Monday, January 18, 2010

Madelyn's Massage Parlor

Madelyn thought I needed a massage and make over this evening and I gladly obliged.

First a leg/foot massage with a LOTS of lotion.




Then a neck and back massage.



Complete with a new hairstyle (Aunt Shelly may have future competition).



You better make an appointment soon because openings are filling up quickly.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Team In Training

After a two year hiatus I have decided to train and complete another 1/2 marathon (actually thinking about training for a full marathon, but haven't committed to that quite yet). However, this time I'm doing it for a cause. I'm signing up for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training.
teamintraining.org/ks
In addition to running for the cause I need to raise $3,000. By far raising the money will be the biggest challenge for me. I've completed four 1/2 marathons so I'm not too worried about putting in the miles, but raising the money is a different story. But I know I have awesome family and friends that would love to donate for such a great cause!! Right?!??!

I have also recruited two friends to join me on this venture. The race we have chosen is June 6, in San Diego, CA. We will start training in February. We will be assigned a coach that will encourage and help us through our training and with fundraising. We will also get the opportunity to complete our long training runs with the team.

I'm super excited about this new challenge. Now, remind me of that when I'm putting in the long training miles.

The TNT (Team in Training) kick-off party is next Thursday. This is when I will turn in my committment paperwork, and the fun will begin. More to come.....

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Sunday, January 10, 2010

January 9 - a day late

Seven years ago on January 9, 2003 Ryan and I walked into an appointment preparing for the worst but hoping for the best. We were going in for a level II sonogram to find out if our precious babe had spinal bifida.
A couple weeks prior I had taken the AFP blood test that would determine if our baby was at a higher risk of having neurological defect or downs syndrome. I remember clear as day getting the phone call from my doctor stating that the blood test had come back positive for spinal bifida. We had to wait nine grueling days before we could get in for a level II ultrasound to find out if our baby indeed did have spinal bifida. Ryan and I and hoped and prayed that our baby would be born healthy, but regardless we would love our baby like no other. To date, that nine days was one of the toughest times for us, but as a couple we grew closer to each other and to the Lord.
Ryan and I were a ball of nerves that day and were just anxious to know. As the technician was looking at our baby on the screen and was scanning over all the body parts I asked her if the baby was okay. She said from what she could see everything looked fine but the Perinatologist would have to be the one to determine by what he saw. At that point Ryan and I knew that our baby was healthy. She then asked if we wanted to know the sex of the baby. We had not planned to find out the sex of our baby, but this was the fourth ultrasound we had and we were so excited to have a healthy baby that we caved and told her yes. I just knew we would have a boy, as did the majority of our family, but Ryan had a hunch our baby was a girl. Well, our lady like daughter was showing us all her glory and indeed we were having a girl!!

We thank God every day for the precious, healthy baby that has now turned into a healthy, sassy 6 1/2 year old.

Every year on January 9, I remember that appointment and then thank God for how blessed we are.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Tom



This is Tom. Tom is actually a Mad TomCat Fish (or so Ryan tells me). Tom was rescued(or kidnapped) by Madelyn from the creek near Ryan's parent's house last Easter. Tom has lived way longer than I had ever expected. I've actually become a little attached to Tom. He is low maintenance and usually hides under the rocks 90% of the time but the other 10% he spends digging in the rocks (just to stir up some noise) or swimming up and down the side of the bowl.

Everyone (the 3 people that read my blog) meet Tom.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Saturday, January 2, 2010