In an effort to post more regularly, I am trying to post more regularly. Ha!

We are trying to get the plans done on our new backyard patio. We are doing this incredible three tiered patio out of concrete… with a water feature, outdoor kitchen and fireplace. This weekend we went and looked at stone. You would think rocks would be pretty inexpensive because you know… they are rocks. But au contraire! Rocks are way expensive! And putting them in is highly labor intensive. So we are in the selecting materials part of the process. We are working with a General Contractor and a Landscape Architect. The most frustrating part of this process is that a lot of the process is simply hurry up and wait. They both assure me that we are on schedule and not to worry. But I am worried.

Last week was Staff Appreciation Week. I love showing gratitude to our schools staff but I will admit by the end of it I just wanted it to be over. We gave gifts by theme.

Monday was “You Are My Sunshine” day. We gave teachers gifts related to spring and summer. Kids wore tropical clothing.
Tuesday was “We have a Cooking Staff” day. We gave the teachers kitchen stuff or homemade treats. Kids wore chef hats and aprons.
Wednesday was “I know you” day. Kids wore their teacher’s favorite color, sports team, or something else that they knew was a favorite. Gifts reflected something they would enjoy.
Thursday was Sweet Talk Day. Kids were encouraged to use their words and tell their teachers what they love about them. And bring them in a candy. Like “you are a JOY” and give them an Almond Joy. Or “You deserve a big PAYDAY” and give them a payday candy bar or “You are worth a MINT” and give them some mints.
Friday was “Kick Back and Relax” day and the kids wore Jammies. Teachers got gifts that reflected relaxation. Everything from bath and body works, to itunes gift cards, to magazines to teas.

The staff Appreciation committee also made our teachers a catered lunch of Chicken Scaloppini with artichokes and pine nuts with pasta. And we made homemade butter cakes with chocolate cream cheese frosting for them to take home on Friday.

Im pooped!

Today I ran. 50 minutes. Hillwork. It was not fun. I did not enjoy it. But I am determined to build up some more leg strength. I need stronger legs to haul this big body around.

I also got my blood work back today. I’m dehydrated. And my BUN/Creatine ratio is way way high. I’m not sure why exactly. Might just be the dehydration. I’m having a hard time nailing hydration with the exercise. It just doesn’t take much to put me out of whack. Most normal people can exercise for an hour and not really have to worry about drinking. I have found that I really can’t go more then 30 minutes. And my bloodwork sort of confirmed that. Another interesting thing in my bloodwork was that my Ferritin iron stores are now in the 80’s. After my iron infusions in Nov my levels were over 200. So my body is burning through my iron stores. Looks like it’s around 20 per month. Which would mean I would burn through everything right around the time of the Tri. Gah. I am not going to have time to do infusions right before the Tri. I’m going to need to figure this out. I guess I’ll fax my results to my hematologist and see what she says.

In other news, my mom is back from a cruise (with my father who has dementia) and hasn’t called me. I called her yesterday and she was on her way out. And she didn’t call me back. I’m a bit irritated and hurt by this. Why wouldn’t she call? It really makes me think something is going on. My mom hasn’t been the same since her mom died. Maybe it’s depression.

No news on the job front. The group that is hiring me is reorging. I have no idea if, when, where, what, or anything of that job. Which makes planning my summer really difficult. If I am working, I need my kids to be in camp. If I am not working, I’d rather have them home. I have to sign up for camp now. So I guess I have to bite the bullet and just make a call.

For mother’s day hubby got me a subscription to Massage Envy. I’m going to get to go have regularly monthly massages!!! And I can get additional hour massages for only $39. I love my husband.

Speaking of husband, he’s lost 40 lbs and now is below 200 lbs!!! Im so proud of him!!! I’m going to get a babysitter and take him clothes shopping. He deserves it.

Ok… that’s the quick and dirty recap…. Onward!

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