So as I'm still relatively new again to the world of "active" people, I'm wondering if anyone has any good workouts to share? Especially in light of my recent chest pain episodes, I want to stay on the light side, but am totally up for a simple aerobic/cardiac routine along with good weight-lifting exercises.
What I really want to strengthen right now is my abs, so if you know of anything besides basic crunches, please share! I'm open to all suggestions! Maybe even a cool circuit traning routine :)
On another note, I know this is a random thing to follow the first part of this post with, but it's on my mind, so I'll share.
I am so, so thankful to have, as Melody, over at Blossoming Joy, puts it, a "faithful, faith-filled" husband. I'm so glad we share the same faith, and that we do so in our everyday lives. As practicing Catholics, we do not believe in artificial birth control. As a nurse, I do not believe in the benefits of birth control.
See below.
Did you know that the typical birth control pill is an estrogen-progestin combination, and that it is listed as a Group I carcinogen according World Health Organization? How is it that women aren't told this when they're prescribed birth control??
In case you're unfamiliar with what a Group I carcinogen is, here's some clarification. The WHO, in July 2005, changed the grouping of menopausal estrogen therapy and confirmed oral contraceptives (estrogen-progestogen), as "possibly carcinogenic to humans", Group II, to Group I "sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans." Guess what else is in Group I... asbestos,Hep C, HIV, Agent Orange,formaldehyde.
Just to be clear, the WHO put out a report in 1999 stating that estrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives were Group 1. The meeting in 2005 confirmed it.
There are numerous other health effects of the Pill, but rather than making this post a scientific article, I'll re-post this video from Blossoming Joy :)
Kind of a long video, but well worth the time!
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that I am not judging. I've learned a great deal about Church teaching and the health effects of the Pill after much time spent in research. This is my personal conviction, which I believe to be part of God's divine plan for human life. If you do not believe the same as I, I will not judge. It is not my place. I follow the truth I seek, and am more than willing to share my faith. Please be respectful in commenting, as I will in return.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
Bottle it and sell it kind of motivation
I've been super motivated lately. I don't know exactly where it's come from, but I've very thankful it's here.
For the last three years, I've been putting off taking my CCRN exam (an exam for nerdy critical care nurses that want to be certified in what we're already doing :) Well about two weeks ago, I just decided enough is enough, and I registered for the exam. For one, I think I kept putting it off, because its a $300 exam, for which I will not receive a raise (God-willing I pass the test). At least our hospital doesn't for people with my employment status.
The date is set for August 13th.
Oh, and I'll post this also, because I'm proud of it, what with being the horrible procrastinator I am... I've started studying for it! Haha, I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but seriously, this is post-worthy for me :) I'm very excited to take the test. I'm a super nerd. For life.
Oh, (again) and following the CCRN exam, I plan to take two sub-specialty certification exams. The CSC and CMC (God-willing I pass those also) will certify that I am competent and able to take care of cardiac patients of acute illness, such as heart attack and open heart surgery. Both of these I do already, but again, out comes the nerdiness :)
So, when all is said and done, my new credentials will be:
RN, BSN, CCRN, CMC-CSC
Not too shabby, eh?
Haha, I'm not doing it so much for the letters, but because I know that having 100 hours of continuing education due every three years will MAKE me stay up-to-date on the most current critical care info, and being the procrastinator I already claim to be, I can use all the help (aka, mandatory education) I can get.
Besides getting a second wind in my professional life, I've also done so with my fitness life as well, being that I haven't had one in the last 3-4 years.
I'm so sad and embarrassed to admit, but since Sam and I were married, I've not exercised routinely or even not routinely at all. When I was in college and high school, I worked out all the time. Not in the obsessive, so concerned with my weight kind of worked out, but the maintain my muscle mass type.
Then, we got pregnant two months after we were married, and I honestly just lost all interest. I didn't see the point, although I do now. And not that it's an excuse at all, but I nursed Ella eight months, and was afraid to work out the whole time, thinking that if I did, I'd make my milk supply go down. (I think I read that somewhere- that if you do cardio/aerobics, it will do that. Probably bogus.) Then when Ella was eight months, we conceived Samy, and the same excuses perpetuated themselves, all the way up through the eight months I breastfed him. Sigh.
But in the last three weeks, I realized how much I missed breaking a good sweat and feeling like I'd done something good for my body. I talked to Sam about it and he was all supportive of me joining the Y and signing up for the nursery, so that I could take the kids with me to work out. So I did. It's been wonderful! I feel confident and strong, and dare to say it, sexy! Maybe the last part is due to the first :) Who knows?
Well, I've enjoyed it very much. But, alas, I'm having to slow down a bit and take a break. The last time I worked out, which was about a week and a half ago, I started to have chest pain. It's not chest pain in the usual sense, rather a pain I had in high school. The exact same pain, actually. Same location, same intensity, everything. I was checked out by a cardiologist at the time, and he couldn't find anything.
Now that I'm a CCU nurse and studying for my CCRN, I think I may know what it is. And believe me, I'm the last person to self-diagnose, especially the end of the world, worst possible scenario diagnosing types. But I think there's a difference in self-diagnosing my Google searching symptoms and an educated guess as to what it may be by assessment and findings as compared to legit medical/nursing references.
I dont' know what it is. I'm planning on going to a cardiologist for another evaluation in August, so we'll see then, but in the meantime, I'm going to start working out again, but maybe with less intensity.
Overall, I'm just really, really happy to be improving myself right now. I feel like God put a fire in me to be a better person. The Holy Spirit is with me every step of the way, gently guiding me in the way to be a better nurse to serve His people. And a better wife for my husband.
I want to live with a fire for life that doesn't dwindle because I'm used to the same 'ole, same 'ole. I want to be the fire that enflames others.
For the last three years, I've been putting off taking my CCRN exam (an exam for nerdy critical care nurses that want to be certified in what we're already doing :) Well about two weeks ago, I just decided enough is enough, and I registered for the exam. For one, I think I kept putting it off, because its a $300 exam, for which I will not receive a raise (God-willing I pass the test). At least our hospital doesn't for people with my employment status.
The date is set for August 13th.
Oh, and I'll post this also, because I'm proud of it, what with being the horrible procrastinator I am... I've started studying for it! Haha, I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but seriously, this is post-worthy for me :) I'm very excited to take the test. I'm a super nerd. For life.
Oh, (again) and following the CCRN exam, I plan to take two sub-specialty certification exams. The CSC and CMC (God-willing I pass those also) will certify that I am competent and able to take care of cardiac patients of acute illness, such as heart attack and open heart surgery. Both of these I do already, but again, out comes the nerdiness :)
So, when all is said and done, my new credentials will be:
RN, BSN, CCRN, CMC-CSC
Not too shabby, eh?
Haha, I'm not doing it so much for the letters, but because I know that having 100 hours of continuing education due every three years will MAKE me stay up-to-date on the most current critical care info, and being the procrastinator I already claim to be, I can use all the help (aka, mandatory education) I can get.
Besides getting a second wind in my professional life, I've also done so with my fitness life as well, being that I haven't had one in the last 3-4 years.
I'm so sad and embarrassed to admit, but since Sam and I were married, I've not exercised routinely or even not routinely at all. When I was in college and high school, I worked out all the time. Not in the obsessive, so concerned with my weight kind of worked out, but the maintain my muscle mass type.
Then, we got pregnant two months after we were married, and I honestly just lost all interest. I didn't see the point, although I do now. And not that it's an excuse at all, but I nursed Ella eight months, and was afraid to work out the whole time, thinking that if I did, I'd make my milk supply go down. (I think I read that somewhere- that if you do cardio/aerobics, it will do that. Probably bogus.) Then when Ella was eight months, we conceived Samy, and the same excuses perpetuated themselves, all the way up through the eight months I breastfed him. Sigh.
But in the last three weeks, I realized how much I missed breaking a good sweat and feeling like I'd done something good for my body. I talked to Sam about it and he was all supportive of me joining the Y and signing up for the nursery, so that I could take the kids with me to work out. So I did. It's been wonderful! I feel confident and strong, and dare to say it, sexy! Maybe the last part is due to the first :) Who knows?
Well, I've enjoyed it very much. But, alas, I'm having to slow down a bit and take a break. The last time I worked out, which was about a week and a half ago, I started to have chest pain. It's not chest pain in the usual sense, rather a pain I had in high school. The exact same pain, actually. Same location, same intensity, everything. I was checked out by a cardiologist at the time, and he couldn't find anything.
Now that I'm a CCU nurse and studying for my CCRN, I think I may know what it is. And believe me, I'm the last person to self-diagnose, especially the end of the world, worst possible scenario diagnosing types. But I think there's a difference in self-diagnosing my Google searching symptoms and an educated guess as to what it may be by assessment and findings as compared to legit medical/nursing references.
I dont' know what it is. I'm planning on going to a cardiologist for another evaluation in August, so we'll see then, but in the meantime, I'm going to start working out again, but maybe with less intensity.
Overall, I'm just really, really happy to be improving myself right now. I feel like God put a fire in me to be a better person. The Holy Spirit is with me every step of the way, gently guiding me in the way to be a better nurse to serve His people. And a better wife for my husband.
I want to live with a fire for life that doesn't dwindle because I'm used to the same 'ole, same 'ole. I want to be the fire that enflames others.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Woke up in a good mood today. Thought it was going to be a great day. It was not.
I let it not be a good day. I take responsibility.
I'm tired, disappointed, dehydrated and now have calloused hands.
Need to stay up to work on a couple of things, but I don't want to. I just want to lay in bed, listen to some good music and fall peacefully asleep.
I did not feel peace today. I guess I felt more frustrated and then just apathetic.
Whatever. It's done.
God, please help me to help tomorrow be a good day. My attitude is always in my control.
I have so much to be thankful for. And I am. Today was just was one of those days.
I want to feel you Lord. Be with me.
You are my everything.
Restore me. Get me back to my happy self.
I'm so sorry for all I've done.
Are you listening? I am sorry for hurting you.
I love you Jesus. Help me to love you more deeply. Take away the part of me that hurts. Or give me strength. And rest. Maybe give me rest first.
I love you.
I let it not be a good day. I take responsibility.
I'm tired, disappointed, dehydrated and now have calloused hands.
Need to stay up to work on a couple of things, but I don't want to. I just want to lay in bed, listen to some good music and fall peacefully asleep.
I did not feel peace today. I guess I felt more frustrated and then just apathetic.
Whatever. It's done.
God, please help me to help tomorrow be a good day. My attitude is always in my control.
I have so much to be thankful for. And I am. Today was just was one of those days.
I want to feel you Lord. Be with me.
You are my everything.
Restore me. Get me back to my happy self.
I'm so sorry for all I've done.
Are you listening? I am sorry for hurting you.
I love you Jesus. Help me to love you more deeply. Take away the part of me that hurts. Or give me strength. And rest. Maybe give me rest first.
I love you.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Oh, my...
I'm so not good at blogging regularly! I don't even know how many times I've resolved to "blog more often". Ugh. I so dislike it when I decide to do something and then don't follow through. It's just that blogging is so last on my list of things to get done that it often goes undone. Oh well, I really blog as a mommy outlet and for a few moments to organize my thoughts into words. Sorry to those of you who check my blog semi-regularly. And one last note on blog business: I've changed my url! I think its high time that my url match my blog's title. I really kind of like And Then She Felt Peace, because it reminds me of my life (but I'll save that for a future post).
In other news with our family...
Sam is no longer with the job he was working at for the last 3 1/2 years. His last day was the beginning of May. We are more happy than anything, as God has had His hand in all our recent happenings. We're trusting in Him that His will be done and praying that we want that more than our own.
With him leaving his old job and having some time off, we took a 2 week vacation to visit friends in Charlotte in mid-May. Our friends, Meghan and Richard (and Gavin, who's Ella's age), are our best friends who moved away a year ago. They used to live 30 miles away. Now its more like 1300!! Whew, it was quite the drive, what with 2 babies in tow. But it was lovely! The trip to Charlotte was 23 hours, one-way, and I was very nervous about taking a 2 year old and 10 month old on such a long drive. Turns out, it was not only manageable, but very enjoyable. Ella usually runs anywhere she goes, so I was worried that keeping her in the car so long would make
What I especially loved about the trip was that 95% of the way there and back we didn't have the radio or any music on. Sam and I talked (so much, I loved it!) and sang songs with Ella. We probably sang "I'm a Little Teapot" and "Happy Birthday" (Ella's new favorite song) about 50 times each, if not way more. It was super lovely family time :)
And the best part of out non-driving trip was by far, getting to see our very missed friends! We absolutely loved seeing Meghan, Rich, and Gavin! Ella and Gavin hung out the whole time and spent a lot of time chasing Meghan's cat, Sasha... poor thing. She's a trooper. We just has the best time and are so thankful for the wonderful hosts they were. We love you guys!!
So, in more recent news, Sam started PA school this past week! Yaaaaay!! It's felt like this has been a long time coming, and I'm so glad we're finally here! The first week was hard, as the first day of each class was definitely graduate level. Sam came home and studied beside me as I played on the iPad (super productive, I know :), and read aloud some of the stuff he learned on the first day of class. Sounded like this, "The 2-3DPG gamma receptor inhibits the uptake of the RT803 gene's ability to secrete polynuclease indogenous cytokines that regulate the Doff's cycle." Yeah, whaaa?? No, that's not what he said, but sounded like that to me! And what's bad is that I'm a Bachelor's prepared RN! I usually get this stuff. It was incredible that his first day of class was already way over my head. All I can say is Go.Babe. You're incredible, and I so admire you.
So, that's what's new with us.
Here are some pics from our trip and Sam's first day of PA school (yes, I took a picture).
He did this a lot of the way :)
And Ella being her pretty princess self!
Once we got out of Texas, this was a lot of what our trip looked like. So much green!
Monday, April 16, 2012
My Samy
Is kind and wonderful and handsome and smart.
Loves me with a love like know love I've ever encountered.
Has a smile that melts my heart and has since high school.
Is the most amazing dad to our two little babies.
Gives and gives and gives, no matter how tired.
Loves his mom and dad like with a tremendous love, only a son can have. He's the best son I've ever met.
Has a passion for our faith.
Can make me laugh so hard when he's being silly :-b
Is my hero.
Always put me before himself.
Has strong arms that hold me tight just because.
Is sometimes a daredevil. And it sometimes makes me very nervous. His mom too!
Deserves the best the world has to offer.
Strives to do the right thing.
Likes it when I call him Samy.
Wants to grow old with me.
Is so understanding.
Tries. Every day. That may be one of the most important thing of all.
Believes in the sanctity of marriage. Especially ours.
Truly wants the best for people.
Is a very hard worker.
Is and always was my favorite member of the Breakfast Club.
Will one day have a very nice truck.
Keeps me on the right and narrow path.
Is my greatest ministry.
Is my best friend. Truly, truly. And I love that I can say that.
Will do great things in this life, because he cares.
Is my amazing husband, who rocks my world, gave me two gorgeous children, loves me faithfully, puts forth the effort, loves unconditionally, and still manages to look handsome as ever at the end of the day.
I am beyond-words-blessed to be married to you. All of the above are reasons why I'm so proud to be your wife. You could've picked anyone, yet you chose me. Thanks for the best three years of my life. I can't wait to spend my whole life being silly with you, perfecting our dance, snuggling up to that one spot on your neck that is mine (where you always smell oh, so good), watching our children grow, traveling, laughing, crying, and holding hands all the while.
You are the best part of my life.
I'm crazy about you, Sir.
Happy Anniversary <3 4.18.09
Loves me with a love like know love I've ever encountered.
Has a smile that melts my heart and has since high school.
Is the most amazing dad to our two little babies.
Gives and gives and gives, no matter how tired.
Loves his mom and dad like with a tremendous love, only a son can have. He's the best son I've ever met.
Has a passion for our faith.
Can make me laugh so hard when he's being silly :-b
Is my hero.
Always put me before himself.
Has strong arms that hold me tight just because.
Is sometimes a daredevil. And it sometimes makes me very nervous. His mom too!
Deserves the best the world has to offer.
Strives to do the right thing.
Likes it when I call him Samy.
Wants to grow old with me.
Is so understanding.
Tries. Every day. That may be one of the most important thing of all.
Believes in the sanctity of marriage. Especially ours.
Truly wants the best for people.
Is a very hard worker.
Is and always was my favorite member of the Breakfast Club.
Will one day have a very nice truck.
Keeps me on the right and narrow path.
Is my greatest ministry.
Is my best friend. Truly, truly. And I love that I can say that.
Will do great things in this life, because he cares.
Is my amazing husband, who rocks my world, gave me two gorgeous children, loves me faithfully, puts forth the effort, loves unconditionally, and still manages to look handsome as ever at the end of the day.
I am beyond-words-blessed to be married to you. All of the above are reasons why I'm so proud to be your wife. You could've picked anyone, yet you chose me. Thanks for the best three years of my life. I can't wait to spend my whole life being silly with you, perfecting our dance, snuggling up to that one spot on your neck that is mine (where you always smell oh, so good), watching our children grow, traveling, laughing, crying, and holding hands all the while.
You are the best part of my life.
I'm crazy about you, Sir.
Happy Anniversary <3 4.18.09
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Smiles and Pretty Folders
A great read. Well several great reads. Sam and I are just into book #2!
Samy just loves a high swing <3
I know, I know, I'm bragging now... but goodness, my kids are beautiful!!
Her cousin Levi got a John Deere for his birthday. I think Ella might have loved it even more than he did! It was so cute. They just rode around in around in that little thing. Too cute!
The pretty view from my craft room. Love this.
And being as I felt particularly crafty today, here's the before of what I made for my little teacher sister:
And here are the afters:
Vóila!
Samy just loves a high swing <3
I know, I know, I'm bragging now... but goodness, my kids are beautiful!!
Her cousin Levi got a John Deere for his birthday. I think Ella might have loved it even more than he did! It was so cute. They just rode around in around in that little thing. Too cute!
The pretty view from my craft room. Love this.
And being as I felt particularly crafty today, here's the before of what I made for my little teacher sister:
And here are the afters:
Vóila!
Monday, April 9, 2012
A few things I'm in need of...
I lay down to go fall asleep a couple of minutes, but felt compelled to blog while I laid there, awake with thoughts swirling around in my head. Mostly of things I need. Maybe if I post them, they'll appear in my house in the morning. Maybe.
I need my own personal Cinna to make me look radiant and beautiful. (Sam and I finished the first of the Hunger Games tonight.)
I need more sleep than I'll get tonight.
Sam to stay home and hang out with me tomorrow (and study for his test).
To stay focused on the prize.
To feel trusting and comfortable... And confident, it seems. Sometimes I am all these things. Sometimes I'm not.
A really, really good friend who is spontaneously wonderful.
Sleep.
I need my own personal Cinna to make me look radiant and beautiful. (Sam and I finished the first of the Hunger Games tonight.)
I need more sleep than I'll get tonight.
Sam to stay home and hang out with me tomorrow (and study for his test).
To stay focused on the prize.
To feel trusting and comfortable... And confident, it seems. Sometimes I am all these things. Sometimes I'm not.
A really, really good friend who is spontaneously wonderful.
Sleep.
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