Gone from blogging for too long!

Goodness!  Has it really been almost three months since I posted?  I guess I have just been so busy with trying to get my last semester of college done, my externship, and we are moving yet again.

I have just two weeks as of tomorrow left of school, then I graduate in June.  I haven't made up my mine as to whether I am going to walk for graduation or not.  My externship went well.  I got hired on at the doctor's office that I was doing my externship at, so now I am working two jobs.

Also, in two weeks, my husband and I are moving (just 10 minutes away) to an apartment.  This will be the first time in our married life that we have lived together by ourselves.  I am so excited.  Also, I am excited about having a walk-in closet so my clothes can finally come out of boxes.

In just 2-1/2 months, our grandson will be turning 1.  It is so hard to believe that it has been almost a years since the accident.  He is doing well for being born so early.  Also, he is now above average for his height and weight.  He has truly opened my eyes to what is important in life.

I have missed everyone, and I plan on writing at least once a week if not more.

Blessings,

Donna

What are my New Year's Resolutions?

Well as I have mentioned in my previous post my new year's resolutions are health and exercise. With 2013, coming and going so quickly, I have had a chance to look back over the last year. 

So far I have discovered fruit smoothies in order to get my daily intake of fruits. Personally, I am not a fan of fruits, mainly because of the texture.  I do enjoy the smells of most fruit though.  I add a whole banana to my smoothies to make sure I get my potassium, as low potassium seems to be an issue for me.

As far as exercising is going, I try to walk everyday for at least 30 minutes to an hour. I have been doing my workout dvds at least 3 times a week.

Why focus on these two areas? Well, as I mentioned previously I was admitted to the hospital August 2013. It was during this visit that the cardiologist informed me my heart was under stress.  He had recommended a heart catheterization; however, I declined.  I want to be healthy so that I can enjoy time with my husband, daughters and grandson. 

My goal is to get healthy.  I want to get my BMI down as well as lowering my cholesterol.  My goal is not to lose weight to become a size 3 (Now that I am 41 I am not worried about size 3).  I am trying to lose weight to become healthy.  My ideal size would be an 8 or 10.

I hope you follow me along on my journey.

Blessings,

Donna

A New Year, new resolutions!

I have thought about about my blog for the last week or so, and thinking of what direction I would like to take it in 2014.  For me, my resolution is about getting healthy, everything from eating right to exercising, also showing some new outfits that I have as well.

In August 2013, I was admitted to the hospital for heart issues, low potassium and low magnesium, and a possible bacterial infection. During this stay, I realized there was a lot in my life that was going to have to change from giving up my favorite drink of Coca Cola to giving up sweets.  I am not a fruit and vegetable person so this would have to change as well.  While in the hospital the cardiologist talk with about doing a heart catheterization.  As I laid there listening to him explain the tests and the catheterization, I thought I am only 40, why would I need this.  I did go through with the noninvasive testing but declined the catheterization.

Since being out of the hospital, I have taking up walking daily, using my workout dvds more often, and working on eating healthy.

I have decided to bring you all along on my journey! I look forward to any comments you may have as input is greatly appreciated.

This is one of my prime reasons for trying to live healthier.  I want to be around to enjoy my family.

Feeling Accomplished yet Overwhelmed!

I am at the end of long road that started roughly 22 years ago. I am graduating from college this spring with my A.A. degree. I am excited knowing that I am almost to the finish line, one more semester to go. However, I am feeling extremely overwhelmed by what this upcoming semester holds for me.

For starters, I have to finish 16-credit hours (which is four classes). On top of this, I have to complete my externship (which they informed me is 40 hours a week). I already work two jobs, both from home though as a medical transcriptionist, as well as taking care of home.

The thought of things to come was weighing heavily on me over the weekend. Then, my dear husband said the sweetest thing, "Let me know what I can do to help you." That was music to my ears. Normally, I don't accept help in fear that what I need to get done will be pushed to the side. However, this time I told him for those 12 weeks he needed to take over the finances including the checkbook register. I even told him I would put together a list of when things are do and the websites and passwords to what I take care of online.

I did give him this disclaimer though that I would probably still be overwhelmed and a little short-tempered during this time.

Thankfulness

Thanksgiving is 6 days away, so I thought I would share with you today what I am thankful for. The last four years for my family have been somewhat rough and challenging. At one point, I really thought I had nothing to be thankful for; however, as I enter my 41st year, I have realized I have so much to be thankful for.

I am thankful for this man! My loving, caring husband who has been with me through it all good and bad.

I am thankful for my daughter Jackie and grandson Ashton. My daughter was involved in a serious car accident in June of this year. As a result of the accident, Ashton was born via emergency C-section at 27-weeks.

I am thankful for my other daughter Stephanie. She has been here through it all. I am thankful she has remained calm when I could not.

I am so very thankful to all of our family and friends who have been with us through it all! Without their love and support, I don't think we would have made it through all that we have.

Vacation was awesome!!! My husband and I had not had a real vacation in 17 years. The drive up to the cabin in Murphy, NC was met with a detour. While in Georgia our GPS noted that there was heavy road congestion and decided to reroute us. Where did it reroute us to you ask? Downtown Atlanta, Georgia in the middle of rush hour. It took us about 3 hours to get back on track. Once back on the main highway, we were about 2-1/2 hours away from the cabin, and we were going to arrive in the dark to a place we have never been.

We arrived around 9 p.m. to our cabin. In the dark of night, it looked very scary. For me I have watched one too many scary movies, and I was just waiting for something to come out of the woods. The cabin sat on hill with a long sloping driveway. We were in my husband's little sports car (1995 Acura Integra that he babies) and only made it halfway up the driveway. So we ended parking at the bottom of the driveway and carrying everything up to the cabin.

Once inside, the cabin was so beautiful. It was so cozy and inviting. It was everything we had imagined and more.

The sign says it all!!!

Looks so much better in daylight.

His car finally made it up the driveway.

My favorite seat. At the end of the day, I loved sitting here and watching the sunset.

I will post more pictures throughout the week of our travels. As you can tell from the pictures, the leaves were changing. It was wonderful as here in Florida we don't get to experience the changing of the seasons.

Delay due to illness

I am so sorry that I have not posted anything this last week. Since being back for a week, I have had an upper respiratory infection with double ear infection. I haven't felt like loading pictures or posting much. I am hoping to get back into the swing of things this week, so just keep checking in. I have so much to share about Murphy, NC as well as Concord, NC.

Blessings,

Donna