Expanding my {fitness} horizons

Injury...a word avid runners come to know well. Or at least most of them.

A little over a month ago, I injured my left knee during a race. I had just taken two weeks off while the hubby and I were in Italy, and I had maybe squeezed in a week and a half of decent runs before taking home my FIRST first place finish (whoop!) at Zoom Through the Zoo. I felt great after, but then the next morning my knee had swollen to the size of a grapefruit.

A few days later, after trip to the orthopedic doctor, I was diagnosed with fluid buildup and put on anti-inflammatory meds and a light-intensity workout plan. Needless to say, a mild case of depression set in.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am rather passionate about running. One might call it obsessed. But obviously I've had to transform my training for the time being...and I have LOVED every minute of it!!

For the past month or so, I've been alternating swimming 2-3 times a week and biking at least 2 days. The biking has been somewhat satisfying, but the swimming...I never knew I would enjoy it this much!

A HUGE thank you to my dad, who paid for a month's membership for me at the Y, so I could see if I liked it. Not only is it something we can do together, but it's so much better for my joints, and my body just feels different. Who knows. Maybe there's a tri in my future?! For the time being, though, I think I'll stick with individual workouts. :)

New workout view!

Today was the first Road Race Series race of the year. I promised myself to keep it slow, so as not to injure my knee again. I kept a super slow pace (at least for the first 2 miles), finishing with my worst 5K time to date. But I'm not upset in the least. It was super fun, a new course, and my knee is feeling good.

Anyway, I'd have to say that my fitness horizons have definitely expanded. And regardless of how good the knee (hopefully) continues to feel, I'm going to keep up with the cross training.

Marathon training begins in less than a month!!

The craziness that has been the past month...or so

It's been well over a month since my last post. I'd like to say it's due to laziness, a lack of topics, or whatever, but honestly I just need about 50 bazillion more hours in the day.

First, I have to mention the hubby's and my AMAZING trip to Italia. Trip of a lifetime doesn't even begin to describe it! As mentioned in my couple of Italy posts, we were there for 12 days and made stops in Rome, Siena (our fave!), Florence, and Venice (my close-second fave). Being able to spend that time with B, seeing all the amazing sites we saw, and just experiencing all we did...it was truly life-changing. Timing is everything, and I'm so glad we were able to share it together. I have an entire journal of notes to post, but here are a few pics until then...

 With our tour guide, Paola, in Rome!

 Being silly :)

 Love this pic!

 Trevi Fountain

 Il Campo in Siena...our favorite spot!

Enjoying the scenery!

 Our FAVORITE day on the vineyard tour!

 On the Ponte Vecchio in Florence!

How beautiful is this view?! From atop the Pitti Palace

 Arriving in Venice!

 Chasing the pigeons in the Piazza San Marco!

 Rialto Bridge

 Just had to post...our view on the gondola ride

Ever since we got back, I've been working what seems like all day every day trying to keep my project load in a manageable place. I'm SO very thankful for my job and the fact that I love what I do. But as I'm sure one can imagine, when you're in front of a computer for close to 10 hours a day, the thought of going home and continuing to do so to work on your own blog isn't all that enticing. So there's my excuse for the lack of posts. On the bright side, I'm in the middle of hiring a new marketing assistant. Yay! The University of Memphis sure did produce some incredible candidates!

And then there's BBQ Fest. Normally I despise this event (crazy talk, I know), but I have to say this my favorite year ever! We made so many new friends, had a lot of laughs, let loose, and just had a good time...and I still made it to work every day. :) It may or may not have also helped to have a DD for most of the weekend (thank you, Marcie!!).

 My sweet, preggo friend Marcie and me on Friends & Family night

B and me

Keeping with the positivity, my running has improved tremendously...or so I thought. After taking off for about 10 days while in Italy, I came back ready to jump into training. Well, more so just getting back in shape from the past two weeks of absolutely gorging myself – and yes, it was TOTALLY worth it! Anyway, I placed first in my age group at Zoom Through the Zoo a little over a week ago (and third woman overall, whoop)! I felt great after the race and the next morning. And then it hit me. By the end of the day, my knee had swollen to the size of a grapefruit and I could hardly bend it. I finally went to my orthopedic doctor last week. Diagnosis: inflammation due to fluid build up. Treatment: anti-inflammatory meds and take it easy for the next three weeks, but low-impact exercise (bike, elliptical) is okay. Boo! But it could definitely be worse.

Speaking of running, today is National Running Day! I had an intense bike ride this morning, but did get in a quick gimp-jog in around the neighborhood. :)

Lots more going on...but that's all I’ve got to say for now. Happy Hump Day, y'all!

Making it through Monday...

While I am certainly no fan of Mondays, I have to say I am SO thankful last week is over and a new week has begun. The past seven days literally kicked my tail...

To start, late last Wednesday, a large government bid was dropped into my lap. I was asked to complete the technical volume write-up, similar to another large bid we completed in 2010. That one took me a solid month in a half. The time I was given to complete for this bid? A day and a half. Seriously?! While I greatly appreciate being asked to take part in something of this magnitude, there is no excuse for those who have a total lack of knowledge and concern to (1) be in the position they are, and (2) be the ones making the final decision on something this big. In the end, the project was completed; and although it was done well, it most certainly could have been done so with a great deal more accuracy and efficiency had there been more any communication and/or preparation. Regardless, there were a certain few people who really pulled together for the sake of teamwork, and we were able to get it done. SO very thankful for them!

In the middle of all that, I had my very first biopsy Friday morning. It is on my face, but luckily it's fairly small and where my jaw line folds into my ear, so it's pretty hidden. I tried hard not to freak out before going in to get the spot checked, and did a pretty good job at that. But of course after it was all over and hearing the dermatologist say she's almost certain it's skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, which thank goodness is 100% treatable and shouldn't come back once removed), I finally broke down that evening. Just a little too much after working 11+ hours three days in a row. I'll find out this Friday exactly what it is, once the biopsy has been analyzed. Skin cancer or not, it could be A LOT worse. Still...it's not something I was prepared for.

Thankfully I was able to get some actual marketing work done on Saturday (I should seriously hide a sleeping bag at the office...#ilovemyjob #ilovemyjob) and was even able to help out (if only for 20 minutes) at our first ever job fair. We truly have an amazing HR team!

Keeping on with the positives...

After our 7-mile run Saturday morning, Autumn and I had an awesome, albeit super random conversation. We stopped to say goodbye at our "corner" and figure out what time to meet on our next run, and then next thing we know, it's 25 minutes later! Autumn has truly become one of my closest friends, and I am beyond grateful for her advice, guidance, and encouragement. Has anyone (mainly runners) read Mile Markers? If you have a female running buddy, whom you share just about everything with due to the fact that you're running for multiple hours together and it would just be weird if you didn't talk, you should DEFINITELY read this book!

Buster and I had great run on Sunday afternoon, after which I did some spring cleaning, finally got a few loads of laundry done, and spent some much needed quality time with the hubby.

The NYC Half is this Sunday! While I've been having a minor issue with my left foot, I couldn't be more pumped about this race. Running through Central Park, Times Square, Ground Zero, and more – and running it with my cousin, Missy, in one of my all-time favorite cities in the world – I can't wait!!

On an even more positive note, the countdown is on for our Italy trip! A HUGE thanks to one of our friends for her Rome tour guide recommendation. We are even more excited now, if that was even possible.

And finally, today marks exactly five years (even to the day of the week) that Brent proposed! Read the super sweet story below...if you are so moved. :)

Happy Monday, everyone!

Getting over the hump that is this day...

It's been forever since my last post. I blame it on being totally plugged in for 10+ hours at the office and working on a computer for about 99% of those 10+ hours...except for the meeting after meeting after meeting I seem to be in these days.

I'm usually a very positive person. But today, I'm just not feeling it. So what better way to get my feelings out than to write them down type them out.

Emotionally (or mentally or whatever you want to call it), I couldn't be in a better place. Brent and I are as happy as ever and we're having more fun than I can remember in the 10 years of us being together; I finally have a handle on all my health and fertility issues; things at work are going SO great (for the most part), and I feel genuinely happy.

While work is all good and well and I LOVE what I do, I don't think I've ever been this stressed. Maybe I feel a bit overwhelmed with my project list or maybe there just aren't enough hours in the day. Being out of town just about every other week for two straight months certainly doesn't help matters (not complaining at all, as I'm so thankful for my travel destinations and the experience I'm gaining...just stating a fact).

One phrase I really like to reiterate to myself is: do one thing, do it well, and then move on to the next. Basically, don't get so bombarded where you're doing five things at once (most likely poorly) and doing nothing well. But lately, I feel like there's no time to get just one thing done. There's a distraction everywhere I turn – someone's asking me a question (or five), someone else is pulling me into a meeting, someone is throwing another project in my lap. And all the while, I am getting so annoyed and bent out of shape by the smallest things – someone's breathing too loud, someone left their phone on the loudest ring possible, someone is clearing their throat every 2.5 seconds (OMG, this one is a pet peeve!!). Bitter, much? Ugh, thank goodness for running. There's no better stress reliever! Well...maybe one thing. ;)

Please don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my job and what I do. I have a great boss and work with some pretty awesome people. And I'm VERY thankful for everything it's given back to me. I'm also thankful for my fabulous assistant, who helps me with all the every day tasks so I can focus on other projects. Don't think I could function without her! I guess I just needed to get all that out before I saw another gray hair come in.

Ahhhhh...I feel better already! Happy hump day, everyone!

Finally at peace...

It's been a roller coaster of a year...well, two years really.

I've been traveling more, we've attended and/or been in more friends and family members' weddings (mostly out of town) than I can even count, the whole kidney stone ordeal of 2011, fertility issues and the ups and downs of thinking "this is the month!", training for the marathon and my current half marathon/PR training, being insanely busy at work, and trying to fit in time with family and friends as often as I can. Even with all that, I finally feel like I'm in a good, happy place in all aspects of life.

Professionally, things couldn't be better. We're in the middle of redesigning a new niche website, we're moving along with the video marketing plan (finally), I'm doing a bit more business development (so exciting!), feeling more productive than ever, and being held more accountable, too, which I'm extremely thankful for. I'm also about to start traveling quite a bit...Houston next week for a committee meeting, St. Louis the following week to meet with customers, Las Vegas a few weeks later for a few different tradeshows (one of which I'm speaking at), then NYC for a marketing conference and the #NYChalf (round 2, whoop!), and Chicago after that for another conference. Phew...but I can't really complain with those locations. :) All I have to say is thank goodness for my assistant (a fabulous one at that)!!

Personally, I finally feel at peace with just about everything. My running has improved, I feel great, and I'm just in a good mood. As far as the baby issue goes, maybe it's because I'm busier than ever at work, the fact that I'm starting a new medication next month, or Brent and I finally being on the same page about {almost} everything, but I have never felt more sure that things are just as it should be.

With all that said, I have to send a quick shout out to a few peeps. My hubby, who supports me working long hours, Saturdays, traveling, and a rigorous running schedule. My parents, who are there for me no matter what. My running buddy, who is there for me more than she'll ever know. My best friend, Erika, who even though we don't get to see or talk to each other as often as we'd like, after 16 years, we know we're always there for each other and are only a phone call away. A couple co-workers, who provide a calming and positive influence, which I am utterly grateful for. And of course, Buster the Boston Terrier. He rules at life.

Happy weekend everyone!

Good friends and God's message

Whew, what a weekend!

After work on Friday, I headed to the gym for my weekly fix of Anthony's Extreme Fitness class. It continued with a wonderful night in, with crab-stuffed salmon and veggies, thanks to my hubby's EXCELLENT grilling skills. We watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes (which is a great movie, P.S.), and called it a night around 11:30. It was just what I needed to end such a crazy work week.

Saturday started a little later than usual, as I slept in until almost 9! I made a serving of my new obsession: organic oatmeal, and then got dressed and headed to Sports Authority to pick up some new running gear. Brent got me a fabulous Nike Dry-fit pullover, but I needed something thin to go under it. I also bought a new pair of New Balance compression running tights. Can't wait to run in and post my review of them!

After that, I made my way to the office for a few hours. A little bummed at first, knowing how beautiful it was outside, but I had an 11-mile training run planned, so I knew I'd have plenty of time with nature. As crazy as it sounds, Saturdays might possibly be my favorite day to work. I got more done in the 3 hours I was there by myself than I do in just about any regular 8-10 hour weekday. I was able to get in, get what I needed to do done, and get out. So thankful for that.

By about 2:30 p.m., I was running through Shelby Farms making my way to the Greenline. It was a wonderful run...11 miles at an 8:46 pace. My new PR training plan had me scheduled to stay at 9:02, so I was super happy with the pace. Not so happy about the soreness, though. Feeling like my feet are scraping the pavement + no more arch support + sore knees = new shoes needed pronto...and a trip to Fleet Feet.

Saturday night, we met up with a big group of friends at Blind Bear, a new speakeasy-themed bar in Downtown Memphis. It was fabulous, but of course you can’t really complain being in a super fun place with super fun people (except for the fact that they allow smoking...my only complaint). You have to say the code to get in (LOVE it!), and as you walk through it’s like a normal bar, with the exception of the fabulous prohibition-era décor. The bar area is large and open, which is welcome for a Downtown establishment. We had the "secret" room reserved, which is set up behind the bar. In the dark, hidden room filled with more 20's-style items, we were able to sit comfortably on a couch or ottoman, watch whatever game was playing at the time (Go Grizz!), and see through to the rest of the bar. Gotta love a two-way mirror! After {mostly} good conversation and some great libations, a few of us wandered down to Local Gastropub: ole faithful for a good meal.

Sunday was seriously the most AMAZING day! We woke up relatively early for once and made it to church to hear one of the best sermons I’ve heard in a long time. Do you ever get that feeling that God’s message is completely directed toward you? That’s how I felt yesterday. We're in an "I Quit" series right now, and the topic was Quit Comparing. After the intense struggle of the past few months (more so, the past two years), I don’t think I ever needed to hear what was said more than I did then. "Stop comparing your situation to others and thinking that life is unfair. Be thankful for the many blessings in your life." Our pastor talked about wishing for a better job, more money, and other things we so often take advantage of and envy others for. And then he spent about five minutes covering "everyone around you is getting pregnant and you're not. Be thankful for the life you're living, the blessings in it, and stop comparing your situation to others." Wow...talk about reaching into my soul. I was sobbing, of course, but it was such a wonderful, powerful message. And it couldn't have come at a better time. It's a God thing. SO very thankful!

After that, Brent and I went to our usual brunch spot, and then my precious niece Bailey came over and we began our afternoon of fun (her words, not mine). First, we went through the car wash. You would've thought I took her to Disney World! :) Next, we met up with my best friend Erika and her two sons at Chuck E. Cheese. I'm not sure if Bailey's been before, but she sure had a blast! Anything with cute animals that moved, she was all about it. Aside from quality time with B, it was so great to finally see my bestie. We don't get to spend nearly enough time together, due to our crazy opposite schedules, so it was very much needed. She has always been there for me, through more experiences than I can even try to remember. And no matter how insane our lives get, we always pick up right where we left off. {Thankful!} After that, B tagged along for my weekly trip to the grocery store. She's becoming one of my favorite shopping partners.

That night, Brent made homemade turkey burgers and chipotle sweet potato fries. Yum!! I'm so spoiled. After the last football game ended, we tuned into the Golden Globes. Perfection (not the show, just the day in general).

This morning, Autumn and I had the chance to run together since she was off work for MLK Day...teachers, ugh. ;) Not only is she my running inspiration, but she has truly become another spiritual mentor. She helps relate so many things to God and what he has in store for us both, and that's not an easy thing to come by where friends are concerned. So thankful for her and our brief but wonderful 5-mile run!

Okay, sorry for the novel that is this post. Happy Monday, everyone!

Happy 2012!

I hope everyone had a fun, safe, and happy New Year! Although I was sick as a dog over the long weekend, we made the most of it having family in town, attending a great friend's wedding, and of course ringing in another year!

I've always been a "resolution" type person, or I guess goal-oriented would be a better way to put it. So I'm excited to have an excuse to be more accountable.

Being the type-A that I am, I categorized my 2011 resolutions as either personal or professional. It seemed to work (at least I checked off one of each), so doing it again...here's hoping!

Personal:

• Run at least four half marathons. Thankfully I'm already registered for two!
• Travel somewhere new (preferably on another continent!).
• Stop gossiping.
• Make more time for family and friends.
• Be happy!

Professional:

• Start arriving 10 minutes earlier to work. I'm ALWAYS running late, so this would be a huge accomplishment.
• Follow through with all goals listed in 2012 marketing plan and have a measurable ROI for each.
• Focus more on networking and business development, which will enable the company to close a new project because of that relationship.

Cheers to 2012! I have a feeling it's going to be an excellent year. :)

Love what you do and be thankful for where you are...

It's a rare thing to actually love what you do and enjoy going to work every day. I feel extremely blessed that both of those are true for me.

Being the marketing manager for a company that is so complex (as far as the markets we serve and products we carry) certainly keeps me on my toes. Not to mention the fact that I get to work with my beautiful sister-in-law, Taylor, have a fabulous assistant, Leslie, and get to work with several other incredible people. Of course there are the occasional "Office Space" type folks and situations (without the humor), but I'm really trying to look past and stop sweating the small stuff. :) I've been fortunate to have built this position from the ground up and really make it my own - something I don't take lightly.

Aside from work, I couldn't be happier with where my life is at this very moment. Sure, if I had it my way, we would've had kids two years ago. But after a roller coaster of a year with kidney stone episodes, hormone imbalances, trying to get certain conditions under control, being busier than ever on the work front, and Brent and I being in more weddings (two of which that were out of town) than ever before, I believe now more than ever that everything happens for a reason.

Brent and I have had over four years (actually close to 10 if you count the 5+ years we dated) to really get to know each other, grow as friends and real partners in life, travel all over the U.S. and Caribbean, run marathons (well, just me and just one...so far!), and have been able to establish our careers. We are happy, still very much in love, and have the most amazing Boston Terrier, whom we rightfully claim as our child. I truly believe, knowing all the problems we've had trying to conceive, that Buster was a Godsend for us. Life is good, and God is great!

Of course there are things that aren't perfect in our lives, but what in life is? I'm so grateful for the many blessings we've been given and feel there are many more in store for 2012. Personally, Brent and I are going to celebrate 10 years of being together, five years of marriage, both of our thirtieth birthdays, and hopefully a trip across the pond to commemorate a year of such big events {fingers crossed}! I start a new medication in February to hopefully speed up the fertility process...but only time will tell. Either way, I can't let something I have no control over continue to control my life. We're also blessed to be able to hang out with and spoil our SUPER PRECIOUS niece, Bailey, anytime we want (so blessed!). And we have a new nephew, Wilson Cash Conroy, whom we're so anxious to meet in a little over a month, as well as our niece, Ava Jane Cheston, on the way! Professionally, I'm going to be doing a bit more traveling, taking on more of a business development role, and I can't wait to see what the future holds!

No matter what stage of life you're in - focusing on the personal or professional aspect - it's important to love what you do and be thankful for where you are. It's a goal of mine to always remember that.

Finally, some answers!

Okay, so nevermind about the whole 30-day blog challenge. Things are way too busy, and I haven't been around my computer for the past few days. Maybe in 2012. :)

I finally received a call from my doctor last Tuesday. Good news: the stone has PASSED! And I didn't even feel it. This was such a huge relief...until I was immediately reminded of the intense lower back pain.

The CT scan showed some possible lower back issues, most likely related to a slipped disc. Great...just what an avid runner wants to hear. So he suggested I take it easy and look into going to a chiropractor.

I've never had any alternative treatments (acupuncture, going to a chiropractor, etc.), but that's not to say I'm against it at all. Acupuncture is supposed to be a lifesaver for all kinds of joint pain as well as infertility. And I know tons of people who swear by their chiropractor to help them not only with alignment, but stomach issues, acid reflux, and more. Needless to say, I'm open to almost anything.

Last Friday, I made an appointment with a chiropractor my Mom and sister go to. After talking about various pains and my daily routine, he took a few X-rays. Finally...we have an answer! All my discs look great and there's no blockage. But right at the bottom of my spine, just before my tailbone, it curves to the left. It was seriously the freakiest thing to see it. "There's your pain," the doc said. Well, duh!

It's more like the "Thoracolumbar" (3rd) image above, but lower - closer to tailbone.

He adjusted my neck (so weird!) and back, both of which popped more than I ever knew they could. I felt better at first, but of course he said I'd be sore for the next few days. Understatement of the century.

Up until yesterday morning, I was in pretty intense pain and feeling extremely sore. Nothing was helping - not Ibuprofen, my heating pad, alcohol, not even muscle relaxers. But finally when I woke up on Sunday, the pain was gone. It was torture not to run for three days straight! I'm in Nashville this week for work, so I had the chance to run through Downtown yesterday morning. Heaven!! I am so in love with this city!

More to come about the fun times in Nashvegas...I LOVE my job! :)

Starting 30-Day Blog Challenge!

As one of my New Year's resolutions, I wanted to write a blog every day for an entire month. With all the craziness going on in November, I might actually have enough to write about each day. We'll see how long that lasts, though...

I was supposed to get my CT scan results back from the urologist yesterday, which would then determine if I was going to have the current {and HIGHLY uncomfortable} stone removed by lithotripsy or cystoscopy. But of course, I'm still waiting. Hoping to hear something soon so we can get this resolved before I head out of town.

Autumn and I are doing a long run this afternoon, and I couldn't be more excited about it! I haven't run since Race for the Cure on Saturday, haven't done a long run in who knows how long, and I've been feeling so down and just blah because of it. But as my blogger friend Amanda said in today's blog post: there's no point in dwelling over runs that aren’t fast enough, long runs that aren't long enough, having no time to cross train, only time to run, and beating ourselves up for taking an extra rest day. "You have to appreciate your run TODAY!"

And so...I will. :) I'm going to appreciate that, my family, my friends, and so many other blessings today.

Another month, another stone...

{NOTE: This is a highly personal post and might be TMI. Just letting you know.}

Seriously…we're back here again?! Last Wednesday, I went to my urologist who informed me of what I already knew...ANOTHER kidney stone. Awesome. But instead of going ahead and removing it or giving me a real plan of action, he just said, "let's wait until it passes and then run some tests." Or in my case, "let's wait 'til it gets stuck again and you end up in the ER for 8 hours on a Sunday."

This is now my third episode with stones. Yesterday I was so thankful to have started feeling better, as the intense pressure subsided a bit. Over the weekend, I had to go back on prescription pain meds, which was SO not fun. The nausea, extreme tiredness, and lack of motivation don't really make for a great few days (especially when you have a wedding and shower to attend).

Now, however, I'm starting to think it was just because the pain meds had left my body and I had a little more energy. As I was getting ready this morning, I all of a sudden felt incredibly lightheaded, and then came a huge rush of pain. I had to sit down on the tile floor and just breathe for a few minutes. After a glass of low acid OJ and two Tylenol Extra Strength, I started feeling a little better. Could've been a combination of low blood sugar, what's supposed to be a certain time of the month, and the stone moving around...or it could've been something else entirely. Whatever it is, you can imagine the frustration of having no answers.

And no (to those of you who I know will ask), I did not run this morning. There may be speculation of distance running playing a part in getting stones or not being able to conceive...but I am convinced - as are my doctors - that it doesn't play a role in either. Maybe I should cut back slightly on the races, but other than one completed 10-miler and two upcoming half marathons, my distance hasn't picked up at all. I'm still between 20-25 miles a week, which both my doctors strongly encourage.

Personally, I'm convinced it's the medicine I'm on to make me that's supposed to make me ovulate: Metformin. Not only is it a diabetic drug (which is obviously great for someone who's borderline hypoglycemic...yea, not so much), but there has been a lot of correlation between that and kidney issues. Not to mention the fact that I started the medication in late May of last year and had my first kidney episode in early October.

I was running long distances long before 2010. AND, not that I would ever be in this great of shape, but please tell me how doctors gave this woman the okay to run marathons (yes, plural) during pregnancy if running was so bad for you? Of course I know every person's body is different...but still. Anyway, I go back to my OB-GYN next week to get put on Clomid. Can't wait to see what side effects that brings on! ;)

I'm waiting to hear back from my urologist, but if I still feel like this come Monday, I'll go in for a CT scan and either have it removed by cystoscopy or hopefully get it broken up by laser treatment next week. Will keep you posted...

On a positive note, Brent has been AMAZING this past week dealing with me and my moodiness. So sweet, cooking for me every night, and just being there for me. And it's Halloween week!! The hubby and I don't have any set plans yet, but there are a few parties lined up for the weekend. We'll see what happens. All I know is, we're ready for 10/31 at the Wilson household - Buster included!

Continuing with the positivity, I got an iPhone yesterday...whoop!! I'm learning quickly, and I absolutely LOVE it!

Last but not least, I get to go to the 2011 CMA Awards!!! My company, Mahaffey Tent and Party Rentals does the red carpet tent for it every year, and this year I get to go...at least, I'll be there for the red carpet. I'll be there with our crew to film the set up (we're creating a super fab time-lapse video to use for marketing) and red carpet on the day of the awards. Still holding out for a ticket, so we'll see! I also get to spend a few days with my fabulous new friend Whitney and her husband Michal. We met them while in Seaside, FL for our friends' wedding.

Lots to look forward to!!

In Transition...

It's been an INSANE few weeks to say the least, but I finally feel like things are starting to get back to normal. Hopefully I can get back on track with my posts...at least I'm going to try to get better at it...

Transition. Transforming. These are two words I've been using a lot over the past few weeks. Whether at work or in my personal life, transition can be a great thing. And so can transforming your attitude to see it that way. :)

Transition at work
I'm so excited to announce that I have hired a new member to my marketing team. I absolutely loved working with my previous intern; however, with her crazy busy schedule, there wasn't really much time for her to be physically in the office, so it didn't work out. On the up side, I have transitioned this intern position into more of a part-/full-time marketing coordinator, and I couldn't be more thrilled about having more help! We've also been talking a lot about transition with the types of projects I'm getting more involved with. It's all very exciting!

Transition in my running/exercise routine
For so long I've been holding back with my running routine and cross training, because I kept thinking and wondering if I was pregnant, when I would be getting another kidney stone (recent episode was just over a month ago), and just stressed about EVERYTHING. I've finally started letting it go, and I couldn't be happier about the progress. I'm cross training more, increasing my mileage, and I have so many upcoming races to look forward to!

Transition between seasons
Fall is my FAVORITE time of year (the month of September in particular...my birthday, our anniversary, football, trips), and I couldn't be more excited that it's finally here! I just got back from my best friend Kelly's bachelorette party in Vegas (one of my top 10 trips for sure!), and that kicked off our crazy month of travel. We're doing quite a bit of traveling for friends' weddings this month, on top of my business trip to Las Vegas (which we're also using as an excuse to celebrate our four-year anniversary there). I can't wait!! Not to mention the anticipation of cooler temps for running, decorating for Halloween, the holiday season...bring it on!

Anyone else feel like they're in a transition period? Hopefully it's a good one for you, too!

The grass is always greener, or so they say...

I've been struggling a bit this week, feeling exhausted and just down about everything. This is not like me at all, so I decided to write a post on how I'm feeling and why.

I went to the grocery store on my lunch break today to pick up some delicious sushi. As I looked around, I saw so many women my age doing their weekly grocery shopping in tennis or regular workout clothes. I immediately became jealous and got somewhat depressed about having to rush out of there and head back to work. Then I stopped myself and thought, "what is wrong with you?! Don't you love to travel? Don't you enjoy shopping when you feel like it (or when the hubby allows)? Don't you like being able to go out to lunch or dinner or spend money on other useless things when you want?" Of course I do! I love my job, I love my life, and I'm so thankful for it all...it's just hard dealing with the everyday stresses at times. The grass is always greener, so they say.

Though we might be over a decade into the 21st century, there are times when I feel like I'm trapped in 1950 (of course this is without regard to my post being written entirely on my smartphone and immediately posted to Facebook). Not going to get into too much detail here, but it's sad that this gender gap still exists. That said, I could still be in the same position I was back in 2007. I'm pretty sure the grass is greener right here. :)

Everyone around me is getting pregnant. While I've tried to convince myself I'm not sad about the fact that I am not getting pregnant, I guess that's just it...I've been talking myself out of it. Let me assure you that I am BEYOND thrilled for my friends and family who are expecting, and I'm going to be the greatest aunt, friend, etc. in the world! I guess today was the first day I realized that this might not be in the cards for us, after taking yet another test this morning and getting a negative result. I have to point out that while we aren't "officially" trying, let's just say that if it could've happened, it sure would have this month. Did you know there are only 2 (sometimes 3) days a month you can actually get pregnant? For all those who say "we weren't really trying" or "it was an accident," I'm not your biggest fan...just kidding. :) But I am a little J. After feeling sorry for myself for most of the morning (especially after receiving a sweet email from my aunt about carrying a child being the one miracle women get to share with God), I had to stop and remind myself of these wonderful things: I can spoil my niece Bailey, future nephew Cash, and all my wonderful friends' babies as much and any time I want...I can drink a glass or two (or bottle) of wine this evening if I want...I can get as drunk and have as much fun as I want at Kelly's bachelorette party next weekend (yessssss!)...I can keep my running regimen above 25-30 miles per week if I want...I can be as selfish with my time as I want. Regardless of how things turn out, I know it will all be according to God's plan. As my amazing momma said this morning, "we don't know what God's plan is or when it will happen. But He does, and it will be worth the wait." I love you, Mom! :)

"The grass is always greener on the other side," so they say. But that's actually not true. The grass is greenest where it's watered. It's time I start watering this "grass" I've been given. We are truly blessed and have so much to look forward to these next few months. I guess I just needed a reminder to stop dwelling on what's not and be so thankful for what is: a loving husband, amazing family, great friends, my health, a great job, a nice home, Buster the Boston Terrier, and so much more.

With it being tail-wagging Tuesday and all, I had to post a pic of our son, Buster. He always makes me smile. :)

I can, so I will!

I like to think of myself as a positive, happy person, so I try to surround myself with positive people as often as I can. Positivity is infectious, and you'd be surprised how quickly your day can turn around when you put a smile on your face. As one of my favorite sayings goes, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."

With that said, instead of focusing on the negatives, something I'm tired of, or isn't happening because of health reasons, I want to take a moment to express how thankful I am for all the things I CAN do right now. :)

I CAN travel when I want to (provided my boss approves my time off). We don't have children yet, and there's still so much we want to do. In just three weeks, I'll be in NOLA for one of my best friend's bachelorette party. After that, we'll head to Seaside, FL for a wedding, NOLA again the next weekend for another wedding, Vegas the next week for a conference/our 4th wedding anniversary, and then I go to Colorado the following weekend to visit with my mom's side of the family.

Next year, Brent and I will have been together for 10 years; not to mention we're both turning 30. We've always talked about going to Italy, and I think 2012 is the perfect time! Oh yeah, there's also a half marathon at Disney World, I'm speaking at a conference in Vegas, possible races in NYC and Boston, and a wedding in Tampa...we have to fit in all those trips as well.

I LOVE Vegas!

Can't wait for her wedding next month!!

I CAN treat Buster the Boston Terrier like my child and spoil him as often as I want. :)

LOVE him!

I CAN go for a 10+ mile run (or sign up for another race) anytime I feel like it!

My first marathon! :)

I CAN sleep in on a Saturday...and go for a run after that.

I CAN stop being friends with people who only breed negativity or don't reciprocate that friendship. I'm nice to a fault sometimes...and keep people in my life who should no longer have a place.

I CAN continue focusing on my career. I love what I do, and I'm having a blast traveling, learning more about this industry, and building my resume. As a marketing professional, I get to express myself creatively every day, whether by writing, designing a website, or being asked to speak at a conference, and I am BEYOND thankful for that!

I CAN have fun with my hubby...and we sure do!

I can do all these things...so I will. :)

It's time to disconnect!

Being in the marketing field, it's really hard to totally disconnect when I'm not at the office. I (with the help of my fabulous intern, Raquel) manage all of our social media, I'm constantly getting work-related emails, and of course, I'm obsessed with Facebook...and Twitter...and now Google+ (great, just what I needed: another social network). And it just so happens that I have a super awesome smart phone, so the entire social world is literally at the palm of my hand.

My husband, on the other hand, barely knows how to log on to Facebook. He has the oldest phone known to man, checks his email every other day, and...well, no need to bore you with any more. His job doesn't require him to be "connected" like mine. Sure he's on the phone 24/7, but rarely does that involve anything more than a verbal conversation.

Lately, my addiction to social media has become more than just a mild annoyance. The medication I'm on (combined with what I'm hoping aren't chronic kidney stones) already makes me oh so pleasant to be around, so adding my complete lack of attention to the equation is...let's just say it hasn't been so great for married life. The hubby actually brought this to my attention before realizing it on my own, and that upset me a great deal.

No more! Starting now After this post, I'm going to put away my laptop, plug in my phone, and just be me when I get home. We get so wrapped up in the new "normal" form of communication that we forget to talk and actually communicate...or at least that's how it's been for me. So I'm looking forward to disconnecting a little more often! :)

Anyone else feel this way?

One thing after the other...

I've contemplated blogging about this for some time, but always felt it was best kept private. But so many friends and acquaintances have told their stories, and I felt like it was time I shared mine...especially since the "you don't have kids yet?" question has come up more lately than ever.

I consider myself pretty healthy. I exercise regularly, eat healthy for the most part, and do what I can to keep stress levels down. Running helps tremendously with that, as does Buster the Boston Terrier. :)

However, I’ve always had issues with acid reflux (severe when I was a baby and came back my senior year of college) and low blood sugar (I've passed out more times than I can remember and was diagnosed as being borderline hypoglycemic). Other than that, I haven’t had many issues.

In May of 2010, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Since then, it's been one thing after another. I got off birth control in the fall of 2009; for one because I was getting cysts and you shouldn’t being on the pill, and two because I had been on it for over 11 years and I knew we eventually wanted to start a family.

Brent and I briefly "tried" to have kids early last year, but obviously nothing happened. I promise you, I could buy stock in home pregnancy tests. My cycle was either late or nonexistent every month, complete with what I thought were pregnancy symptoms. One of the last tests I took messed with me big time, as the second (or "You're pregnant!") line showed up, but quickly went away a minute later. I finally had enough and made an appointment with my OB-GYN. I explained to her about some irregularities and minor pain I was experiencing, so she scheduled an ultrasound. Bad news...not only was I not pregnant, but I had a severe case of PCOS.

One of my ovaries from the ultrasound...the other looked just like it.
All the black circles are cysts.

Basically, I wasn't ovulating, making it impossible to get pregnant. I was devastated. Spending so much time and money wondering if (wishing) I was pregnant, only to find out that might not be in the cards for me. I was put on Metformin, one of the top drugs to treat PCOS and get me to start ovulating. It took quite a while for my body to get used to, as Metformin is also a diabetic drug which lowers your blood sugar (just what I needed since mine is already low). Dealing with painful cysts, night sweats, and at times what felt like mild depression has been very trying on me and just about every relationship from my marriage to friends. But I've done my best to recognize the symptoms and to not let them affect me.

Then, just before Christmas last year, I started having terrible pains and discomfort in my lower back on the right side. After experiencing numerous symptoms and becoming an expert Google searcher, I realized it was kidney-related. Blood in urine, extreme pressure when I had to use the bathroom, etc. After a few very expensive trips to the urologist and the most excruciating kidney-stone-trying-to-pass experience (imagine what's in the image below going through something the size of a straw), I thought that mess was behind me. Ha!

This is what my lovely 4mm stone looked like...

Just this weekend, I started feeling that awful, all-to-familiar pressure in the lower right side of my back. Every day it got a little worse, and then came blood in the urine again. I finally got in to see my urologist yesterday morning. Just as I suspected...two kidney stones. Thankfully, these are smaller and I have been assured they will pass without pain. I was so upset, as I've been following a low oxalate diet since February. That obviously didn't matter...I'm just one of the "lucky few who's prone to them." Super. So far, no severe pain, but there's still a good bit of pressure. I have pain meds to take when needed, as well as a Flomax-type medication to speed up the passing process (I just love feeling like a 70-year-old man). Fingers crossed that it works soon. This morning was not pleasant...and while I enjoy being able to work from home in my pjs, I'd much rather be at the office.

All that said, it's safe to say Brent and I decided it was best to wait on the baby talk. We're both crazy busy with work, and we're having a blast traveling when we can. Every time I feel like we might be ready to start trying again, my body goes through something else, and then I want to give it time to get back to normal. Not that I believe "the right time" will be on our schedule anyway...it's ultimately not up to us.

Through all this, I still have to thank God for my health and so many other blessings. Things could be so much worse, and I know that. There's still hope that Metformin will work as it should when we are "ready." It's already done its job getting my cyst count down tremendously, as well as helping to regulate my cycle for the most part. SO thankful for that! Should it not work, I'll switch to Clomid for 3-4 months, fertility drugs after that, and if nothing happens by that point, we'll reevaluate what we want to do. Oh yeah...and every doctor I've been to says that all the running I do is excellent for me. So again, things could be a lot worse...I can't imagine not running!

Growing up, I always thought I'd simply decide when I wanted to get pregnant, and it would happen just like that. Having talked to so many friends and other women and read about how common this and problems like it are, I've remained hopeful. I also never thought kidney stones would be something I'd have to worry about either. Life is all about dealing with what you're given and making the best of it. So that's what I'm trying to do. :)

As usual, sorry for the long post.

Mothers and Mondays

I seriously dislike the expression "got a case of the Mondays," but today, there's just no other way to put it. I'm coming down with an awful cold, and I NEVER get sick. I'm also starting to feel a little swamped at work, but hoping I start to get a sense of control again soon. That said, it's absolutely glorious outside, and I'm determined to focus on the positives. :)

First, I want to send a shout out to all the fabulous moms in my life! First, to my amazing momma, Sue. She is one of the strongest, most caring women I know. She would give the shirt off her back to help someone in need, and she has done anything and everything for my sisters and I. She puts family and her wonderful group of girlfriends above everything else, and we are all better people because she is in our lives. Thank you, Momma, for just being you! And to my sister Ashley, the mother of our sweet niece Bailey, my best friend Erika, the mother of my two Godchildren Chandler and Payton, my Godmother Liz, and so many friends and family members who are so blessed with children (human or of the furry nature)...I love you all!

Love you, Mom!

Next, I want to send another quick note to my dad. Yesterday was his 60th birthday! For those of you who don't know my dad, he's pretty amazing. He is the most caring, supportive, loving father anyone could ask for. He would do anything for his family and friends, and has on many occasions. He makes it known how proud he is of all of us girls, and makes us feel like we are the most important people in the world. Love you, "Papa!" Laura, Ashley, and I are taking him to dinner to celebrate tomorrow night. :)

Finally, I hired an intern today, woop!! Very much looking forward to training her and getting some much needed "to dos" done at work.

Starting back my running regimen this week...here's hoping that knotted or pulled muscle has worked itself out! Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Three Days until the Marathon!

Getting so excited for Saturday!! Even with all the tornado watch and warning madness, I made the executive decision to head to the gym after work. My gym is underground, so I figured that would be the safest place for me anyway. :) It was an awesome spin class, and I'm so glad I went!

Today is a 5-mile run day. Really hoping the rain stops like it's supposed to this afternoon so I can get that in. Otherwise, it's back to the gym and on the treadmill I go...anyone who knows me knows I HATE the treadmill. I'd rather run for three hours outside than even three minutes indoors. I've really tried to bite my tongue about complaining about the weather, though, because Saturday is still looking gorgeous for 26.2! As I knock on wood...

To keep things positive, I wanted to share some of my favorite quotes:

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."
-Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
and
"Every day gives you an opportunity to improve. With every run, you can try to be better. Not just a better runner, but a better person."
-John Bingham

"I don't think you can become an outstanding runner unless you get a certain amount of enjoyment out of the suffering. You have to enjoy absorbing it, controlling it, and - ultimately - overcoming it."
-Derek Clayton in The Masters of the Marathon

"The more you frame the marathon as a stressful experience, the more negative messages you'll receive. But it's just as easy to frame it as a positively challenging journey."
-Jeff Galloway in an excerpt from Runner's World Magazine

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about."
-PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

"I can't imagine living and not running."
-Paula Radcliffe

"Do the work. Do the analysis. But feel your run. Feel your race. Feel the joy that is running."
-Kara Goucher (my HERO!)

Bad Company Corrupts Good Character

Just a quickie post today...

This is a favorite verse of mine, and one that rings true more so now than ever. I like to consider myself a positive person, and I take pride in trying to find the good in everything. However, it's been very hard as of late, so I decided to post this as a reminder to remove myself from negative situations and people who try to put you there.

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
1 Corinthians 15:33