10 miles

Luckily I'm pretty much always motivated to go to the gym and work out. Lately, with having such a loss in our CF community, It sort of upped my motivation. Granted I do have other reasons for this right now as well, however, moving on.I WILL work hard, I WILL stay positive, and I WILL keep going and not let CF get in my way.

This week I did over 10 miles at the gym. I am very pleased with this result. My rib pain/muscle pull is so much better which has helped in the exercise department. I spoke with my doctors and said that I needed alternatives to exercising with this pain. They said running wasn't especially smart right now, considering how much my your arms move while running. So I've chosen to do the stationary bike, and the Elliptical (minus the arms moving) as my exercise.

To kick It up a notch, I've increased the resistance, and done the "Cardio Mode" for both pieces of equipment. Holy sweat! It has been fabulous! I feel very satisfied, considering I can't run. Heck this might just be kicking my rear even more, and I couldn't be happier.

Pain and Loss

It has not been a good few weeks in the CF community. We've lost 3 people who I truly cared about and was friends with all in the matter of just over 2 weeks. This weekend brought such sad and tragic news as we lost 2 CF'ers who were actually best friends, just 2 days apart. The shock, and sheer hysterics doesn't even begin to cover these feelings felt lately.

I hate this. I hate this so much. I don't know any other word to use to attempt to describe it. Infinite tears have been shed, and I know It's not the end of them either. It's just not fair. I won't ask "Why" but I can't help but wonder....WHY!?

I've contemplated taking a break from the CF forums, and even from Facebook. But then I wonder, am I running away from this? I don't know. I love, and I really mean this when I say it...I love the relationships and the friendships that I've made over the years with my fellow CF'ers. It's times like these though, when I feel like I can't do this, I can't watch this sadness around me. I can't watch people lose their lives with the disease that I have. I can't stand to feel helpless and just watch this sorrow. This is a dark place.

Last night I just couldn't shake the feeling of just not wanting to be alone and scared. Scott is back to school, but I just could not sit in this house alone. So I turned a lot of negatives into positives. I went up to the gym last night with my best friend and stayed on the treadmill for 50 minutes. Infact, I did a 5K. Take that CF!

Please, whatever your faith or belief is...If you could please take a moment out of your day to remember those who have lost their battle lately. Remember their families, children, life, and friends they've left behind.

Missing Geneva, Tom, and Tina.

Ice Skating and other weekend ponders..

Well my heart broke slightly with the Ravens losing last night. Wait, my heart broke with them giving the game away. Ahh well, there's always next season. The good part is, we still have a few weeks left of football. I love football season, and am always sad to see it go. So here's to the playoffs then the Superbowl :)

Despite my accident prone week, I managed to survive ice skating today. Granted, I've never had any problem ice skating, but given my track record this week I had the helmet and bubble wrap ready ;)

All in all it was a great weekend of friends, family, food, fun, and football. It doesn't get much better than that!

My nephew and I skating :)

I should start wearing a helmet

I don't know what my deal is this week but I have been a major clutz. That being said, I've got tons of battle wounds to prove it.

As I mentioned earlier this week I ended up at the doctor due to my rub/muscle pains. I'm still taking Tylenol and Ibuprofen around the clock. Sure I feel better with the meds, but during the night not so much.

So as if that weren't enough I added more injury yesterday. It's so ridiculous that I have to laugh. Problem is, the laughing turns to coughing, and the coughing kills the ribs. Alas, I'm a laugher and always will be so I'll just splint and continue to crack up.

Yesterday I stopped at Target to purchase a "fitness ball." I thought It would be something good to do perhaps in the evening, especially to work on the abs. Yes they have these at the gym, but I figured I'd just pick one up in addition. Well brain-iac that I am sat on it without shoes, mistake #1. Then decided to lie back on it and see how my injured back did on it, enter mistake #2. Well soon after leaning back on the ball, my socks were slipping on the hard wood floor. I lost control of my feet, and fell over. Doesn't sound too bad right? lol. Well I fell on my right side (because you know, I wouldn't want to hurt the left side that's already messed up). Sheesh. The right sided fall flipped me over, hit my head on my desk chair, scraped my elbow along a rug (hello rug burn) then landed on a huge vein in my arm which immediately turned black and lumpy. All I can say is what a dummy, oh and ouch.

I run to the freezer, wait I trotted limp-like to the freezer, yeah that's more like it. I grab a bag of brussel sprouts and iced the elbow area. It was pretty gross, swollen, and turning black. For a second I thought I'd broken my arm the way it had twisted.

So I took my regulary scheduled Ibuprofen/Tylenol combo. Only this time It had double work to do. Fix the rib/mucles, oh and the added swollen black elbow and arm. This morning I woke up after not sleeping too well because every move I made was followed by @#$%*#&! ouch!!! haha.

When I got out of bed today I hadn't realized how this fall had hurt my knee. I'm suddenly realizing how much I sound/feel like a 90 year old lady. But It's true, my body is aching today. Perhaps I'll put myself in a protective bubble, and strap a helmet on with a chin strap. Sounds like a plan to me ;)

On a happy note, I still made it to the gym 4 days this week despite this stuff. And I got in a little over 6 miles.

Here's to a non-injured weekend...GO RAVENS!!

Great run, but embarrassing.

Today was a great running day for me. I'm not sure what It was, but I just felt great running today. Perhaps It helped tremendously that my back/rib pain was so much better!? Whatever It was, It sure was welcomed.

Today's run according to my plan was for 30 minutes. I ended up running 2.5 miles today!! I was really pushing to get to that 3rd mile, but my feet were hurting so bad. Side note-I'm over due for getting new running shoes. Must get new ones, like now :)

Here's the embarrassing part. I have my IPOD on shuffle and was rocking out to, well, rock. During shuffle "A-Ha's" song "Take on Me" comes on and I got pumped. Yes yes I'm a HUGE 80's music lover! Anyway I was so digging the song I didn't realize I was singing it outload on the treadmill. Yup! I was THAT person today. Let's just say that I was happy to be done my workout at that point ;)

Overall It was a great run and I felt awesome afterwards. Maybe It was the fact that It was snowing outside and I felt super excited, like a little kid?

Pulled muscle = OUCH!

I still am not 100% sure how I did this to my back. All I know is that the pain in so intense that It forced me to go to the doctor today (Which I totally try to avoid). When I woke up this morning I couldn't take it anymore.

I went into work and got the opinion of one of our Anesthesiologists. Turns out he just scared the you know what out of me because "well normally I'd say It's musculoskeletal...however with your Cystic Fibrosis you'd better get checked out." Rats! But being the good, overly worried patient that I am I obeyed his request.

I went to our local "Patient First" center and they were great as usual when I've been in the past. It's quick, no appointment, and It costs me all of $5 with our insurance. Awesome.

They wanted to make sure I didn't have a PE (Pulmonary Embolism), Infection, or Pneumonia eventhough I don't have those symptoms. Better safe than sorry, and I'm all for ruling out. So we agreed I have a severe muscle pull that they had to give me Flexaril. Yikes. I've never taken this before, but I was told It's either going to make me mega loopy and/or knock me out.

At this point I just want the pain to go away. I'm not a huge fan of it hurting when I breathe. It's like awful rib pain on Inspiration, not cool. Luckily a change in position and the pain goes away for the most part. Now If I could just sit or lay comfortably and we'd be great ;) Here's to the meds working!

The Feeling of Loss

I don't think we ever get used to the feeling of losing someone. I think in our hearts and in our minds we try to prepare ourself and use past experiences to "cushion the blow" if you will. It doesn't work.

Yesterday we lost a wonderful person in our CF community, Geneva. My heart goes out to her lovely sister and close friend of mine Laura, along with her new husband and extended family. It's never easy to lose someone you care about, even if you've never met them in person. These bonds form with having this disease, heck maybe that's one of the positives to pull from having CF. I don't know.

I wish there was more I could do, more I could offer for them during this time. Living across the country doesn't make it easy to be physically available. I just hope they know how loved they all are, and they are not alone in this. These feelings of anxiety, sadness, and helplessness are only a few adjectives I can even think of at the moment. I strongly dislike this, you know what, I hate it. There.

Here's to a beautiful person. I hope you are breathing easy now Geneva.

Dear rotten sinuses of mine,

This post is dedicated to my (misbehaving) sinuses.

Dear Sinuses,

What was your deal today at the gym anyway? Really? I can't believe how you behaved once we walked in the door. Did you think it was appropriate to throw a tantrum like that and cause a stir? Why did you wait to start draining and make me cough my head off for 25 minutes during my run?! If you would have acted up earlier in the day I could have calmed you down much easier. You really put me in a predicament today just so you know. What, were you just jealous because I was running so you wanted to run as well!? How dare you try to cut my run short today. I hope you realized that you WILL NOT cut my run short, and I will win this! Bwah ha ha!

I want answers! ;) Ok ok, fine, be like that. Try as you may little rotten sinuses of mine to interfere with my exercise and running. Go ahead, you will see who will win every time. What, was today not proof enough!? Go ahead try me again and see what happens! You're going down!

The New Plan

I thought I'd share the link to my new running plan that I've just started. Every so often I have to change up my running routine a bit. It's always nice to have a new goal, plus It gives me that little bit of excitement to go work out. Who doesn't like a bit of fresh motivation right? So here's my latest endeavor:

My Half Marathon Plan, check it out ;)

First Run of the Year...check!

There were a ton of new faces at the gym today. I'm thinking a lot of people made resolutions to start exercising, I sure I hope they stick with It. I made a promise to myself a long time ago to not give up on running, I haven't, and I won't.

Today I started a new running plan to really challenge myself. To me It's intimidating, but I won't give up. It's a pretty great 1/2 marathon plan that actually looked doable and not completely scary, haha. I'm ready for it!!

Here's to the completion of day 1 which required 30 minutes (Run 1 min/walk 1 min) which for me was 2 miles. Feeling great and looking forward to the challenge!

Can't think of a better New Year's weekend

We spent this weekend celebrating Christmas (and New Year) with friends. Saturday night we went out on the town to Annapolis and did our gift exchange. We ended up going to a quaint Irish pub/restaurant. It was probably built in the 1700's, old stone walls, very cool. Afterwards we went to a haunted tavern. It was indeed creepy, but oh so AWESOME!!! We then headed back to our friends house to relax the rest of the evening, enjoy champagne and eachother's company. It was perfect.

Today my best friend and I headed out to celebrate Christmas together. We exchanged gifts then headed out for coffees and manicures. It was pretty sweet to sit there and have someone massage your hands and arms while making your rough old hands look oh so pretty ;) We then went out to lunch, and did a little shopping. Looking back I'm thinking to myself, I don't think the first weekend of the new year could have been any better. I am so blessed.

Tonight It's back to reality as work is tomorrow. However I'm going to enjoy these final few hours of my mini break parked in front of the fireplace watching football. There's no place I'd rather be tonight then here with my husband and pups. Happy New Year all!

Welcome 2011!

We had a fabulous New Years Eve celebration with Scott's family. We rang in 2011 with tons of family, friends, lots of love and laughter. I have to say it was the perfect start to our new year. Here's to making 2011 simply marvelous ;)