I got a call from my doctor's office and my cholesterol test looked good! It's under 200 at 194, and even my triglycerides looked good. So how now brown cow? Why the high blood pressure?
We'll have to wait til tomorrow when I chat with the doctor and have my blood pressure taken once again at 4 pm eastern US time. I'm still planning on requesting a visit with the cardiologist to have a 2nd opinion from a specialist before medicating. I'm still hoping for the stress test. It just makes sense to be thorough!
Stay tuned...
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
What does it mean?
It's about my blood pressure. I've been dutiful and getting it checked at the firestation. I had to miss one last week because, well, the firemen weren't there. They were out fighting a fire. Good enough of a reason for me. Then Monday I didn't get to do it and I had a very stressful day so I figured it was ok to go on Tuesday instead.
So yesterday, I went to the chiropractor and afterwards, on the way to pick up the girls from daycare, stopped at the firestation right next door. I looked around outside and didn't see anyone. So I rang the doorbell. And was greeted by literally 8 attractive firemen. It was like they were bored and were racing to answer the door to see who was the first one there. But then they didn't leave. It must have been a slow day. So I had 6 people hanging out with me, including the guy who took my blood pressure the last time. First arm: 140/100. Second arm: 160/100. Not good at all. I had a headache, but thought it was just because of the rainy weather. Now I am wondering if the other headaches I've gotten on days with hard training were not electrolyte imbalance issues but blood pressure issues.
This morning, I skipped my lake swim because Mr. Darcy has been working rather late and the girls have seemed to be insisting that they want us to "stay all together" as they put it. Since Mr. Darcy wasn't home until even after I was asleep last night, I thought I would be a good Mommy and be home with everyone in the morning. So, I hit the pool this morning. Did 2000 m straight swim, felt a little bit slow today but I'm not sure why. It was a good swim and I focused on my form and tried to figure out if the guy in the lane next to me was someone I went to elementary school with the entire time I was swimming. The mystery remains unsolved because I swam longer than he did. Not that it was life altering one way or the other.
Then on the way home, I decided to stop at the fire station to have my blood pressure taken. 3 firemen this time, none nearly as attractive as the last group but still not bad! Only one stayed to take my blood pressure though and this time? 122/74 in one arm and 110/72 in the other. This makes no sense whatsoever. Especially since one of the guys last night said that the bottom number is really the one that you should worry the most about because that tells you whether the heart is having enough time to rest and recover after having to beat again. Yesterday was not all that stressful of a day compared to any other day. So how does one go from 100 to 74 in just mere hours? What does it all mean?
I started wondering if there might be a correlation to my high blood pressure and my exercise days. Yesterday was a 7 mile run. But the other days, which were not nearly as high were all swim days, including today. Not sure that this means anything either...
So I have a call into my doctor's office to find out exactly what it all means. I had planned to call anyway since I hadn't heard back about my cholesterol test yet, so I have a message for the nurse to call me back. At this point, I think I'd like to see a cardiologist so I can get to the bottom of it all. I'm even thinking that if I'm a cardiologist I would like to have me take a stress test. But wait, I'm not a cardiologist.... although it's very interesting stuff.
Anyway, I'll keep you all posted.
And now for an embarrassing story that I think is much to funny not to share. After my abysmal blood pressure reading yesterday, I went to pick the girls up from daycare. I looked in Angelfish's folder to see if there were any notes, artwork, etc. and I discover one of my pairs of underwear. (Luckily it was a newer, clean pair and not a pair of lingerie.) Instantly my mind flashes to the fact that I did some laundry and folded everything on the sofa, putting most of it away right away, except for some whites that I put away after the girls left for school on Tuesday. Ms. Angelfish evidently decided that she liked this particular pair of underpants and somehow smuggled them into daycare. When I was attempting to shove them into my pants pocket, Angelfish saw them and yanked them from my hands saying "I want that! It's pretty!" and proceeded to run around the room with them and then attempted to tie it around her neck like a bandanna. I was laughing hysterically (although embarrassed), as her teachers were laughing but trying not to laugh, and then finally got Angelfish to stand still. I whispered in her ear that those were Mommy's underpants and could I please have them back? To which Angelfish replied, "oh. sure. Here you go. Why you not wearing underpants?" I assured her that I had underpants on, but that she had a pair that I needed to take home. Topping it all off was Ladybug who exited the bathroom (which is in the daycare room) at just that very moment with her underpants down around her ankles and her dress hiked up so that I had to tell her to pull them up and put her dress down. Modest, we evidently are not!
They say laughter is good for the soul... let's hope it helps with blood pressure too!
So yesterday, I went to the chiropractor and afterwards, on the way to pick up the girls from daycare, stopped at the firestation right next door. I looked around outside and didn't see anyone. So I rang the doorbell. And was greeted by literally 8 attractive firemen. It was like they were bored and were racing to answer the door to see who was the first one there. But then they didn't leave. It must have been a slow day. So I had 6 people hanging out with me, including the guy who took my blood pressure the last time. First arm: 140/100. Second arm: 160/100. Not good at all. I had a headache, but thought it was just because of the rainy weather. Now I am wondering if the other headaches I've gotten on days with hard training were not electrolyte imbalance issues but blood pressure issues.
This morning, I skipped my lake swim because Mr. Darcy has been working rather late and the girls have seemed to be insisting that they want us to "stay all together" as they put it. Since Mr. Darcy wasn't home until even after I was asleep last night, I thought I would be a good Mommy and be home with everyone in the morning. So, I hit the pool this morning. Did 2000 m straight swim, felt a little bit slow today but I'm not sure why. It was a good swim and I focused on my form and tried to figure out if the guy in the lane next to me was someone I went to elementary school with the entire time I was swimming. The mystery remains unsolved because I swam longer than he did. Not that it was life altering one way or the other.
Then on the way home, I decided to stop at the fire station to have my blood pressure taken. 3 firemen this time, none nearly as attractive as the last group but still not bad! Only one stayed to take my blood pressure though and this time? 122/74 in one arm and 110/72 in the other. This makes no sense whatsoever. Especially since one of the guys last night said that the bottom number is really the one that you should worry the most about because that tells you whether the heart is having enough time to rest and recover after having to beat again. Yesterday was not all that stressful of a day compared to any other day. So how does one go from 100 to 74 in just mere hours? What does it all mean?
I started wondering if there might be a correlation to my high blood pressure and my exercise days. Yesterday was a 7 mile run. But the other days, which were not nearly as high were all swim days, including today. Not sure that this means anything either...
So I have a call into my doctor's office to find out exactly what it all means. I had planned to call anyway since I hadn't heard back about my cholesterol test yet, so I have a message for the nurse to call me back. At this point, I think I'd like to see a cardiologist so I can get to the bottom of it all. I'm even thinking that if I'm a cardiologist I would like to have me take a stress test. But wait, I'm not a cardiologist.... although it's very interesting stuff.
Anyway, I'll keep you all posted.
And now for an embarrassing story that I think is much to funny not to share. After my abysmal blood pressure reading yesterday, I went to pick the girls up from daycare. I looked in Angelfish's folder to see if there were any notes, artwork, etc. and I discover one of my pairs of underwear. (Luckily it was a newer, clean pair and not a pair of lingerie.) Instantly my mind flashes to the fact that I did some laundry and folded everything on the sofa, putting most of it away right away, except for some whites that I put away after the girls left for school on Tuesday. Ms. Angelfish evidently decided that she liked this particular pair of underpants and somehow smuggled them into daycare. When I was attempting to shove them into my pants pocket, Angelfish saw them and yanked them from my hands saying "I want that! It's pretty!" and proceeded to run around the room with them and then attempted to tie it around her neck like a bandanna. I was laughing hysterically (although embarrassed), as her teachers were laughing but trying not to laugh, and then finally got Angelfish to stand still. I whispered in her ear that those were Mommy's underpants and could I please have them back? To which Angelfish replied, "oh. sure. Here you go. Why you not wearing underpants?" I assured her that I had underpants on, but that she had a pair that I needed to take home. Topping it all off was Ladybug who exited the bathroom (which is in the daycare room) at just that very moment with her underpants down around her ankles and her dress hiked up so that I had to tell her to pull them up and put her dress down. Modest, we evidently are not!
They say laughter is good for the soul... let's hope it helps with blood pressure too!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
As Promised...
Heart rate monitor and watch - check. Road ID (in case of crazy drivers) - check. Camelback - check. Gels in camelback - check. Cellphone (which I never remember and am always thinking what if something happens?) - check.
I run. I remember it's supposed to be an easy paced run (which it turned out I remembered wrong, it was just supposed to be an even paced run - oh well) so I've decided to keep my HR in zone 2. I'm doing great. I'm coming up on about the 2.5 mile mark where there is a lake and the sun is rising and there is a beautiful white heron standing at the edge of the lake looking at me. I get excited. This is gorgeous and just the reason I bought my lovely new camera to take pictures... with... it... as the the excitement slipped away and I remembered that the lovely new camera is sitting on the bar, next to where my camelback had been sitting. The camera only made it that far. So, yet another picture only taken by my minds eye.
I run. I remember it's supposed to be an easy paced run (which it turned out I remembered wrong, it was just supposed to be an even paced run - oh well) so I've decided to keep my HR in zone 2. I'm doing great. I'm coming up on about the 2.5 mile mark where there is a lake and the sun is rising and there is a beautiful white heron standing at the edge of the lake looking at me. I get excited. This is gorgeous and just the reason I bought my lovely new camera to take pictures... with... it... as the the excitement slipped away and I remembered that the lovely new camera is sitting on the bar, next to where my camelback had been sitting. The camera only made it that far. So, yet another picture only taken by my minds eye.
The run went well. My easy paced run was 13.02, which is better than the over 15 minute per mile pace it used to be, and even better was that I felt darn good at the end. Like I might even have been able to go a good bit further.
Even better? I made it home in time to see the girls for a few minutes before they headed off to school with Daddy. I drank a little Gatorade while we talked and Ladybug demanded I give her some. I told her no. She began to fake cry and whine, and then pointed at me with her adorable little finger and shook it at me while saying, "You. Need. To. Share." So I explained that it wasn't healthy to drink Gatorade when you hadn't been running or biking real hard and that I could only share things that wouldn't make her sick. She instantly stopped. Looked at me and said, "So when I'm old enough to run in the street and I go running and running and running, then I can have some?" To which I responded, "yes." Angelfish wanted to hug me and for me to hold her even though she complained that I was sweaty. She asked me if I was going to take a shower because my hair was all wet but it was sweaty. I promised that I would, and that was enough to satisfy her. But she didn't want any sweaty kisses from Mommy before she left because Mommy was too sweaty. She told me she loved me though, and that's really all that matters!
So back to the promise. Here are some pictures that I took with my lovely new camera this weekend. They are of my lovely ladies, and I think show a good bit of their personalities as well.
Ladybug and Angelfish and their loot.
An attempt at a nice picture, with a silly Angelfish
Ladybug hanging out
Angelfish
Make that Princess Angelfish
Princess Ladybug
The bathing beauties.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Of Birthdays and Other Musings
I took Friday off from work and neglected my blog. It's been a busy several days, and most enjoyable ones at that!
Thursday morning my parents arrived. When we went to pick up the girls from daycare they went with me, and the girls were so HAPPY to see them. I have never seen Angelfish that excited in her entire 3 years on this planet. She turned pink, was completely uncoordinated, unable to speak, but grinning like she'd just won the best prize of her life. Nanna finally just had to pick her up and hug her. Ladybug ran up to her Popop and grabbed on to him with a squeal. I literally almost started crying I was so happy.
Friday was a PTO day, but it really was a work day. I woke early and did a 3 mile run, averaging 11.28 per mile. It's funny, I read someone else's blog who talked about averaging a little over 5 minutes a mile for 3 miles on a track. While envious of such speed, I'm still rather happy with my 11.28 average. Not fast but faster than I've been. After the run, I got Angelfish and Ladybug ready for school, they talked with Nanna and Poppop a bit (Ladybug asked Poppop if he would drive her to school... too cute.), and then into the car for their day at school. Then I went to the pool for my mile swim, back home and did errands with the padres. They are such troopers going everywhere with me. We finished the mad errands about 3:48 pm (yes, I remember the time), and then went to work on wrapping presents and putting together everything in an organized manner for Saturday's birthday party, including the favor bags. Then it was off to pick up the ladies from daycare, who promptly tried to convince us it was time to go for ice cream. A good ploy, but one that didn't work. We returned home and I started cooking for us all and Mr. Darcy's parents, who arrived around 6:15 just ahead of Mr. Darcy. Then a lovely evening was spent with all.
Saturday I had the best intentions of going on my 4 mile run. Mr. Darcy and I were sleeping on an air mattress to accomodate all of our house guests, and I had my cellphone set to act as my alarm clock. But I wasn't able to sleep and decided I would get up and get dressed to run and just go a little early. As I got up, poor Angelfish started yelling for her Mommy. I went in to see her and she was sweating and breathing heavy and clinging to me for dear life. She had some sort of nightmare and was not about to talk about it. So I loved on her instead of running. Some things (even with a Half Iron Man looming in September) are more important. She let up around 7:30 or so when her sister was up and playing, and when her Nanna and Poppop were up. Most of the house was up by 8:15 am, when my parents headed out on the morning errands with me to pick up and set up for the party.
The party was fun! Everyone who RSVP'd showed and the kiddies played in the fountain, on the playground, ate lots of fruit and chips, had cake, and played. At the end of the party, I asked Ladybug if she liked her party and she said "oh yes Mommy. I had lots of fun!" and gave me a big kiss on the cheek. Angelfish admitted she had a good time but insisted she was hot. When we got home they opened the presents from their party... these kids got some cool toys. Mommy and Mr. Darcy are particularly infatuated with the bubble makers. Completely awesome. The little ladies actually napped (all the excitement I think) that afternoon too.
Sunday we all slept in... 8 am! Completely unheard of in our house. Usually the now 3 year old twins are up and rearing to go by 7 am at the latest! Then around 11 am we did our family party where Angelfish and Ladybug got completely spoiled by their grandparents, and only very slightly by their parents. My favorite part though was the fact that with all the toys, they are completely enamored with the books they got. That's what they kept wanting. It makes this bibliophile quite happy! We had lunch and cupcakes, and played. Napped and went to the pool for a swim.
This morning even went rather swimmingly with the ladies. But my swim did not. I was ready to go, gear in the car, hugs and kisses to my parents who were leaving today, got in the car and the battery was completely and utterly dead. D-E-A-D, dead. 3 hours later, a new battery was purchased, the old battery removed, and the new one installed thanks to the hard work of my Dad, my Mom, and me. Who knew that changing the battery in a mini-van (my sexy ride) would be so difficult? What a mess. So, my lunch hour was taken up by battery land thereby ensuring that my ability to swim today (Mr. Darcy has a deadline and will be working late everyday this week until the office is closed on Friday.) was completely removed. I may move the swim to my originally planned "rest day" for Saturday... we'll just have to see.
But the Birthday girls were adorable and lots of fun, and the past several days have been such a joy that even an evil battery and missed swim (although I am jittery for not exercising now for 3 days - including today) can't ruin the fun we had for our girls 3rd birthday!! As soon as I can download some photos, I will post some!
Thursday morning my parents arrived. When we went to pick up the girls from daycare they went with me, and the girls were so HAPPY to see them. I have never seen Angelfish that excited in her entire 3 years on this planet. She turned pink, was completely uncoordinated, unable to speak, but grinning like she'd just won the best prize of her life. Nanna finally just had to pick her up and hug her. Ladybug ran up to her Popop and grabbed on to him with a squeal. I literally almost started crying I was so happy.
Friday was a PTO day, but it really was a work day. I woke early and did a 3 mile run, averaging 11.28 per mile. It's funny, I read someone else's blog who talked about averaging a little over 5 minutes a mile for 3 miles on a track. While envious of such speed, I'm still rather happy with my 11.28 average. Not fast but faster than I've been. After the run, I got Angelfish and Ladybug ready for school, they talked with Nanna and Poppop a bit (Ladybug asked Poppop if he would drive her to school... too cute.), and then into the car for their day at school. Then I went to the pool for my mile swim, back home and did errands with the padres. They are such troopers going everywhere with me. We finished the mad errands about 3:48 pm (yes, I remember the time), and then went to work on wrapping presents and putting together everything in an organized manner for Saturday's birthday party, including the favor bags. Then it was off to pick up the ladies from daycare, who promptly tried to convince us it was time to go for ice cream. A good ploy, but one that didn't work. We returned home and I started cooking for us all and Mr. Darcy's parents, who arrived around 6:15 just ahead of Mr. Darcy. Then a lovely evening was spent with all.
Saturday I had the best intentions of going on my 4 mile run. Mr. Darcy and I were sleeping on an air mattress to accomodate all of our house guests, and I had my cellphone set to act as my alarm clock. But I wasn't able to sleep and decided I would get up and get dressed to run and just go a little early. As I got up, poor Angelfish started yelling for her Mommy. I went in to see her and she was sweating and breathing heavy and clinging to me for dear life. She had some sort of nightmare and was not about to talk about it. So I loved on her instead of running. Some things (even with a Half Iron Man looming in September) are more important. She let up around 7:30 or so when her sister was up and playing, and when her Nanna and Poppop were up. Most of the house was up by 8:15 am, when my parents headed out on the morning errands with me to pick up and set up for the party.
The party was fun! Everyone who RSVP'd showed and the kiddies played in the fountain, on the playground, ate lots of fruit and chips, had cake, and played. At the end of the party, I asked Ladybug if she liked her party and she said "oh yes Mommy. I had lots of fun!" and gave me a big kiss on the cheek. Angelfish admitted she had a good time but insisted she was hot. When we got home they opened the presents from their party... these kids got some cool toys. Mommy and Mr. Darcy are particularly infatuated with the bubble makers. Completely awesome. The little ladies actually napped (all the excitement I think) that afternoon too.
Sunday we all slept in... 8 am! Completely unheard of in our house. Usually the now 3 year old twins are up and rearing to go by 7 am at the latest! Then around 11 am we did our family party where Angelfish and Ladybug got completely spoiled by their grandparents, and only very slightly by their parents. My favorite part though was the fact that with all the toys, they are completely enamored with the books they got. That's what they kept wanting. It makes this bibliophile quite happy! We had lunch and cupcakes, and played. Napped and went to the pool for a swim.
This morning even went rather swimmingly with the ladies. But my swim did not. I was ready to go, gear in the car, hugs and kisses to my parents who were leaving today, got in the car and the battery was completely and utterly dead. D-E-A-D, dead. 3 hours later, a new battery was purchased, the old battery removed, and the new one installed thanks to the hard work of my Dad, my Mom, and me. Who knew that changing the battery in a mini-van (my sexy ride) would be so difficult? What a mess. So, my lunch hour was taken up by battery land thereby ensuring that my ability to swim today (Mr. Darcy has a deadline and will be working late everyday this week until the office is closed on Friday.) was completely removed. I may move the swim to my originally planned "rest day" for Saturday... we'll just have to see.
But the Birthday girls were adorable and lots of fun, and the past several days have been such a joy that even an evil battery and missed swim (although I am jittery for not exercising now for 3 days - including today) can't ruin the fun we had for our girls 3rd birthday!! As soon as I can download some photos, I will post some!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
A Naughty Triathlete
Yes, I am a naughty triathlete. The plan for the morning was to wake up early, get ready for my ride, help get the girls ready and then head out on the bike. Normally I would have done my ride starting with the team that I'm training with (although we're all different speeds and experience levels), but yesterday Ladybug gave Mr. Darcy such a run for his money in the morning getting ready while I was swimming that he was 1) seriously disgruntled with our child, 2) stressed out, and 3) late for work... all by 8 am. So I opted for the wake up, help get the girls ready, and then bike idea hoping to help soothe the morning maladies and keep Mr. Darcy from high blood pressure so early in the morning.
But then this morning actually arrived. I didn't even want to get out of bed let alone go on a ride. I woke up at 1:30 am to the sound of someone rummaging in my bathroom. I opened one eye and saw the water closet (what I call the mini room in our bathroom where the toilet is actually located) light was on. So I pulled myself out of bed and wandered over. There was Ladybug putting the potty seat on the toilet and trying to lift herself up on to it (she's too short to fully get up there without a step stool). I helped her up and then she smiled and did her thing. Afterwards we wandered back to her bedroom where we both laid down in her bed, for me it was temporary and for her it was for the rest of the night. Even in my sleepy state, I was so proud of Ladybug! Instead of sleeping through and having an accident, she woke up and went to use the potty! Miracles of miracles.
I had a hard time falling back asleep, though. Thoughts of what needed to be done the next day were flooding my head and my right leg now has sciatica which is rather annoying... especially since the chiropractor is on vacation this week. (Thank goodness I have an appointment for Tuesday afternoon.) Eventually the sleep came and I was out... until the alarm clock roused me. I still had no motivation to get up and get on my bike. I got dressed in my biking gear anyway, started doing my back stretches and then I heard music and a little voice singing. I wandered my way over to the girls' room and in the play room there was Angelfish playing so sweetly with a little toy piano, playing the keys and singing her own little song.
She had turned every light on in the play room, and the girls' bathroom (which is right next door and evidently she had used when she got up - YAY! So proud!) So Angelfish and I chatted a bit, I showed her how she could play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" by matching the numbers on the notes to the numbers on the toy piano, and then she set her sights on a waffle. Ladybug was even polite this morning... when I went in to wake her up, she asked me in a very polite voice "Please may I have a few more minutes?" It was a lovely morning. The girls were so genial and happy to get dressed, eat, use the potty, etc. There was a little bit of stalling but not much.
As we were packing everyone into the car, I realized that the bike just wasn't going to happen though. I just did not want to get on that bike or switch a run for the bike. I had no interest in it this morning. I just wanted to stay home and straighten my office and piddle around the house. And that's just what I did!
Which turned out to be a good thing because I'm not sure I would have been home in time for my parents' arrival otherwise. They were so excited about their visit that they got up and were on the road by 5:55 am and were at my house by 8:15 am! YAY! Let the Angelfish and Ladybug birthday weekend (well, just the family part) begin!
But then this morning actually arrived. I didn't even want to get out of bed let alone go on a ride. I woke up at 1:30 am to the sound of someone rummaging in my bathroom. I opened one eye and saw the water closet (what I call the mini room in our bathroom where the toilet is actually located) light was on. So I pulled myself out of bed and wandered over. There was Ladybug putting the potty seat on the toilet and trying to lift herself up on to it (she's too short to fully get up there without a step stool). I helped her up and then she smiled and did her thing. Afterwards we wandered back to her bedroom where we both laid down in her bed, for me it was temporary and for her it was for the rest of the night. Even in my sleepy state, I was so proud of Ladybug! Instead of sleeping through and having an accident, she woke up and went to use the potty! Miracles of miracles.
I had a hard time falling back asleep, though. Thoughts of what needed to be done the next day were flooding my head and my right leg now has sciatica which is rather annoying... especially since the chiropractor is on vacation this week. (Thank goodness I have an appointment for Tuesday afternoon.) Eventually the sleep came and I was out... until the alarm clock roused me. I still had no motivation to get up and get on my bike. I got dressed in my biking gear anyway, started doing my back stretches and then I heard music and a little voice singing. I wandered my way over to the girls' room and in the play room there was Angelfish playing so sweetly with a little toy piano, playing the keys and singing her own little song.
She had turned every light on in the play room, and the girls' bathroom (which is right next door and evidently she had used when she got up - YAY! So proud!) So Angelfish and I chatted a bit, I showed her how she could play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" by matching the numbers on the notes to the numbers on the toy piano, and then she set her sights on a waffle. Ladybug was even polite this morning... when I went in to wake her up, she asked me in a very polite voice "Please may I have a few more minutes?" It was a lovely morning. The girls were so genial and happy to get dressed, eat, use the potty, etc. There was a little bit of stalling but not much.
As we were packing everyone into the car, I realized that the bike just wasn't going to happen though. I just did not want to get on that bike or switch a run for the bike. I had no interest in it this morning. I just wanted to stay home and straighten my office and piddle around the house. And that's just what I did!
Which turned out to be a good thing because I'm not sure I would have been home in time for my parents' arrival otherwise. They were so excited about their visit that they got up and were on the road by 5:55 am and were at my house by 8:15 am! YAY! Let the Angelfish and Ladybug birthday weekend (well, just the family part) begin!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Some Things Defy Explanation
like my morning. At 4:30 am I heard yelling from the girls' bedroom, so I hopped sleepily, groggily out of bed and ran to their room. Opening the door, the smell was unmistakable. Pee. Lots of pee. Both Angelfish (which is a rare occurrence) and Ladybug had completely emptied their bladders in their sleep. Angelfish was the one who was yelling. It's unusual for her not to be able to hold her bladder the entire evening. And then I remembered. When the girls were giving us a hard time going to bed, they claimed they needed to use the potty. Thinking it was mere subterfuge, Mr. Darcy told them that if they still needed to go potty in 10 minutes he would let them. But they fell asleep... and evidently were telling the truth. But why they always cry for Mommy is inexplicable thing #1. (Although I have to say I'd be sad if they started calling for Mr. Darcy all the time.)
So, after getting all children into new pajamas, having them use the potty, stripping their beds and remaking them with clean sheets, and starting the load of pee pee laundry, I returned to bed.
Inexplicable thing #2. My back itself is not necessarily bothering me, but I know something is not quite right with it because I have what I can only describe as nerve pain that shoots across my right quad and sometimes wraps around the bottom of my knee, and when it's bad (like it is today) the bottom of my right heel also hurts when I walk. Unfortunately for me, the chiropractor is on vacation this week. I am trying to ignore it the best I can. This translated to sleeping on my back with my knees bent and a pillow folded in half under them for support. It helped me sleep until the alarm went off at 5:30. It's the oddest manifestation of a back problem I've had to date.
Up again, this time drinking water and trying not to think about food. My stomach was hungry and clearly did not understand why I was not feeding it as I packed my gym bag and dressed in my swim suit. Or as I drove to the gym. I cannot help it if the doctor ordered 12 hour fasting before my "full lipid panel and liver function" (aka cholesterol) blood work. To make myself feel better, I packed a cliff bar, my recovery drink, and a peach for right after my blood work. All it did was make my stomach growl at me more.
Once I hit the pool though, my stomach forgot all about it. My body is inexplicably like that. (Inexplicable thing #3.) If I have to go to the bathroom and one is not available, or if I am hungry, and I start exercising those urges go right away and don't return until I am finished with the workout. Odd, but true. Anyway, I stretched out and then hit the pool. A 2,000 m swim. Straight. No stopping. It was awesome! I think I am somehow programmed to swim a certain way from all of my years of competitive swimming as a child because without intending to, I noticed that each set of 8 lengths of the pool I progressively got faster and then in my last lap I almost sprinted to the end. I just let it happen and it was like observing someone else but from inside their head.
When I was done, I stood up and looked at the clock. 40 minutes and 27 seconds after I started my 2,000 m, I was done. This seemed too quick. I double checked my math - twice. 2000 is 20 x 100m, which is 4 lengths in each 100 m, so 80 lengths, divided by swim number 8, is 10 continuous sets of 8 lengths each. That's right. I mentally recounted. As I swam my sets each and every time I said 1st 1, 2nd 1, 3rd 1, and so on every time I finished a set of 8 lengths. Didn't skip any numbers. Each set had 8 lengths, didn't skip any counting. I was just fast today. It put a huge smile on my face as I got out of the pool. 40 minutes and 27 seconds! It seems impossible... but evidently it's right! (Inexplicable thing #4.)
Then it was on to get my blood work done. As I drove, my stomach seemed to remember that I had a recovery drink, cliff bar, and peach waiting for me. I was forced to turn the radio up and ignore the calls of my stomach. And then I had to sit and wait for my appointment. I had banked on my swim taking 50 minutes not 40 minutes, so I was a bit early as I hit traffic just right as well. My stomach rebelled, but luckily I got Francisco my favorite of the "vampires" at the lab. He has never bruised me or missed my vein when he takes my blood. I was thrilled to see him. We chatted and he said "come back soon." I laughed and said that I must be coming in too regularly as it is (every 3 months since I moved here trying to convince my doctor not to put me on cholesterol medicine, plus one other time for my thyroid blood work), but I know I'll be back for a repeat of my thyroid blood work in August. I just hope to get Francisco again!
As I was leaving, Mr. Darcy called. Evidently the girls were a handful this morning and he had forgotten their towels (the only thing I didn't put with their swimsuits before leaving for the gym this morning - it's water day at school so they get to play in the sprinklers). So I headed home while chatting with Mr. Darcy about our difficult to get ready in the morning children, one in particular, but I'm not naming names today (you can probably guess based on past posts). Then I got the towels and headed to daycare, which is right next to the fire station.
I figured, I'm right here, I'll just have my blood pressure taken. The doctor said to have it done when I felt relaxed and this is as relaxed as I'm probably going to feel today. I wandered next door, chatted a moment with the fire fighter. The next thing I know there are 3 fire fighters in the room with me. They were all attractive, although one was about my Dad's age, which is something that also defies explanation. (Inexplicable thing #5) I have not yet met a fire fighter who is unattractive. Is that a job requirement? Not only do you have to be willing to save the lives of others while putting yourself in harms way, but you also have to be an attractive person. Sure the one that was old enough to be my Dad was the least attractive of the 3, but it was because he was older not because he had not at one time been attractive and young and for a man his age he was attractive. But attractiveness aside, 3 fire fighters for 1 blood pressure check seemed excessive.
Then I realized that they thought I might have wanted my blood pressure taken because I might be having an emergency event. Once I explained I needed the blood pressure taken because it had been somewhat high and my doctor was trying to track it a little, the Dad said "we're OK" and 1 fire fighter left the room. The Dad and the guy taking my blood pressure were left. The first time it was 150/90. WHAT? I couldn't believe it. I can't remember my blood pressure ever being that high. They let me sit there, talking about my triathlon training and how the Dad's wife has done a couple and wants to do more, and then they took it again and it was 142/86. Better but still high. Completely inexplicable (#6).
I chatted some more about training, drinking water, nutrition, cholesterol and blood pressure with the Dad and then wandered on my way with a promise to be back on Friday and promised that if I had blurred vision, was seeing stars or spots, or having chest pains I would give them a call. I've never had any of those problems, and I doubt I'll have any in the near future.
The last inexplicable thing (#7) is the failure to RSVP. First, I want to say that I completely understand forgetting to RSVP on time (within 2 or 3 days) and that RSVP'ing is not always the 1st thing on your to do list, especially when it is to RSVP to a child's party. But to completely fail to RSVP is absolutely ridiculous and down right rude, in my opinion. Now, I got call from a Mom this morning apologizing and telling me that time got away from her but that they'd still like to come to the party if it wasn't too late. Perfectly acceptable. But not to RSVP at all? It's got to be in my top 5 pet peeves. If you don't RSVP, you cannot expect me to feed you or to provide you with a party favor. While I will be happy you joined us, I will also be annoyed with your lack of manners. I can't help myself. I throw a good party, but I can only throw good parties when I know who is coming so I can plan accordingly. Oh, and it's customary to RSVP even for a "NO" unless "regrets only" are stated.
We still haven't heard from 16 invitees, which is a lot of cake, chicken nuggets, drinks, and party favors to be short. Plus, I was gracious enough to invite you and proper manners would require that you give me the favor of a reply (aka Répondez S'il Vous Plaît, which is RSVP "please reply"). It's as though I ask you a question and you stare and me and then walk away. Pure rudeness. But I will get off my soapbox in the hopes that I am not driving my blood pressure higher.
If you're wondering what my other top 5 pet peeves are, here they are (with no commentary and in no particular order): 1. Lying. 2. Rudeness. 3. Being ugly/mean to others. 4. Leaving no toilet paper for the next user (also tied with leaving no gas in the car for the next driver). 5. Not RSVP'ing! Perhaps these should be listed as inexplicable things #8 as they cause me to rant, which I am not normally inclined to do.
But the good news is that I am alive and kicking for yet another day! Enjoy your day!
So, after getting all children into new pajamas, having them use the potty, stripping their beds and remaking them with clean sheets, and starting the load of pee pee laundry, I returned to bed.
Inexplicable thing #2. My back itself is not necessarily bothering me, but I know something is not quite right with it because I have what I can only describe as nerve pain that shoots across my right quad and sometimes wraps around the bottom of my knee, and when it's bad (like it is today) the bottom of my right heel also hurts when I walk. Unfortunately for me, the chiropractor is on vacation this week. I am trying to ignore it the best I can. This translated to sleeping on my back with my knees bent and a pillow folded in half under them for support. It helped me sleep until the alarm went off at 5:30. It's the oddest manifestation of a back problem I've had to date.
Up again, this time drinking water and trying not to think about food. My stomach was hungry and clearly did not understand why I was not feeding it as I packed my gym bag and dressed in my swim suit. Or as I drove to the gym. I cannot help it if the doctor ordered 12 hour fasting before my "full lipid panel and liver function" (aka cholesterol) blood work. To make myself feel better, I packed a cliff bar, my recovery drink, and a peach for right after my blood work. All it did was make my stomach growl at me more.
Once I hit the pool though, my stomach forgot all about it. My body is inexplicably like that. (Inexplicable thing #3.) If I have to go to the bathroom and one is not available, or if I am hungry, and I start exercising those urges go right away and don't return until I am finished with the workout. Odd, but true. Anyway, I stretched out and then hit the pool. A 2,000 m swim. Straight. No stopping. It was awesome! I think I am somehow programmed to swim a certain way from all of my years of competitive swimming as a child because without intending to, I noticed that each set of 8 lengths of the pool I progressively got faster and then in my last lap I almost sprinted to the end. I just let it happen and it was like observing someone else but from inside their head.
When I was done, I stood up and looked at the clock. 40 minutes and 27 seconds after I started my 2,000 m, I was done. This seemed too quick. I double checked my math - twice. 2000 is 20 x 100m, which is 4 lengths in each 100 m, so 80 lengths, divided by swim number 8, is 10 continuous sets of 8 lengths each. That's right. I mentally recounted. As I swam my sets each and every time I said 1st 1, 2nd 1, 3rd 1, and so on every time I finished a set of 8 lengths. Didn't skip any numbers. Each set had 8 lengths, didn't skip any counting. I was just fast today. It put a huge smile on my face as I got out of the pool. 40 minutes and 27 seconds! It seems impossible... but evidently it's right! (Inexplicable thing #4.)
Then it was on to get my blood work done. As I drove, my stomach seemed to remember that I had a recovery drink, cliff bar, and peach waiting for me. I was forced to turn the radio up and ignore the calls of my stomach. And then I had to sit and wait for my appointment. I had banked on my swim taking 50 minutes not 40 minutes, so I was a bit early as I hit traffic just right as well. My stomach rebelled, but luckily I got Francisco my favorite of the "vampires" at the lab. He has never bruised me or missed my vein when he takes my blood. I was thrilled to see him. We chatted and he said "come back soon." I laughed and said that I must be coming in too regularly as it is (every 3 months since I moved here trying to convince my doctor not to put me on cholesterol medicine, plus one other time for my thyroid blood work), but I know I'll be back for a repeat of my thyroid blood work in August. I just hope to get Francisco again!
As I was leaving, Mr. Darcy called. Evidently the girls were a handful this morning and he had forgotten their towels (the only thing I didn't put with their swimsuits before leaving for the gym this morning - it's water day at school so they get to play in the sprinklers). So I headed home while chatting with Mr. Darcy about our difficult to get ready in the morning children, one in particular, but I'm not naming names today (you can probably guess based on past posts). Then I got the towels and headed to daycare, which is right next to the fire station.
I figured, I'm right here, I'll just have my blood pressure taken. The doctor said to have it done when I felt relaxed and this is as relaxed as I'm probably going to feel today. I wandered next door, chatted a moment with the fire fighter. The next thing I know there are 3 fire fighters in the room with me. They were all attractive, although one was about my Dad's age, which is something that also defies explanation. (Inexplicable thing #5) I have not yet met a fire fighter who is unattractive. Is that a job requirement? Not only do you have to be willing to save the lives of others while putting yourself in harms way, but you also have to be an attractive person. Sure the one that was old enough to be my Dad was the least attractive of the 3, but it was because he was older not because he had not at one time been attractive and young and for a man his age he was attractive. But attractiveness aside, 3 fire fighters for 1 blood pressure check seemed excessive.
Then I realized that they thought I might have wanted my blood pressure taken because I might be having an emergency event. Once I explained I needed the blood pressure taken because it had been somewhat high and my doctor was trying to track it a little, the Dad said "we're OK" and 1 fire fighter left the room. The Dad and the guy taking my blood pressure were left. The first time it was 150/90. WHAT? I couldn't believe it. I can't remember my blood pressure ever being that high. They let me sit there, talking about my triathlon training and how the Dad's wife has done a couple and wants to do more, and then they took it again and it was 142/86. Better but still high. Completely inexplicable (#6).
I chatted some more about training, drinking water, nutrition, cholesterol and blood pressure with the Dad and then wandered on my way with a promise to be back on Friday and promised that if I had blurred vision, was seeing stars or spots, or having chest pains I would give them a call. I've never had any of those problems, and I doubt I'll have any in the near future.
The last inexplicable thing (#7) is the failure to RSVP. First, I want to say that I completely understand forgetting to RSVP on time (within 2 or 3 days) and that RSVP'ing is not always the 1st thing on your to do list, especially when it is to RSVP to a child's party. But to completely fail to RSVP is absolutely ridiculous and down right rude, in my opinion. Now, I got call from a Mom this morning apologizing and telling me that time got away from her but that they'd still like to come to the party if it wasn't too late. Perfectly acceptable. But not to RSVP at all? It's got to be in my top 5 pet peeves. If you don't RSVP, you cannot expect me to feed you or to provide you with a party favor. While I will be happy you joined us, I will also be annoyed with your lack of manners. I can't help myself. I throw a good party, but I can only throw good parties when I know who is coming so I can plan accordingly. Oh, and it's customary to RSVP even for a "NO" unless "regrets only" are stated.
We still haven't heard from 16 invitees, which is a lot of cake, chicken nuggets, drinks, and party favors to be short. Plus, I was gracious enough to invite you and proper manners would require that you give me the favor of a reply (aka Répondez S'il Vous Plaît, which is RSVP "please reply"). It's as though I ask you a question and you stare and me and then walk away. Pure rudeness. But I will get off my soapbox in the hopes that I am not driving my blood pressure higher.
If you're wondering what my other top 5 pet peeves are, here they are (with no commentary and in no particular order): 1. Lying. 2. Rudeness. 3. Being ugly/mean to others. 4. Leaving no toilet paper for the next user (also tied with leaving no gas in the car for the next driver). 5. Not RSVP'ing! Perhaps these should be listed as inexplicable things #8 as they cause me to rant, which I am not normally inclined to do.
But the good news is that I am alive and kicking for yet another day! Enjoy your day!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday it is.
Last night I had a lovely time at dinner with a good friend from Atlanta who is in town for work. It was so wonderful catching up, talking about how hot it is here in Orlando, and how we miss each other living in different states now. In the course of conversation, my 70.3 came up. And she and our other good friend have decided that they are going to go to Augusta for the race! I couldn't be more excited! The three of us had been as thick as theives pretty much ever since we met one another at a sorority alumnae association meeting in Atlanta about 8 years ago. You know this is the truth because the rest of the alumnae association referred to us as "the triplets" after a short time and we adopted the name for ourselves. Half the time we showed up wearing the same color top as one another without even talking to one another that day. So to say the least, it was extremely hard to leave them in Atlanta when we moved to Orlando. So happiness abounds.
Unfortunately, the tapas place we ate at, while good going down was not necessarily so good to me the rest of the night. It has stayed down but must have been greasy without my knowing it because my stomach this morning almost rejected my oatmeal square cereal which is my absolute favorite cereal in the entire world (and is actually good for you too). But survive I did.
After soothing the savage beast that was Ladybug this morning (she again is keeping herself up late... I heard something that sounded like a sheet being fluffed in our living room around 10:30 pm. I wander out to see Ladybug making a little "bed" for herself on the floor! I told her she needed to go to bed and go to sleep and she picked up her sheet, said "come on bear" and grabbed her white teddy bear and headed back to her room.), got Angelfish dressed and properly loved on, and everyone out the door, I headed off for my 4 mile run. Today I was supposed to run mile 1 as a warm up and it was to be my slowest of the 4 miles. The rest of the miles were to be in zone 3. I'm running along somewhere in the midst of the 2nd-3rd mile definitely in zone 3 and this guy who I have seen running around the neighborhood PASSES me. For whatever reason, the fact that this guy passed me really got my hackles up (like I own the sidewalk or something). I tried to run a bit faster but the man was too fast for me. It was mildly depressing but then I reminded myself that while I'm not that fast of a runner that I can get it done, which in the end is all that matters. I also reminded myself that I was doing great being out there with pain in my leg and lower back and running in zone 3.
Well, it all paid off. I know I ran my 1st mile pretty slowly, and while I'm not sure what my other miles worked out to be time wise for each, but my average pace for all 4 miles was 10 minutes and 37 seconds. I was thrilled!
Now it is a full day of work and trying to put together my to do list of things that needs to be done around the house, for the girls' birthday party, etc. I'm already on #23 and I think I'm leaving some stuff off. Some of it is stuff that really doesn't have to happen this week, but I'd sure like it to.
Of course, maybe I need to try to lessen my stress levels. Yesterday I went for my 1st blood pressure check of the week at the doctor's office and it was 136/90. Not good. Now the doctor wants me to have the rest of them checked at the fire station so they can see if I'm fearful of the doctor's office. I teased the nurse that if the firefighters are too attractive my blood pressure might go up too. She thought that was pretty funny. Bascially though, they're threatening me with blood pressure medicine. Just what I need, another thing to show I'm getting older. I'm not old though. I'm only approaching my mid-30s but right now I'm feeling like I have the body of an elderly person. But this too shall pass. Tomorrow I have to get my blood work done for my cholesterol levels - also in response to a threat for cholesterol lowering medicine.
Bad genetics are not fun. I hope I didn't pass all this on to the little ladies. But better to have life (even with silly genetics) than not... and I did get a lot of great genetics too. I'm just hoping that they will have more of the great ones than the not so great ones. Either way, we'll have to make the best of it!
Unfortunately, the tapas place we ate at, while good going down was not necessarily so good to me the rest of the night. It has stayed down but must have been greasy without my knowing it because my stomach this morning almost rejected my oatmeal square cereal which is my absolute favorite cereal in the entire world (and is actually good for you too). But survive I did.
After soothing the savage beast that was Ladybug this morning (she again is keeping herself up late... I heard something that sounded like a sheet being fluffed in our living room around 10:30 pm. I wander out to see Ladybug making a little "bed" for herself on the floor! I told her she needed to go to bed and go to sleep and she picked up her sheet, said "come on bear" and grabbed her white teddy bear and headed back to her room.), got Angelfish dressed and properly loved on, and everyone out the door, I headed off for my 4 mile run. Today I was supposed to run mile 1 as a warm up and it was to be my slowest of the 4 miles. The rest of the miles were to be in zone 3. I'm running along somewhere in the midst of the 2nd-3rd mile definitely in zone 3 and this guy who I have seen running around the neighborhood PASSES me. For whatever reason, the fact that this guy passed me really got my hackles up (like I own the sidewalk or something). I tried to run a bit faster but the man was too fast for me. It was mildly depressing but then I reminded myself that while I'm not that fast of a runner that I can get it done, which in the end is all that matters. I also reminded myself that I was doing great being out there with pain in my leg and lower back and running in zone 3.
Well, it all paid off. I know I ran my 1st mile pretty slowly, and while I'm not sure what my other miles worked out to be time wise for each, but my average pace for all 4 miles was 10 minutes and 37 seconds. I was thrilled!
Now it is a full day of work and trying to put together my to do list of things that needs to be done around the house, for the girls' birthday party, etc. I'm already on #23 and I think I'm leaving some stuff off. Some of it is stuff that really doesn't have to happen this week, but I'd sure like it to.
Of course, maybe I need to try to lessen my stress levels. Yesterday I went for my 1st blood pressure check of the week at the doctor's office and it was 136/90. Not good. Now the doctor wants me to have the rest of them checked at the fire station so they can see if I'm fearful of the doctor's office. I teased the nurse that if the firefighters are too attractive my blood pressure might go up too. She thought that was pretty funny. Bascially though, they're threatening me with blood pressure medicine. Just what I need, another thing to show I'm getting older. I'm not old though. I'm only approaching my mid-30s but right now I'm feeling like I have the body of an elderly person. But this too shall pass. Tomorrow I have to get my blood work done for my cholesterol levels - also in response to a threat for cholesterol lowering medicine.
Bad genetics are not fun. I hope I didn't pass all this on to the little ladies. But better to have life (even with silly genetics) than not... and I did get a lot of great genetics too. I'm just hoping that they will have more of the great ones than the not so great ones. Either way, we'll have to make the best of it!
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