Getting Lower...But not there yet!

My latest numbers:

D&C date - 8/14/09
Week #1 - 8/31/09 - 159.6
Week #2 - 9/08/09 - 44
Week #3 - 9/15/09 - 18.3
Week #4 - 9/22/09 - 9.8
Week #5 - 929/2009 - 6!!

What the heck? It only dropped 3 numbers in a week. Boo...So over the numbers thing.

My 5K Training Plan

I've been running three days a week for the past three weeks following the Couch to 5K Running Plan. I think I'm going to switch it up though and follow this new one. I feel like it's laid out a little more easy to understand. I ran this morning and HATED every second of it. And, I have not lost a pound in three weeks. I've gained. Ugh!

So, anyway, here's my plan and I'm starting on week 4 since that seems to coincide with what Week 3 is for the Couch to 5K plan:

Week 1: Walk 20 to 30 minutes.

Week 2: Alternate walking 3 minutes with running 30 to 60 seconds for a total of 20 to 25 minutes.

Week 3: Alternate walking 2 minutes with running 1 minute for 24 to 30 minutes total.

Week 4: Walk 1.5 minutes, run 1.5 minutes; walk 3 minutes, run 3 minutes. Repeat three times for 27 minutes total.

Week 5: Run 3 minutes, walk 1.5 minutes; run 5 minutes, walk 2.5 minutes; run 3 minutes, walk 1.5 minutes; run 5 minutes, walk 1.5 minutes; run 5 minutes, walk 2 minutes--for 30 minutes total.

Week 6: Two days this week, alternate running 5 minutes and walking 3 minutes for 30 minutes total. On day three, run 8 minutes and walk 5 minutes twice for 26 minutes total.

Week 7: On day one, run 5 minutes, walk 3 minutes, run 8 minutes, walk 3 minutes, run 5 minutes--for 24 minutes total. On days two and three, run 10 minutes, walk 3, run 10 for 23 total.

Week 8: Run 25 minutes.

Week 9: Run 28 minutes.

Week 10: On day one, run 30 minutes. On day two, run 31. On day three, run 5K.

And, my end goal is this:




Virginia Run Turkey Trot 5K & Fun Walk
Come Out to Run or Walk Before your Thanksgiving Day Feast!
Thanksgiving Day Thursday,
November 27, 2008
Centreville, VA8:00 AM

Week #4 Blood Draws

My latest numbers:

D&C date - 8/14/09
Week #1 - 8/31/09 - 159.6
Week #2 - 9/08/09 - 44
Week #3 - 9/15/09 - 18.3
Week $4 - 9/22/09 - 9.8!!

She told me I have to keep going back until my number goes to ZERO! Ugh! I think I'm going to go next Thursday instead of Tuesday. Maybe it will have more of a chance of hitting zero by then. My arm feels like a pin cushion.

What's it's like to go on a walk with Onyx

Since you are dying to know, we took Onyx for a walk last night.

This dog is like walking a horse that pulls you the whole way.

She goes where she wants to go, sniffs what she wants to sniff, and (sorry, TMI) poohs more than any other dog I've seen before.

She is a strange one.

But, it was nice to get out on a walk since it is so rare that we ever go, the three of us.

And, before it gets too dark and cold out by the time we get home from work.

And, this dog NEEDS the exersize (as well as Steve and I do too) seeing that she now weighs 88 pounds and should be about 80. I need to work on that.

This is how she starts out. I like the blur of the picture so you can see how fast and hard she pulls you out of the house to the sidewalk.

And, she PULLS...

Until, finally you will get creative with the leash and how you hold it so that it doesn't hurt so much...

And she sniffs...

And, sniffs more....

And, stops for a break about 3 times....

Until, she finally starts getting worn out and I make her pose for a fall picture before the sun is COMPLETELY gone.

When we got to the end of the neighborhood (which took a LONG time), we decided to continue walking to our old apartment where they have the dog park that we used to take Onyx to.

There weren't any dogs but Steve threw the ball to her and she still had fun.

And, she was WORN OUT!

And, then I took her jogging this morning for 2 miles and went through the same thing all over.

So, Onyx and I are on a diet.

Redskins/Rams Game

Nisa and I went shopping at BJ's on Friday night with our friends Mike and Kara to load up on tailgating "stuff". I think we did well on our purchases. We bought a LOT of things for about 8-10 people tailgating but at least we had everything. I'd rather be over prepared then under.

Overall, it was a REALLY good time. Steve was the main man on the grill. He attempted to grill hotdogs, hamburgers and sausages but after doing a ton of hamburgers and hotdogs (and all but ONE hotdog rolling off the grill onto the ground, poor guy!) he gave up. Billy and his firend, Rick, road with us and they brought cornhole for us to play.

The game itself was okay. I had fun just being there but we ended up winning at only 9-7. That had to be the lowest scoring game I have seen in a long time, if not ever!

On to the pictures...

We had Nisa's moms car, our Tahoe (whoop, whoop!) and another friend's pickup truck all lined up so we had plenty of space to grill and play.

Part of our table set up...

Another angle with Nisa and her mom.

We made a U shape with our cars so we had out own little alcove.

All of us in jerseys of course!

Some of the boys playing cornhole...

I tried to step back far so I could get our whole setup. I couldn't get it all in the picture.

Rick in the pickup next to us

Probably my favorite picture of the day with FedEx field in the background

The girls

Part of the group

The Master Griller

The bee we caught in the bottle. We named him Bulger for the Rams player. Cause we TRAPPED him!

Another one of my favorite pictures. WITH THE SUPER SKIN! YESSSS!!

While Steve and I were walking up to FedEx. Tons of people!

Still walking up and stopping for a quick picture

Lining up on the field.

My first attempt at a picture in our seats. Not bad for me taking it.

And, then the kind man behind us offered to take one of us with our backs to the field.

We ran into my old co-worker at half-time

We went back to our car after the game that did a great job in helping us tailgate

We waited for the parking lot to empty out a little more so we could play more cornhole.

We met up with Billy's dad and his girlfriend in the parking lot and ended up driving them back to their car.

His dad's car was at the Pentagon. So, we took him there and Steve wanted to pretend...

In his pretending, he couldn't figure out how to open the door back up. So, his dad's girlfriend had to help him out.

It was such a fun day and I want to do it again!

Housewarming Party and Dad's 70th

Saturday afternoon Steve and I went to my old co-worker, Shannon's, housewarming party. She just moved into a duplex with a friend and they got a keg and had games like cornhole and ladderball set up in the backyard.


And, ironically enough, Shannon made spiked Arnold Palmers (iced tea vodka and lemonade) and had chips, hot dogs, dips and various other food items set up on a table outside.


Steve and I had been drinking those the night before and last weekend in Raleigh and LOVED them.

It was really fun to see my old co-workers from my first company out of college, Envision.


These are the girls of the group...

We didn't stay too long though because we had to meet my dad for dinner a couple exits down.

Even though we were only there for a short time, we had awesome weather so it was nice to be outside.

Shannon has been my inspiration to start Weight Watchers again. She is a twig now!

So, we hung out at my dad's apartment in Arlington for a little while.

We walked to a restaurant downstairs from his apartment that was pretty good. And, then he walked us back down tot he garage so I could give him his gift.

From there, Steve and I had to go to WAlmart and pick up some last minute items for the big game the next day! The long awaited Redskins/Rams home opener that I bought for Steve for our wedding present.

So Proud

I did it again.
I ran in the morning with Onyx.
I know and have accepted that I won't workout after work so I have to suck it up in the morning but at least it's over with for the day at that point.
I already am feeling better with myself. It's amazing what a workout can do.

Steve and I went to a driving range with my bosses boss, Cathy last night after work.
So, that was another workout that I'm sure I'll be sore from tomorrow.
I just need to be more active.
I was noticing that I would be tired even when I hadn't done anything. That is sad.

So, even though my 20 minute run/walks are not much.
It's something.

Week #3 Blood Draws

I got the call from the Nurse Practitioner this morning on my blood test results.
I asked her about my diagnosis to clarify what I have since I read about two diagnoses that sounded similar, Partial Molar and Triploidy. She clarified that I have Triploidy.
So, all this time I've been scared of cancer and everything else and it's something different. From my understanding, Triploidy can be Partial Molar but not always but Partial Molar is 99% of the time Triploidy.

So here are my latest numbers:
D&C date - 8/14/09
Week #1 - 8/31/09 - 159.6
Week #2 - 9/08/09 - 44
Week #3 - 9/15/09 - 18.3!!

It still went down over half but I feel like the drop is going to slow down a lot now. The lower the number drops, the slower it drops.
The Nurse Practitioner said that I have to go back in next week for another blood draw but she thinks this will be the last one.
I wish that were true but I don't believe her.

Back in the Saddle

I ran this morning! I said in the MORNING!
That must be a first for me.
I woke up at 6:30am grabbed Onyx and hit the pavement.

This was all due to the fact that I have not done a lick of exersize since I think about May.
And, I don't fit into any of my pants anymore.
It's depressing.

It was HARD!
I only went 1.5 miles and I thought I was dying.
That's how out of shape I got myself.
But, I did it and I'm proud of myself for finally doing SOMETHING.

So, now I will try my best to roll out of bed tomorrow morning and do it again.
I'm also going to a driving range tonight if it doesn't rain for a little more exercise with my boss and another co-worker.

The Trip to Raleigh

{I'm not sure why the layout is all messed up. I'll try to work on it. Click on the pictures to enlarge. There are a lot of them}

This little girl turned 3 on Saturday!!

Our trip to Raleigh was awesome.

I think Olivia LOVED her party. Kim worked hard to pull it all together.

For a party for 3 year olds that normally wouldn't have organization, there actually was.

We got down there on Friday night at about 11:30pm. It was a long ride but I got to play DJ with the ipod and entertained Steve with my singing....to country music....the WHOLE way. I'm positive that he loved it. :-)

We drank some wine when we finally arrived.

The kids were already in bed so I didn't see them until the next morning.

Saturday morning, we woke up to Olivia and Carleigh jumpin' on the air mattress.
As amused as Carleigh looks in this picture, she had fun too. I have to catch her off-guard cause she won't pose for pictures for me.
And, why does this 4 year old look so old??? WHAT?

We spent Saturday morning helping decorate the basement for her SCOOBY DOO party.
Kim went all out.


She bought tons of decorations, rented a "jumpin bean" as Olivia calls it, and even had the Scooby Doo theme song playing.

We took a break at one point to visit a spider outside who made a home on their bush.

That spider was NASTY looking. North Carolina has some BIG bugs!

Back to the party...I was told that I needed to be on "tattoo duty" for the little kids when they walked in. I practiced on Carleigh and Olivia beforehand. Tattoos are serious business.

I had a station set up and everything. Stickers, snacks and tattoos. What more does a kid need?

So, when the party started, they planned a cake mystery to go along with the Scooby Doo theme and the cake went MISSING!

The kids had solve the clues to find the cake.

Each clue led to a different game.

The kids started out in the theatre room (yes, they have a movie theatre) and watched a little Scooby Doo while all the other kids arrived.

The birthday girl was asleep while this was all going on, poor thing.

Most of the adults were just mingling.

When everyone arrived, we herded the kids like cattle to where the cake was originally and now it was missing.

But...there was a clue! Check out how animated Kim is when she reads the first clue.

The clue told them to all go back to the theatre room. They had to get their goody bag...

...and play the first game there...

They had to toss a ring on Scooby's ear and they would get a prize.

After they all got a prize, Kim read the next clue for the next game.

(Again, the animation in her face...unbelievable)...

They had to pin the bone on Scooby's mouth.

They all cheated except for one little girl.

But, it was cute.

And, Steve was happy too with his friend Jack.

And, the third game was a Scooby pinata.

I didn't realize that kids don't "beat" the pinata with a bat anymore. I guess too many kids got whacked in the face.

Now, they pull strings until someone pulls the right one.

And, they went crazy!

Grabbing all of the candy until there was not one piece left.

And, from there they got their final clue which led them to the cake. It had been stolen by this scary man...

We ended the missing cake game and lit the candles for Olivia to blow out.

The cake was served in dog food bowls with their names on them.

They sat on a picnic blanket on the floor...like a dog.

And, the birthday girl was happy. Doesn't she look it?

For the final surprise of the day, they had rented a princess "jumpin' bean". This thing was insane.

It had an obstacle course complete with basketball hoop...

And, slide!

There were a few injuries.

But, overall, everyone had a great time.

And, then my camera battery died. :-(

Doug, Steve and I went to a par 3 golf course that had lights after the party was over and came back and Kim made us iced tea vodka and lemonades. We LOVED them!

(And, just for the record so I remember, I beat Steve by 7 strokes at golf!)