Holy Moly...Life Changes and then some!

I am not even sure where to begin. I see my last post was to say that I started the law firm with two partners, which I did slightly more than 2 years ago. It consumed me quite honestly. I had no time whatsoever for exercise, little time for family (although I found ways to make time for family), and my "triathlon" consisted of networking like mad, working and meeting with clients, and getting as involved as possible in the community. At one point I was on 7 or 8 Boards, and was trying to narrow it down to 4.   In Junior League, I chaired the Public Affairs Committee and quite honestly discovered my passion... Advocating for healthy food access for all Americans, especially those living in food deserts. It made me crazy to see kids in town who because they were poor only have access to junk food because fast food restaurants take SNAP and there were no groceries in their neighborhoods. So I galvanized the states' Junior Leagues, had a bill introduced, worked like the dickens to get it passed.  It didn't pass. At midnight on the last day of the Florida legislative session when there was officially no chance, I cried and had a few choice words for the politicians. I was in love with trying to make a difference and being the voice for those whose voice is often unheard. I didn't give up though. I've kept working at it and have gotten the Department of Agriculture to host a Food Access Policy stakeholders meeting which is coming up. Working on this - when I was/am working on it are the happiest moments of my professional life.
During all of this, I lost 40 pounds and went through an initially hellish roller coaster in my marriage. Mr. Darcy and I ran the chance at points of not making it to our 15th anniversary. But I actually look back gratefully at it all because in the process I realized I was, for the most part, not living my life but the life of someone who worried what everyone else thought about me and did everything I could to do what they wanted, or what I thought they wanted of me. And I slowly found myself again. I even figured out that was what I was chasing down in my triathlons - something just for me.
In finding myself, I found that for all his flaws, I did not want to leave Mr. Darcy and my plot to lose 40 pounds and then divorce him wasn't really what I wanted. We been through counseling together (and some separately for me to help me on my journey to be the me I was out here to be) and we had an amazingly wonderful 15th anniversary, which we celebrated in France! (Ladybug and Angelfish stayed home... Part of the week with Grammie & Papa and the other with dear friends.)
Yet, I couldn't figure out, or perhaps did not want to acknowledge it, but I was still unhappy except for when I was working on advocacy work. And then one day the neon sign turned on in my head. It was something I had wrestled with for a long time - the fact that I have never liked being an attorney. I love the people and learning their stories, but the lawyering and the business of being an attorney. But this time, there was more to the neon sign... It was the truth of what I wanted to do with myself - to work to make change in the lives of those who need it most. So I went home and Mr. Darcy and I had long talks and I did a good bit of praying, and dedicated a counseling session to this topic. And I knew. I've ironically been praying for more than a year for God to show me the path I needed to set my feet upon and follow. And for once it was calm and peaceful and as though it was the most obvious thing in the world and I had no clue how I had taken this long to figure it out. And Mr. Darcy in full support, I made my decision which may not have been the best received news in the world yet I know it was the right choice for me.
As of 5 pm on November 16, 2012, I transferred my ownership in the firm to my partners, said goodbye to clients (so many of whom and very sweet and kind words about what I meant to them as their attorney and even more so as a friend), and set out. I've interviewed for a few positions, and submitted my résumé and interest for other positions and I am waiting. I know that I am on the path I am intended to be on.
For now, I am looking for a position in the nonprofit sector and enjoying the time and the life I have. It is nice to have time with the girls, who believe it or not are in 1st grade and are as smart as can be and who are reading on almost a 3rd grade level, doing math and everything! I'm enjoying taking my time cooking nice, healthy meals every night without being strapped for time and energy. Doing errands and cleaning during the week.
And returning to things I love that I haven't done in ages. Blogging (although I am not sure the title still works as i haven't done a race in more than 2 years). Exercising - I started this week with yoga since I started the week with a head cold. And I find myself itching to run. I signed up to do a 5K color run with some friends in mid-January, so I need to lace up and hit the road. Yesterday, I saw a fellow blogger of old posted about committing to almost 1 mile per day every day of December and I am seriously contemplating it. I've even been thinking about my bike, but I'm not sure when my next triathlon will be. I'll figure all of that out in good time.Photography - a photo a day themed on The holidays... Which I have decided to do. Time for and with friends and family.
Perhaps most of all I am working on being present in everything I do instead of thinking about the next thing that has to be done, but yet keeping to do lists so I don't drop any balls. I have to say, it is much easier now. I am happy and eagerly awaiting the next chapter in my life to unfold.
So much has changed while I have been gone, but it was all for the best....

The Return of TriMommy!

Here I am... scary that when I logged in, it said I hadn't blogged since November 10, 2010.  Yowsers!

A lot has gone on since then... I officially joined a law firm - Englert Leite & Martin PL - and as of last Friday, made that my sole full-time enterprise.  Many weeks of 90 hours/week made it difficult to exercise.  For a week in there I tried to do 20 minutes of the 30 day shred.  It did not last for 30 days.  It was seriously amazing how getting up at 5 am to work everyday so you could do law firm work and then full time other work, then networking or working until the wee hours day after day left no time whatsoever for that.

In December, I had to have my gallbladder removed after a night that made my doctor wonder if I had had a heart attack or minor stroke.  Turned out it was my gallbladder (and a sinus infection - great use of a brain scan).  So 2 days before Christmas, out it came.  Don't remember much of Christmas, but I do know the girls were happy with Santa.

HIP Kids was still going gang busters, although we did move locations to a center that LOVES having the program there and the kids were thrilled to see us.  That has ended for the year as well.

And of course, you know me - I can't have enough on my plate, so I have been running for Woman of the Year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Fundraising has been difficult in this economy, but I've really been giving my all.  I can't tell total numbers (against the rules), but the two fundraisers I had this weekend (a band benefit at a club downtown and a Happy Hour with silent bucket auction) raised $914!  I was thrilled!

I'm in the final push for that as well - donations shut off at noon on Friday, May 20th... if you'd like to donate to help find a cure for cancer, please do: www.ncfl.mwoy.llsevent.org/katemartin  (I know - I just disclosed my "true" identity hahahaha).

I am so happy to have been fundraising for LLS, a cause near and dear to my heart, but quite honestly I am ready for this to be over.  It's a little stressful wondering if you're raising enough and what else can you do and so on.

I started reading the Secret, so I'm envisioning checks or credit card charges being made to my LLS campaign as we speak (and I'm not joking).  It makes a lot of sense.  Just like I used to envision races or even long workouts, now I'm doing it for other parts of my life.  So far, I'm really good at getting parking spots. : )

Anyway.  So I started back to the workout today (I needed a recovery day from my Sunday fundraising event - 4 Sangrias later)... Mind you I haven't run or anything (other than flirting with The Shred) since October.  I ran and walked 2.5 miles with a neighbor today.  I was kind of happy when she told me about .15 in that we were doing a 9 minute mile pace because I was dying.  Of course, the entire thing was super hard since I have not been using my body for such things in awhile.  I plan on an hour of yoga in the morning tomorrow, and a 2 mile run on Thursday, followed by a jog with my neighbor from my house to the Y where we will do a spin class and then jog home. 

The hardest part about getting back into exercising (and eventually triathlon) again is the fact that despite my brain knowing it's been forever since I worked out, I had thoughts like "holy sh#t - what is wrong with me? I used to be able to run forever and at a much faster pace without needing to walk like this!"  But by the end of the 2.5 miles I was able to remind myself (although I had to use the "You've gone farther than this to get here, so you can run to the house for about a distance of at most a 0.25 mile) that the good news was that I was out there doing something again. 

The goal for now is to get back to being able to run 3 days a week 3-4 miles each day. Yoga at least 2-3 days a week, and maybe throw the shred in on a running day as well.  Then start mixing the bike in.  Next thing you know I'll be either doing road races or triathlons again.  Ladybug has inquired about when that next triathlon will be a few times over the last month and is still telling people that when she grows up she wants to be a veterinarian (no, she does not say animal doctor and corrects you if you do - and no, she's not 5 yet), a Mommy & a triathlete.  My goal is to get her and her sister riding a bike by the end of the summer. : )

Speaking of the girls, they are about to graduate from Pre-K.  I registered them for Kindergarten today after an excruciating (and yet looking back at it funny) visit to the pediatrician for their final shots and 5 year old check up so that we could get them registered at school.  They love their doctor, who is working with a resident - whose 1st day was today and whose 1st appointment was you guessed it - Ladybug and Angelfish!  It is always funny to me how my kids can sense when someone doesn't have a full handle on what they're doing... they were silly.  When asked to sing the ABCs, part way through they purposefully started saying them out of order and singing "CAKE spells cake."  I had to tell them that the doctor needed to make sure that they could go to Kindergarten so they needed to answer her the right way... they sang it right that time.  Angelfish told the doctor she brushes her teeth 5 times a day and watches 10 hours of TV everyday, until I asked her if she was being silly.  Ladybug said she brushes her teeth once a day - once in the mornning and once in the evening, then said 1+1 = 2, so I guess that's really 2 times.  When the "regular" doctor came in, they were just fine.  Reminds me of the movie Jerry Maguire - kids and dogs can smell fear.

Speaking of fear. Then it was time for shots. Hysteria.  To the point that Ladybug was fighting and begging me not to let them give her shots, and then Angelfish had to be pulled out from underneath a table she was hiding under.  Hysteria x 2 when it came to the finger prick for the annual bloodwork to check cholesterol and such.  I asked Ladybug to tell Angelfish it really wasn't all that bad, and instead she said "Angelfish ball your fist up really hard - don't let them do it to you!"  I had to get Ladybug to sit outside the room on a bench and explain that they were about to call for nurses to hold Angelfish down to get the blood drawn for Angelfish to relent and give them a finger to prick.  And then she was fascinated by how they collected her blood in the tube for the test.  And within 5 minutes they were both happy go lucky little kids again.

So in some ways, things have changed.  And some ways things have stayed the same.  2.5 miles used to be a short easy run... but at least I'm doing it again!  I loved running - need a new pair of shoes, but it felt great (despite being as hard as hades...) to be out there again.

I plan to keep it up.  That full IM by 40 might still be in the action plan after all...

It's Been A While...

It has been a while.  I hope you all haven't given up on me.  Life has been quite busy - networking, working and more working, the little ladies, and the everyday stuff.  I admit fully that the thing that had to give (because something had to) was my training. Unfortunately, that meant no training.

I've been doing marathons of another sort - working or networking or doing meetings each night until 11 pm and not being able to drag myself out of bed at 5:30 to get the work outs in.  But I will say that even though a bit stressful, I'm having a great time with it all.

Yet, I was constantly missing physical activity.  Sure, I play some with the kids but going from triathelete to not exercising at all definitely left a hole - not just the pressure of not having gotten a workout done, but the physical need for movement AND stress relief.

So this Monday, I got out of bed at 6 am and went for a 2 miler.  I figure I am starting over at this point.  But amazingly, it wasn't as bad as I thought.  I've retained some stamina at least.  My back has been twingy (probably thanks to high heels being reintroduced into my wardrobe) so I didn't push it - I alternated running 0.25 miles with walking 0.25 miles and still made it home in less than half an hour.  I definitely need new shoes - they squeaked the whole way and my knee (which only bothers me when it's time to get a new pair of shoes) twinged toward the end.  It felt so good to be out and moving again.  And I felt good when running.  My lungs burned a little but then I just slowed the pace a tiny bit and that stopped.  I didn't wear a watch so I'm not sure how long it took me, but I know it was less than half an hour... I think around 25 minutes.

This morning I got up at 5:50 and after a quick look at the internet because our phone is not working but our DSL is, I did half an hour of yoga.  Oddly enough, after the yoga was done I wished I had run again.  But for now, the plan is to get back to doing 5/1's in a 2 miler and then slowly add more distance.  I have a feeling I can still do the 5/1's but my mind has to believe it more than my body.

It may be a little bit until I am able to figure out how to get tri training in and enough sleep and everything done, but for now I hope to get  3-4 five mile runs in a week and do yoga for 1/2 an hour on the other days with Sunday off.  Of course, this morning while doing a one-legged down dog pose the thought came to me - a full IM the year I turn 40.  That's 5 years from now, so we'll see but even down deep and in my dreams I'm still a triathlete.

The girls are doing great by the way... looking forward to Santa.  Angelfish is definitely driven by Santa and presents - she modifies her behavior and tells us that she's thinking of Santa and whether he'd think she was being nice or naughty, and that she loves Santa Claus.  Ladybug is stubborn still but she's getting better at making "good choices" instead of just insisting on her way.  But she may get a little coal in her stocking to prove a point... I just can't decide if that would be too traumatizing for her or not. 

We attempted to take them ice skating the other week (yes in Florida) which was more of a hassle than anything.  I don't think 4 year old balance was quite good enough to endure.  But I will say I was really proud of their effort.  They were on the ice a good 15-30 minutes before giving up the ghost.  Lots of falling but no crying.  Amazingly, I did not fall despite holding the hand of a small child and attempting to keep the child up and moving without injuring them or me.  It was kind of like cycling in a windstorm... I would bear down with my quads and steady my lower body while still moving but then was using my upper body to pull up on the kiddo.  My lower back wasn't thrilled by the end of it all, but I think they had a good time all the same.  Mr. Darcy said that he won't contemplate attempting it again until they're at least 7... so 2 1/2 years from now, stay tuned.

I hope you all are well - I have to admit that my blog reading has been nonexistent.  So I have a ton to catch up with...

Love is in the Air - or at least the Love Bugs are...

It is love bug season here in Orlando, and it's a rather cosmic infestation this year.  The girls' daycare is evidently extremely attractive to the love bugs, as one day the entire front of the building was covered in love bugs.  Over the weekend, they had even found their way into the girls' classrooms through a crack somewhere and the floor was covered with dead love bugs.

Now, I'm not sure about you all, but when you can't walk outside without getting love bugs on you it doesn't really induce me to want to run or bike.  Especially bike - I envision my face having those splattered love bugs all over it like my windshield does. Yuck.  And that goes double yuck when I think about the fact that those love bugs that are stuck together are in fact copulating. Double yuck.

Monday I took the girls to daycare, so that took up my morning workout time.  Tuesday I did an hour of yoga, and the 2nd half hour was a difficult third eye opening sequence with planks, side planks and more that left me super sweaty... and made my tricepts and my hamstrings a little sore.  I take it as a good thing.  This morning, I was stressing over some stuff that I can't talk about in the blog just yet, so I got up and sent a few emails and then went for a 2 mile run.  I did it in just a little under 20 minutes, which I was happy with.  It's my first run since the bronchitis and I only stopped coughing sometime around last Friday.  My lungs felt good, but my mind was all over the place.  I figured since I haven't really run, run in about 2 months (very pathetic to see that in writing) I would start with a good solid run for 2 miles.  I didn't wear a watch so I'm pretty sure my running stretches were longer than 5 minutes, especially since I hit the half mile mark before I walked a minute and then didn't walk again until after I hit the mile mark, or the 1.4 mile mark and then didn't walk until I got home.  All in all I was pleased.  Although I realized that I need to wear my watch and do the 5/1's because it's like a contract with myself - I know I am going to run for 5 and walk for 1.  When I run without my watch, my brain likes to try to say things to me like "you can stop here and then walk to there and then run." and sometimes its after just a silly little space of distance... and it wasn't just today, it's every time I don't run with a watch.  So my running watch will be my constant running companion from this point out.  It had rained yesterday, and evidently the love bugs don't like rain because I had a nice love bug free run. : )

Of course, love bug season has caused some interesting discussions around our house.  Ladybug has decided that she loves the love bugs.  As she tells me, "Mommy, I love the love bugs and they love me too."  She is very sensitive to all of God's creatures, including red ants and any other sort of bug.  She was a bit distraught one day though and asked me "Do love bugs suck all the love out of your heart when they land on you?"  I told her no, and asked where she heard that one.  From one of her little daycare friends who I happen to know that her parents just got divorced.  So I had to explain why they are called love bugs.  But, since I personally am not ready to have the S-E-X discussion with my 4 year olds (mainly because Mr. Darcy would  probably pass out), I left the fact that the bugs are copulating out of the discussion.  I told her that they are called love bugs because the ones that are attached to each other are like people who are in love - they always want to be together.  Then she asked "but what about the ones that aren't attached?"  I had to think quick, so I said "those are the ones still looking for their true love."  Other than saying she was sad for those love bugs because they were lonely, she was good with that.  You have to be a quick thinker with these kids...

We've also been working on manners, and it must be sinking in because this weekend Angelfish was having a difficult time saying "surprise" - she kept saying "urpise."  So I helped her by saying the word for her and really emphasizing the "sur" part of the word.  To which she responded, "Mommy? Is it "sirprise" and "m'am prise"?  Mr. Darcy and I had a nice laugh over that one and I of course explained that while it sounds similar it's two different things.

And that my friends, is all the news that is fit to print... for now!

The Verdict

I had a feeling this morning what the doctor was going to say.  I woke up knowing I had to take the car to get repaired and pick up the rental car since it's supposed to be in the shop until Friday (which I wonder why since my little dent is NOTHING compared to every other car I saw in the car yard today - there was one vehicle whose entire backend was in pieces on the ground behind it.  I couldn't help but look and wonder at whether everyone was okay in those other collisions.  Mine literally is just a pushed in corner with some missing paint on the left corner of my bumper and nothing else.).  I could barely talk and my cough sounded a bit like a barking dog, and worst of all my chest felt super heavy while just breathing.  The tell tale signs of bronchitis.

I got up and did what I needed to do, showing up in a Gold Chevy Impala whose engine is so quiet that I can't tell if it's on while I'm driving.  It's so quiet it's a little disconcerting.  It took some doing to get the car seats latched in... I had to enlist the help of the car rental employee checking the vehicle out to me.  But anyway, those two little things and I was wiped out.  I actually fell asleep waiting for the doctor to come in to see me, and I wasn't back there all that long.  Not the greatest.  Nor was it wonderful that almost each time he told me to take a deep breath I coughed hard afterwards.

So the verdict? Severe Bronchitis.  How this happens just from Sunday forward I have no idea.  But there it is.  And so I am working on my laptop in bed today as the doctor told me that I am to rest.  Working in bed is resting, right?  Well, it's as close as I'm getting because I teach a seminar on Tuesday and my paralegal is out on PTO for the rest of week as of 1/2 an hour from now.  No time to rest.  It's bad enough I'm missing 2 events this week and my friend Belle (who I do not blame at all for her decision) has opted out of our weekend visit because it would be a very bad time for her to be sick as well - lots going on at work and such.  But we'll reschedule and have lots of fun when we are both well.  But no training until I am feeling better either.  At this point, I'm determined to do the 1/2 Mary - even if I have to walk it!

But for now, I am drinking lots of hot mint tea, taking my Z-pack as prescribed, and the mucinex and Robitussin DM....

The Angry Coughing Froggy Lady

That title is me.  I am coughing and when I do it hurts in my lungs.  I feel like I have an egg in my throat - even when I'm not coughing.  My chest feels heavy when I'm just sitting around, you know... breathing.  When I talk, I sound like a mess and am often interrupted by coughing while doing it.  Turns out my doctor's office is closed today.  The doctor and the PA (who are married) are out of town and have not left another doctor to see their patients in their absence.  Not sure I care for that, but I do love the PA.  If she were a doctor, she'd be the best doctor ever.... between her bedside manner and her knowledge and her ability to say I'm going to look into that for you, she rocks.  Anyway, I talked to the doctor on the phone because I put in a call since I had left a message and it appeared that the office was closed... they should have had something that said the office was closed until tomorrow not just the office is currently closed because that sounds like it's opening up today to me.  Anyway, I felt bad about bothering him when he was on vacation but I thought the office would be open or that the doctor on call would be a different doctor if the doctor was not in today.  But the pain and pressure are something that needs attention.  I don't mess with my lungs - my whole life I've been prone to bronchitis and have had some doozies of near pneumonia in my life, so I know what feels like I need to see a doctor and be on antibiotics... the throat thing is the part that I'm not sure about but the egg thing is not fun.  He told me that the office would be open tomorrow, he was out of town, but that they would work me in tomorrow and to call again in the morning and that there is a nasty bronchitis going around, get some mucinex DM and drink lots of fluids in the meantime. 

I then asked the question... can I be around people?  I'm supposed to be at an event tonight with about 15 small children and about 10-20 adults.  He said not to go. Stay home because I don't want to spread it around.  And that dear friends is why I am angry.  Not at the doctor but at the situation.

This whole getting sick thing is really inconveinent for me right now.  Today, this very day, is the very first session of our HIP Kids Club.  Seriously.  My Co-Chair, Assistant Co-Chairs and I have worked very hard getting this program together.  We've dealt with changes in administration at the center, dinners that cannot be provided the way we thought they would, hunting down speakers and food donors, and much more.  Our committee has been great in that they show up excited and ready to go.  This is our first week with the kids - we have 17 kids signed up, and I want to be there.  I want to meet them and talk with them and see "Our Kids" for the program.  I want to see how they react to our lady who is talking about the importance of breakfast - in a fun way - she's even doing a breakfast rap.  I want to see it and have fun.  I know there will be another session each month between now and May, but this is the FIRST one.  While I am tempted to go anyway, I won't unless my Co-Chair and Assistant Co-Chairs tell me to go because they want me there - germy and all - and I'll just keep my distance from everyone.... I don't want other people to get this.  It's not fun.  Mr. Darcy and Ladybug had this and both ended up on antibiotics, and now Angelfish and I have it.  I already told Angelfish that if her cough doesn't get better by Thursday, I'm taking her to the doctor on Friday.  But if it gets as bad as mine before then, I'm taking her immediately.

This week and next are just not a good time for me to be sick.  I have too much on tap. Tomorrow I have a networking event, so depending on whether the doctor says that I can go to that, I need to go.  I just sound terrible, so I'm not sure if that's the best plan.  Of course the doctor may tell me not to go to that too. Sigh.  Thursday is Open House at the girls' school.  Friday is a working lunch and a dinner party that evening (at our house no less).  Saturday I'm going to Tampa to spend girl time with Belle who is now settled in her new place (while Mr. Belle is on a guys weekend).  Sunday I have a meeting at 5 pm, and I have to pack because Monday and Tuesday I am in Pittsburgh for work, to return Tuesday night and head from the airport to our Junior League Council meeting.  Wednesday is a Junior League event in the evening followed by a UF Law Alumni Happy Hour on Thursday.  But Friday and after is much clearer sailing.  So, as you can see - I just don't have time for this.

And then of course there's my 1/2 MARY TRAINING!  My spirit is completely willing but this cold is getting in my way.  It's bad that when I talk it makes me cough, so I'm thinking that speed sets wouldn't have been a good idea this morning.  But I'm really getting annoyed.  Plus, the training always helps take the stress and the pounds away!

Let's hope this is better and fast!  Train hard so I can live vicariously!

Monday... Already?

What is that wierd hacking noise you ask? Only some odd cold that I have.  It's odd because I had a runny nose for a few hours and felt tired, and then woke up in the middle of the night after Ladybug kicked me on the hip bone and all of a sudden started hacking.  Which, in combination with my cardiology appointment this morning, cancelled this morning's workout... that hacking session where I tried not to pee my pants while hacking up the giant green glob convinced me that I should take the day off.

But we had a nice weekend... not much running got done, but there's always this week. I am optimistic.  Last week I got my 45 minute run in and my yoga, so that was good.  Friday I drove up to Gainesville and socialized first with law students and then with law alumni and some professors from UF Law.  By the end of the night my feet were killing me from my heels.  I need a pair that have a shorter heel.  I've deemed it so.  Saturday I was up early for our law council meetings and then wandered off with my friend Lauren and my lovely Mr. Darcy who turned 36 this weekend to the football game.  We won, but it wasn't pretty and it certainly wasn't looking good the first half.  Second half it was like they realized they could play football afterall.  And it was HOT.  So hot that I sweated clear through my clothes by the end of the 1st quarter.  Drank 4 bottles of water and did NOT have to pee until hours later, and poured water on my head only to have it evaporate before it even left the top of my head.  It reminded me of triathlon!

After that we caught up with friends of Mr. Darcy's (Mr. Darcy had spent Saturday morning with them... I have to admit I was surprised at their sobriety - I expected intoxication) for a little bit.  It was good to see the old guys Mr. Darcy hung out with in college.  Then we were off in search of food.  Ended up with a greasy burger and fries that for some odd reason tasted amazingly good.  Felt awful afterwards, but great while eating it.

Then we drove separately to Mr. Darcy's parents and saw the girls.  It was so wonderful to spend some time with the little ladies.  At bed time, I was so tired that I fell asleep with them in the guest room.  That Ladybug though, she's a bed hog.  And she kicked me 1st in the hip and then the knee.  I decided to save my joints and get up and that, dear friends is when the hacking began.  Not fair.

After birthday cake and party time for our niece and Mr. Darcy (4 and 36 respectively) we headed on home.  I drove the girls while they watched "Sleeping Beauty" followed by "Kung Fu Panda."  Along the way Angelfish told me I was "the most stupendous Mommy ever" and Ladybug figured out a way to wrap a beaded necklace around her hands so tightly that I had to pull over to untangle them - it was like she had on handcuffs.  If she didn't look so worried, I would have laughed my butt off right then and there.

Finally home, we skipped bath time and went straight to bed... okay, well, the girls went straight to their playroom and colored and we figured out ways to get them into their pajamas and then straight to bed.  This morning we all tried to pry ourselves out of bed, and I discovered Mr. Darcy failed to tell me that Ladybug had homework (yes, VPK homework) due this morning.  We decorated our fabric swatch with glitter and drawings in marker.  Not sure if that's what the teacher was looking for in "decorate this fabric swatch with your child and return"or not, but that's what we did.  Ladybug had her own ideas and didn't want my help anyway, although I successfully suggested a flower as part of her artwork.  Then it was off to the cardiologist.

When I got to see the doctor, he asked me what I had been doing differently.  I told him I hadn't really been running or anything in the past month or so but that I had cut out processed food from my diet as much as possible.  I thought he was going to tell me something bad, but he said that my VAP test was awesome.  My cholesterol was down to 113 and my particles were now large and buoyant again, and he was happy that my weight had gone down a bit too.  Go ZONE!  So I am charged with keeping it up, although he suggested I also go back to my exercising.  I told him that was the plan since I have a 1/2 Mary in November.  And then I coughed my lungs out.

Delta also messed with me today - moved my flights to visit my friend in New Hamshire to the point that it was ridiculous.  At 1st they told me that I would have to take crazy flights that would make me only be there for about 1 1/2 days out of what was supposed to be a 3 day visit when we 1st scheduled it.  Then they said that if I didn't like what they could give me they would give me my money back.  I asked if they could just change the flights for me to add another day and they said I'd have to pay change fees and all of that.  I hung up and said I'd call back.  I found flights that were cheaper than what I paid for but adding a day, so I called and told them to refund my flight, they sent me to another person who did what they should have done all along.  The last person waived the flight change fee because it was Delta's fault, and then refunded the $79 that was more than the flight they moved me to, and booked me on the new flight with a seat assignment.  So I went from being annoyed to being happy all in one fell swoop.

Our 1st HIP Kids event is tommorrow.  I'm pretty happy about that... although we still don't have an exact number for the group yet.  It's supposed to be around 15, but the director of the facility could only tell the other Co-Chair that parents have been signing their children up and that she'd have to figure out the exact number for us because she didn't know.  As long as kids are signing up... I had a nightmare a week or so ago that we had everything perfectly planned, but no children to attend.  In the dream there were reporters and all sorts of craziness too.  I doubt that will happen, but it's nice to have your subconscious soothed as well.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a speed set.  I plan to do it unless the hacking gets worse.... or I get a fever.  I am hoping neither of those occur.  This girl needs to run!