Putting on Triathlon Thinking

Extreme pain, mental exhaustion, endurance tested to the absolute limits, fatigue that wears you to your knees. Have you ever felt this way? I know I haven’t, but I was so inspired by watching the Ironman triathlon competition today. It is a race that consists of a 2.4 miles swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26 mile run-all without a break. Watching these amazing athletes pushing their bodies beyond limits is so inspiring. The pain they go through to make it to the finish line is beyond any pain I have ever felt. They had to train there minds to keep going even when it tells them to stop. Beyond all reason they must fight to keep going, even when it seems like they should quit. Even when it seems like their body was not meant to be pushed to those extreme limits. And when they push, they endure, they keep up, they fight, the persevere- that is when they reach the finish line. The faces on these winners were that of pride. I didn’t see one face that was discouraged, or unhappy. They were all so joyful, abundant joy radiating out of them. I couldn’t help but cry. I was overwhelmed by the dedication, commitment, pain, endurance, sacrifice, struggle, exhaustion, accomplishment, and utter joy that each athlete had written across there face as they passed through the finish line. How could you not be truly inspired by that?

 It made me think, what if we lived that way for God. Running the race, sacrificing our bodies, minds, and all putting even our very own reason aside. Putting it all behind us. Pushing, ourselves beyond what we think capable for our lives, beyond anything we can even dream. God is so much bigger. I like to think God has triathlons in store for us. But we limit Him into walks around the block. Imagine what we can do when we put on God’s “triathlon thinking” and persevere towards the finish line….wow.

Glen Ivy Spa Day

On Friday I went to Glen Ivy with Toni, and Aim. We had such a nice relaxing time.

Toni screamed a little when we got into the water, the water was warmer too…I’d say 70s. But it sure was funny…

We went and got all muddy at Club Mud. That was alot of fun!

Relaxing after a nice pedi…(32 week belly )

Overall, a great day. We will be going back asap…guaranteed!

Pregnancy Journal: 32 weeks

Wow, it’s hard to believe I hit the 8 month mark. Let’s see…. hot and stressed would sum up how I have been these past few weeks. It has been in the triple digits making me not so comfortable. But I can say God has given me the endurance to push through it. It is hard to sleep at night, but I have been so exhausted that it hasn’t taken my sleep away completely. That’s a plus! I have really been taking it easy at home because of the heat and my growing uncomfortable(ness). The heat has made me get pretty creative when it comes to running appliances of any sort. The dryer only comes on in the middle of the night, the stove…never; we have been learning how to grill just about anything. Ok, enough about the heat….

 I have been stressed out because of work. They just did more cutbacks; this cutback was ANOTHER 20%. Putting me at 40% of what I used to make. It is extremely stressful to say the least which leaves me counting down the days to maternity leave. How pathetic that when I am on leave, I will be making more than what I am now? Sad stuff….it just makes me wanting leave all the more (regardless of the idea that doing nothing all day makes me want to pull my hair out!) God will provide no matter what. I am relieved to know that he holds our finances in His hands. I just have to keep telling myself that every second of the day.

 On to other business, I have been seeing the dr a lot more lately. The time is winding down. Shesh it goes by so fast and so slow all at the same time. I feel so unprepared for this little guy but so anxious to meet him. We have been so blessed by friends to get hand me downs so I have been sorting through all kinds of clothes. The idea now is to wash them (that’s the tricky part because of the dryer).

And that cradle needs to be put in our bedroom (hint, hint daddy)

And the shower is coming up in a little less than 2 weeks, which is super exciting! Ken and I are going away on a “baby moon” to Vegas this weekend. I can’t wait to relax, sleep in, and swim from Sun to Weds. Should be nice and relaxing! It will be our last trip before ‘we’ become ‘us’. Craziness.

 My 8 month pregnant body has been holding up for me this far. However, the aches and pains are increasing. It is mainly my lower back, I can be walking just fine one minute and then BAM an insanely painful pinched nerve that makes my knees buckle. I assume it’s a pinched nerve anyway. Also I have been getting pains in the pelvis area (TMI maybe) but truth. I guess its growing pains. These are the pains that wake me up in the middle of the night. Oh and hands are swollen, my fingers are now fat sausages, I can’t wear my rings at all    It makes me sad. I hope this doesn’t all sound like complaining, I do love being pregnant, maybe not AS much as earlier on…but I still wouldn’t trade it for the world…(ok maybe I would in a heartbeat for a little baby boy named Josiah). The little Mr. has been moving A LOT. Which is funny, my pregnancy emails I get tell me that the movements should be winding down since there’s less room. Quit the opposite I would say “Mrs.She knows”! He is such a mover!! I get a few movements every once in awhile that hurt or are very uncomfortable. Especially when he gets under the ribs, or the one spot he likes to jab or kick is the left lower side. I don’t know my anatomy well, but there must be some kind of sensitive organ over there…and he likes to kick it! Lucky mommy

San Diego Fair

A little late to post, but better than never. We went to the fair with Mark and Kristine. Boy was the food yummy…corn on the cob, funnel cake, kettle corn. MmmMmm so good. We also watched the hypnotist show a couple times, it was so funny.

Petting zoo….

We are all ready for the show…

Beach Trip/ Baptism

On Sunday we took to youth to mission beach/bay and Reagan got baptised while we were there in the bay. It was really cool! She is such a rock star!

We were all so proud of her…

And of course volleyball….(you can’t keep this group away from it)

Date night on a budget

Great inexpensive date night…..Chinese “take-in”. I cooked up some Chinese chicken lettuce wraps, and white rice for date night in last night. (take that PF Chang’s!) It was actually alot of fun. Goes great with a good movie rental, some romance, and maybe a game thrown in there too.

You can get really creative with this date night idea too. Try eating dinner at the coffee table, while sitting on pillows. Also try eating dinner with chopsticks, and maybe throw in some sake! It was a fun way to have a nice Chinese date night dinner, without paying top $.

Some things you should never say to a pregnant lady…

Something I’ve come to realize while pregnant, your stomach is no longer your own. For some weird reason, even strangers feel like they have the right to rub your belly. At times I feel like an animal, kind of like a dog being pet. I do not understand this principle. It’s still part of my body right? After all it is my stomach, regardless of what’s in it.

Not only that but for some people (quit a few people), there is no connection between there mouth and brain when speaking to a pregnant woman. I have heard some of the rudest comments, some that I would never say to anyone regardless of how I felt they looked. I mean really, what makes people think they can say things like, “wow your huge….already!” or “sheesh you’re really popping out today” while they smile, laugh, and go on there merry way expecting you to do the same. That’s the part that boggles my mind. Were you really trying to make me feel good or laugh? Hmm, it makes me wonder if that little voice in someone’s head telling them not to say something rude, magically cancels out when in close proximity to pregnancy hormones they become socially inept….yeah that’s it!!!! I knew I would figure that one out!

While searching the internet I found a lot on this subject, here are 10 things your should never say to a preggo :

1) Any and all comments about how big she is. 
       

• “Oh my Gosh, are you having twins?”
• “You’re only seven months along? Geez!”
• “Wow, that baby’s going to pop out at any minute!”
• “You know, my sister only gained 20 pounds when she was pregnant.”
• “Oooo, your booty’s getting big!”
• I would like to add to this one….any comment on your boobs and how big they are getting. Is it just me, or is that a personal thing?

2) “Can I touch your belly?”

3) ‘Oh my Gosh, you’re having another baby?”

4) Any and all unsolicited advice about baby names. Oh yeah isn’t that the truth. I’ve heard everything from, “Josiah, hmmm…well hopefully he will turn out being a girl instead” to…. “Josiah?! Are you guys Middle Eastern or something” What the…………?!?!

5) “Are you going to get him circumcised?”

6) “You’re not going to eat that, are you?”  Do people really say this? Oh Lord, help the person now that ever has the courage to say that to me!

7) “Did you use fertility drugs?”

“Was this an oops?”  You’ve got to be kidding me…

9) “So do you have hemorrhoids? Mine were just awful.”

10) “So this is your first? Oh my God, with my first, I had horrible back labor for THIRTY hours, and then I needed a C-section and was in pain for WEEKS and the baby didn’t sleep through the night until she was two years old…” I’ve got to say I agree with this one. I am getting tired of all the horror stories. Maybe it should be a don’t ask don’t tell basis.

Thankfully I have not heard all of these comments. But really, the ones I have are bad enough. Anyway, I’m done venting. Now you can feel sorry for me and all the other pregnant people in your life! Don’t get me wrong I love being pregnant, I have had a great pregnancy, and it is so much fun. But nevertheless, people still fascinate me with their rudeness. I could go on and on about it, but I will stop for now