!!

Zooey is really obsessed with her hands. I wake her up from nap – she shoves her hands in her mouth. I try to feed her – she shoves her hands in her mouth. I lay her down on her play mat with her links, and she throws the links aside (which she normally loves to cram in her mouth), and – you guessed it – shoves her hands in her mouth. She also has a new trick, which is oh-so-cute where she grabs one hand with the other to help assist placing the hand in her mouth. The girl is definitely going to be a thumb-sucker (or finger sucker). She doesn’t really care for the binky, except on the rare occasion she is real upset. Most of the time it just gags her. Anyway, it’s quite cute to see her play with and chew on her little hands all day; life is most fascinating for a little baby.

TIME TO GET ON THE BALL!!

OK. 2009 I was pregnant and under orders not to exercise too hard; I had the baby...3rd degree tear...prolapse...enter 2010. I'm all better and ready to go! Except for that part of my brain that is not ready to go and has been superbly lazy since I've had that cute little babe. Especially since Ryan is home more - it's a blessing and an abundant answer to prayer, don't get me wrong, but I am WAY lazier when I can spend time vegging out with him all day. I'm itching to run. I am dying to ride my trainer. Then why, someone please tell me, WHY can't I get off my butt and do it?! Perhaps it has something to do with the wee little baby whom I adore needing to be fed, etc... That's really not an excuse, considering the time of day when I keep telling myself to workout is when she's in the middle of a 2 hour nap and daddy's in the next room to attend to her should she fuss. SO. This week, I'm going to find my bike pump so I can ride my trainer. I'm going to get my new running shoes. And I'm going to start working out. I promise. And even if it's just a 30 minute walk with Zooey, I'm going to do something at least 4 times this week. I'll let you know how it goes.