family « Happy. Healthy. Homemade.

Twitchy Stress-Ball

This last few weeks… the last month, really… has just been a whirlwind. I am barely keeping my head above water, stress-wise. I’ve got school- I’m taking three classes and am so swamped with homework and reading and studying that I can barely see straight. I’m taking three rather difficult classes and I’m doing well, but not without effort.

I’m also on the committee for Relay for Life, as you may remember from a post in January. (Go donate!) So I’ve got Relay commitments, which I love. And more commitments to come as it gets closer to the event- I’m both sponsorship chair and I am a team captain, so I have a lot of sponsorship asks as well as team fundraisers to do. I am so excited about Relay! I have a notebook I’m filling with ideas and I can’t wait to get going more on that.

I’m also training for a 5k. I’m using the couch to 5k program. I used to be a runner and then I stopped for a really long time. The couch to 5k program is awesome because it really eases you into running. I am six weeks into the program… well, I WAS six weeks in…

…and then the stomach flu attacked our house. It got us all. I haven’t run in a week now- between taking care of the kids and then being sick myself, it’s been a very hectic week. I’ll get back into the running again soon but I’m probably going to have to go back a week. We’ll see.

And of course, there’s everything else in life- kids, husband, house, cooking, cleaning… just trying to keep up.

Oh, and yesterday when Keegan had I the stomach virus? My washing machine broke. Yeah, that happened. Early in the morning of a day of vomit-spattered laundry. (Sorry… gross but true.)

While I am glad to be busy and feel like I have a purpose, I’m having a few stress-related health issues. Or at least I assume they’re stress-related. I’ve had an eye twitch for well over a month now, I think I have an ulcer and I started grinding my teeth so badly during the night that I had to go have a night guard made by my dentist.

Oy.

I’ll be ok. I didn’t intend this post to be complain-y, but it seems to be coming out that way.

I am happier and feeling more fulfilled than I have in a long, long time. I love everything that I have going on. I love Relay, obviously because it’s a great cause but also, it is a lot of fun! I’m having a blast making new friendships and working with them to raise money. School, of course, is for good reason- my future career. The 5k- I feel great when I run. It’s actually been my biggest stress reliever. When I run, I can just space out and I don’t have to think about anything at all- not which heart valve does what, or what kid must be taken where, or what company I’m going to ask for sponsorship. I can just be.

I am still working on balance. Finding time to get everything done, not pressuring myself beyond what I can bear, and making time for me. I think I’m getting better at it. In the meantime, this blog is falling by the wayside. Again. I’m sure you guys understand. I have to at least make an effort though, so I don’t feel like a total poser when I go to BlogHer this year. (Yes! I am totally going!!)

So instead of doing homework like I should be right now? I am taking it easy for a minute while I wait for the new washer to be delivered. I’ll do homework later. Probably. After I catch up on laundry. Maybe.

I’m good at procrastination, by the way, if anyone needs some tips.

Mommy and me vacation

My grandpa, my mom, and me getting ready to go on Star Tours at Disneyland

My mom and I went on a little trip last week. We went to southern California to visit my grandpa and his wife. They will be moving to Peru by March (that’s where she’s from) and building a hotel there so we knew that it could potentially be a lot of years until we are able to see them again.

It was a fun time. My mom, my grandpa, his wife, and I went to Disneyland. We had a great time. As I had been there with the kids in October, it was like the continuation of that trip almost, for me. I got to go on all the really good rides that I didn’t get to go on last time. Hailey is technically tall enough to go on everything but she is a big chicken. I managed to get her on the Indiana Jones ride and she has been mad at me ever since- it terrified her.

We ate so much on this trip. Latin cultures are known for the ability to feed you until you think you will quite literally burst open. My grandpa’s wife does this. She ordered in Peruvian food from a place one night and cooked her own Peruvian food another night. Everything was so delicious and it’s offensive to her if you don’t take second helpings. So to be extra nice, I had thirds on some things.

Aside from that, there were all kinds of restaurants and since we are from a town with very very limited dining options, we were more than willing to eat out whenever possible on the trip.

So needless to say, I packed on a few extra pounds. Oh well, such is life. Food is enjoyable and I can lose the weight. In fact, I may have already, I haven’t weighed in a few days. I’ve been running again so it’s quite possible. I really missed running. I missed that euphoria that kicks in about halfway through a run and the feeling of accomplishment afterward. It’s almost cleansing in a weird way. Any frustrations or aggression I have, I run through and by the time I’m done it is gone. Probably just out of mere exhaustion but… it’s gone anyway.

On another note, I will soon be doing a review and giveaway for a Packit lunch bag. But if you just can’t wait for me and want to enter for a giveaway now, click that link and like their page. They’ll be doing their own giveaway when their facebook page hits 2,000 likes.

Twitchy Stress-Ball

Mommy and me vacation

Subscribe

Button

Categories

Search

Shop