Against The Ropes

There are plenty of examples I could give you of times in my life when I have felt "against the ropes." I'm sure you have plenty, too.

I think we live in a time when people disregard that they're putting people "against the ropes" or realizing someone they know is in that position due to other reasons and they just, selfishly, go about their lives. Maybe that is considered OK in this world because we all have to learn how to go through things by ourselves...or we'll never learn, right?

If you're going through a tough time, watch this video. Or keep it for a "rainy day" when things are hard. I promise...it'll definitely release some of the tension in your brain so you can actually hear your own thoughts. 

         

   -Keep going, my friends. 

...As Seen on TV...

Last Friday I got to visit my nephews and hang out with them. I can't handle that they'll be TWO in a few weeks! They love using SnapChat filters (just check out my Facebook)! I may be biased, but they are thee SWEETEST little boys ever! <3

Later that evening, it was girls night! Every time we get together, we have a theme for a gift exchange. As you might remember, the last get together was our ugly leggings exchange. This time was, "As Seen on TV." Brilliant, huh?!

Here are the items exchanged:

My sister got a clam to open and there was a pearl inside. Oh and a scrubby daddy! Seriously---they're amazeballs!

 I got what any person would buy me if they saw it...a Rapid Mac Cooker! It cooks the 'legit' mac n cheese in a quarter of the time---SCORE!!!

I purchased this lovely Flippin' Fantastic for Jen--and added the must haves to use it! I'm awful at making pancakes---so this is just necessary. You can use it for hash browns & omelets, too!

Swiss got a (grim reaper) black pancho, and a couple of really cool kitchen cutters & slicers!

And then the rest of the night commenced with dinner and some cocktails & lots of laughs! :)

Well, Hey! 5.25.17

Long time no see! Well.........................................it's quite the lengthy story, but I'll 'try' to condense the story.

So the last time I blogged was 2 weeks ago today. On that day, Blake told me he had a really bad stomach ache. I figure from all of the stress of his shoulder surgery coming up in June, the symptoms he was having reminded me of an ulcer. We noticed his hands (on Thursday night) started to turn red with white spots. I suggested going to the doctor/urgent care, but we didn't end up going.

Friday morning, he said he could barely move it was so bad. He then left work around noon, explaining that his stomach felt like it was going to explode. We (he) ended up in the ER for the remainder of the afternoon, and was admitted to the hospital in the early evening.

Now, let me take you back to being in the ER. I wasn't in a tizzy until Blake's text to my question of, "should I come?" said, "It's bad. OMG it's bad. I may have to get transferred possibly have surgery." Instantly, I panicked and left work. THEE LONGEST DRIVE of my life to Webster City in the mean time. The doctor took an x-ray of him and said he "thought" he had a cyst on his pancreas. Don't worry folks, it later became know it was "just a shadow from his kidney." Way to FREAK us all out. Anyways---the outcome? Acute Pancreatitis. What is [acute] pancreatitis? Well, according to WebMD (insert eye roll): it is a disease in which the pancreas becomes inflamed. Pancreatic damage happens when the digestive enzymes are activated before they are released into the small intestine and begin attacking the pancreas. So...sudden inflammation that lasts for a short time (cough bullshit cough). It may range from mild discomfort-severe (severe is where he was IMO). His white blood count was through the roof, and his lipase enzymes weren't too hot either.

This is serious stuff folks. I had no idea how significant your Pancreas is until now!

We spent the weekend in the hospital, his water and food intake was minimal...like nada. Maybe some jello and chicken broth here and there, and water was 12-20 oz. PER DAY at most. This coming from two people that drink 1+ gallons a day, is torture! But other than his lame diet, it wasn't so bad, with cable. (We don't have TV at home, so this was the silver lining---ha!) His pain was a roller coaster throughout the weekend and by Sunday things seemed "OK." He was discharged.

Come Monday/Tuesday...he went back to work. By Wednesday of last week, he was back in the hospital in severe pain again. I felt terrible. Same thing, but just taking more time to heal, basically. The poor guy lost around 20# by the time he got home...he's officially putting it back on, don't worry! It was mostly because they were giving and taking away food and drink based on his pain level and slowly building to a point where he didn't feel like crap after every time he ate.

He was discharged this last Saturday and seems to be officially doing "OK." Pain here and there, as long as he's resting when he can and not eating fatty foods. All I've seen him eat in the last 5 days is chicken, jello, tons of yogurt, and some Powerade Zero's.

Hopefully this will all subside, because we really need to prep for his surgery in a few weeks.

And that's why I've been MIA.

On This Day | 5.4.17

Holy cannoli! It's MAY?! I feel like it was just New Years Eve! 

Anyways, my usual "On This Day" post is here!

This was the last 5k I ran. It was a very fun race---very entertaining to say the least. If you've never been to Ada Hayden in northern Ames, you definitely need to go take a stroll, bike ride, or rollerblade on a nice day.

 According to my caption, I ran it with 0 lower back pain. Some time in 2014, I tried dead lifting 250+lbs. (not exactly sure...it was HEAVY) with awful form and hurt my back. I had pinched a nerve in my back before, but something was really wrong this time. It made everything difficult, especially running. So zero lower back pain was a big deal and it still is. I can feel my lower back tense up and get achy when I do the most ordinary things--vacuum, pick up sticks in the yard, getting clothes out of the dryer...I get a monthly massage and see the chiropractor just as often to make sure I get ahead of injuring myself again. So moral of the story, take care of your lower back people! 

Two Things In Life

I want to start off this post with this quote today....

It's hit home the last couple of days.

Blake found out that he has a type 4 SLAP tear. The worst of the 'types' in other words.

A really big bummer for us, especially for him.

But we will do what needs to be done & the comeback will be even better! Right?!


Anyways, this quote showed up on my Pinterest feed & it really resonated with me. I've just felt like I've let a lot of little things get to me lately mixed with being tired, and I haven't dealt with them the best way. We all have those days...But I have vowed to make a solid effort in remembering this quote with all the days to come whether it deals with work, LipSense, my friends, Blake, cleaning the house (lol), working out, etc.

Here's to better days!

Here's an attempt at a pic from last weekend with my crummy iPhone 6...Ha! We had a scrumptious dinner at Unkies and some tasty beverages. Date night is always da best!

On This Day | 4.27

This picture still fascinates me.

Although I wouldn't dive right into this water, I would love to be there in person in the beautiful weather and super sunny sun. Know what I mean?

I'm trying to think positively since our weather here in Iowa has gone to crap the last couple of days.

Cheers to Thursday, though!

A More Serious Note

Happy Hump Day ya'll!

I'm currently obsessing over Garden Tomato & Basil rice cakes and Sun Dried Tomato Mozzarella Laughing Cow Cheese as a snack. Seriously thee most flavorful snack! ...And bonus -- low cal, carbs, and fat. Can't beat that!

..........

On a more serious note...

Blake has been battling a painful shoulder for about a year. He's been to the doctor multiple times, had an MRI, etc. We were told, no surgery would be needed, and he took a month off from the gym like he was told. It started to feel 'much' better and he went back to the gym only to feel the irritation begin again. He has put some muscle back on that shoulder, but it's still bothering him. He has been doing physical therapy the last few weeks to work on whatever is going on only to be told by the PT that she was pretty sure he has a labral tear.

He went to the Dr. on this last Monday whom told him he's very sure it is a labral tear. He has another MRI this Thursday to confirm and then we will go from there. This MRI is the one where they inject some dye into his shoulder...it's over my head (knock on wood, I've never had to do this)!

So we both have been stressed out & a little scared what this could mean for the (near & far) future. I don't EVER say this so you know it's pretty serious...but if you're creating a 'prayer' list, I would please ask that you put Blake on it. He's come a long ways since we started dating when he first started getting into bodybuilding. It's a level him & I connect strongly on! So it would really bum me out if I was going to the gym by myself for many weeks/months to come. (This isn't about me, I know. But it's a full circle of what will be affected.) He's great at lifting, and he works extremely hard--to say the least, he pushes me to constantly strive to work harder and be better, because I love this bodybuilding life, too. It's tough to watch someone so passionate go down for something that isn't 'fair.' Here's to a heck of a lot of well wishes, positive reinforcements, and lots of deep breaths!