G: Growing Up

My husband's 10 year high school reunion is this year, and it has really got me thinking about my own high school memories and adventures. I'm sure most stories would be similar to many, "I went to class, took notes, hung out with friends, stayed after school for extra curricular activities, and then came home."

I have certainly learned some life lessons in my journey in growing up, a lot of which I wish I knew then what I know now. If I could go back and give myself a head's up of what's in store, I think I definitely would.



At a church work camp


Dear high school Michelle,

You do not give yourself enough credit. You are cooler than you think you are. Sure you're not real close with the "popular" group, but you do have a lot of friends in a lot of different groups. You're "true" friends will stick with you, and they are completely amazing.

Academically, you do pretty well for yourself. You will struggle a little in your math classes, but you will make up for that with being really successful in your science classes. Challenge yourself to stick with those difficult classes, you can do well in them.

At times, you will be pressured to partake in activities you don't want to participate in (like drinking and smoking, and having sex). You will feel like your "friends" won't think you're cool, or that you may get made fun of, but they won't. You stick up for yourself and are able to say no on so many occasions, and you will look back and be proud of the decisions you made.

You have a lot of guy friends but don't realize the intention behind the attention you get from them. There will be boys in your life that you really like, and really want to date. They will break your heart as they lead you on, making you think they like you back, and then date other girls. You will be crushed, but you will turn out OK. You will learn a lot about relationships from your friendships with these boys. One of your friends will ask you out your senior year, but you probably should go with your gut instinct of thinking it will be a bad idea. And when you're at his house and you get an unexpected phone call from another boy, who says he is in town on leave, you probably should go see that boy.

These four years are tough. You sometimes wonder if you're going to make it through high school, and if people will even remember you. You will have a lot of great memories of high school, with a few not so good ones. People are mean, rumors will be spread, and boys will hurt you, but Michelle, you are one tough chick. Take these bad things in stride and learn from them. These things will teach you how to stick up for what you believe in, and know that it's OK if it's not what everyone else believes in. These challenges and obstacles are bumps in the road, and you will get through them. You are a really strong person.

Love,

26-year-old-Michelle

Fun Facts

I am such a fan of fun facts! I love those "hey, did you know that...." moments where I can share some random bits of information with people.

So, since blogging is all about getting to know people, I'd thought I'd share some fun facts about me.

Enjoy!

30 Fun Facts About Me on Prezi

What are some fun facts about you??
** I apologize for not having photos linked, if you know of the source, please let me know and I will add them**

8 Tips for Healthy Eating

I am having fun with this A to Z Challenge, but I have to admit, "E" has been tricky. I have been searching for ideas, and after some internet browsing, I have come up with a plan.

Eight tips for healthy eating.



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I came across this page, and was really inspired by some of the pictures, and am thinking of using them in class next year when I go over nutrition.

I am not a nutritionist or dietician, but here are a few tips I have that might be easy to remember when trying to eat healthy. *Check with your physcian or health care provider regarding dieting and nutritional information

Let's get started, shall we?



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1. Eat foods from all 5 food groups, preferrably with each meal (protein, fruit, vegetable, dairy, and grains) (whole grains, of course are a better choice)

2.  Moderation is key in a healthy diet. This is true especially of things like sugar, salt, and fats. A simple way you can limit your salt intake is to try your food before adding salt. Example: When you order chips and salsa/ queso, take a bite of a chip before you add salt on top of the basket. Majority of the time, there is already plenty of salt added.

3. Watch your portion sizes, and don't over do it. Need a quick reference? Check this out.



(Source)



4. I too love me some mayo on my hamburgers or mixed in with ketchup for my fries, but it is one of the most fattening condiments! I'm learning to make healthier choices, as I may opt for mustard instead.



(Source)

5. Baking is a much healthier way to prepare foods than say foods that might be "crispy," "smothered," or "fried." Not only can we bake meats and proteins like fish and chicken, but we can also bake healthy snacks! Baking is also a great activity to get the kiddos involved. A few of my favorite baked snacks include zucchini muffins and oatmeal raisin cookies. Check out some of these healthy snacks for kids.

6. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. It is now recommended that for every pound of body weight, you need about a half ounce of fluid intake per day.

0.5 ounces X Body Weight in Pounds = Daily Fluid Requirement in Ounces

Not so good with math? Here is another quick calculator  which also takes into consideration amount of exercise and environment. 

7. No, not skittles. I apologize if you just got a little excited for a second. Variety is another key to a healthy diet. What easier way to remember that you need a variety, than thinking of a rainbow? By "tasting the rainbow," hopefully we have this thought in mind, we should have as many colors on our plate as there are in a rainbow.

Well, what the heck does that mean?

Well, for example, let's say you're eating a salad. Instead of lettuce and tomatoes, maybe you say ok I need some orange, yellow, and purple. You might add carrots, or orange bell peppers, squash, and purple onions.

Need some inspiration for foods of the rainbow? This site not only has a lot of food choices for each color, but also explains the importance of each color, and their nutritional value in your diet.

8. 5:1 No:Yes Rule will help you try and turn down some of the things you can't help but eat, even though you know you should probably pass. For the food of choice, be it brownies, cookies, chips, etc., say NO five separate times before you allow yourself to say YES.It will take some will power, but you can do it. Just think of the amount of empty calories you will not be eating.

Those are my quick tips for eating healthy, what are yours? Any healthy recipes you want to share to help us add moderation/ variety/ healthy deliciousness into our diets?

A Day in the Life

As a mother, wife, athletic trainer, and health teacher, I have a lot of responsibilities. Heck, who doesn't? I work a lot, both at my job, and around my house. My days are long, and rarely are they 9-5.

This brings me to the introduction of the "D" topic, A Day in the Life... of a full time, working M.O.M.

                                         

Let's start with a practice, non-game day, day. A typical Monday might look a little something like this.

• 5:00 am: Get up, showered and dressed for work.
• 6:00 am: Make a lunch
• 6:15 am: Wake up Nolan and pack the diaper bag. Put him in the car seat, and let him hang out while I get eveything else together.
• 6:20 am: Wake Madeline up, changed, brush teeth and hair. Grab her blanket, or "B" as she calls it, and finish packing the diaper bag
• 6:30 am: Put the dogs in their house
• 6:35 am: Gather purse, diaper bag, babies and keys and head out the door.
• 6:40 am: Drop the babies off at the home daycare
• 6:50 am: Arrive at work
• 7:00 am: Check emails at work, prepare for 1st period, morning treatments for athletes
• 7:20 am: Go to 1st period
• 7:30-11:05 am: Teach 4 periods of Health class
• 11:10 am: 5th period athletics, which involves treating, evaluating, and rehabilitating injured athletes (freshmen football, baseball, basketball, and soccer), water set up for practice
• 12:10 pm: Lunch.
• 12:40 pm: Tardy station duty- escort late students to class
• 12:45 pm: Check mailbox
• 12:50 pm: Conference period- catch up on paperwork and emails.
• 1:35 pm: 7th period athletics (just like 5th period, but with basketball, softball, and varsity football)
• 2:30 pm: End of school
• 2:45- 5:30 pm: Athletic practices (evaluate, treat, rehab athletic injuries)
• 5:30 pm: Leave work and pick up the babies
• 5:45 pm: Arrive at home
• 6:00 pm Change for a workout, make dinner for the babies
• 6:30 pm: Feed the babies, start baths, wait for Daryl to get home
• 7:00 pm: Bathe babies and prepare for bedtime
• 7:30 pm: Get the babies in their jammies, milk, read a book, brush teeth, and into bed
• 8:00 pm: Workout
• 9:30 pm: Shower and get ready for dinner
• 10:00 pm: Eat dinner and wind down by watching a movie part of a movie before falling asleep
• 11:00 pm: Go to sleep

A typical game day would look pretty much the same, except:

Whew! That was exhausting just typing it out. It's a crazy, busy life, but I love every bit of it. It amazes me what I get accomplished thoughout the day, all this, and I can sometimes manage to squeeze in a load of laundry.

*Daryl works just as much as I do, and we have learned to work together as a team to get stuff done around the house. We have gotten the babies' dinner/bath/ bedtime rountine down fairly well though I must say.

Courtney

First, I'd like to start by thanking those who have left their kind words and are interested in my little corner of cyberspace. I was really excited to see all the love and am excited about building new friendships. Thank you for stopping by and I hope I can keep ya entertained.

I apologize for the novel of a story that was posted yesterday. I didn't think it was going to be that long. But if you hung around and were able to get through the whole thing, thanks for reading! :) Even though it has only been 3 months, some of the details are already getting a little fuzzy.

Now, without further adieu, let's get this "C" party started.

C is for Courtney

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2008 marked the year of my first ever, professional job. I started in August with my very first high school health class. I was nervous, anxious and excited all at the same time. I wondered if I would be a good teacher, and if my students would learn anything in class and take it with them past high school.

I survived for the most part, with just a few bumps along the road. My students were interested in topics we discussed. They asked questions and sought out answers. We got to the reproductive system and abstinence part of the semester, and I'm not going to lie, I panicked just a little. What kinds of questions would my students ask me? Would I be able to answer them? I approached it in a professional manner, and told my students that if there was anything they did not feel comfortable talking about in front of the class, my door was always open if they needed to talk. My students, let's just say, were not shy at all about asking questions, which probably made my face turn about 3 shades of red. There were not too many students who came to me after class to discuss anything (which I was totally ok with.)

And one day it happened.

One of my students, Courtney, came to me at the end of class as I was packing up and said she needed to talk to me. So I put my stuff down, and said "sure, what's up?"

"Coach, I think I might be pregnant."

I panicked.

I didn't know what to say to her, but I definitely had a mild panic attack on the inside, hoping I would say the right thing.

I explained symptoms of pregnancy to her, and advised her to talk to her mom and then go from there once she was able to confirm she was in fact, pregnant.

She talked with her mom, confirmed the pregnancy, and made it through the rest of the semester.

I saw her here and there around school, and we chatted, but that was about it. She had come to me for advice on what to do about her boyfriend a few times, and I didn't really think I would see her past graduation.

As a teacher, you never really know the impact you have on students until years later, if that.

I have often thought of her, wondering what she has been up to, and how her baby was doing.

Courtney came up to the school a few weeks ago, daughter in hand. I walked passed her, unsure if it was her or not. I came back and stopped so I could talk with her. She looked at me and screamed with excitement, and gave me the biggest hug. We chatted for a few minutes while she was getting paperwork for school, and she said "Do you have class right now? I don't even want to go, I just want to chat with you and catch up."

We chatted about this and that. I was really pleased to be able to see her doing well, and turning her situation into something positive. I'm glad I was able to be a positive role model for her, and that we had a great teacher-student relationship. It's rewarding to see those kids come back and know that they got the life lessons you were teaching. And it's moments like that which remind you why you got into teaching.

So what about you? Do you have a teacher or role model who has positively impacted your life? What do you wish you could tell that person to let them know you valued their "teachings?"

Birth Story

B is for Birth Story

On Wednesday, December 28, 2011 I went in for my 39 week prenatal appointment. I was a little swollen, had not had any contractions, and was still pregnant. I was kind of hoping this baby would make his entrance into the world a little early like his older sister, but that didn't happen. My doctor checked me and said I was 4 cm dilated. We discussed inducing on Friday the 30th if I hadn't had the baby yet. I really did not want to induce, but it seemed to be a better idea than the alternative, my body feeling like it was being pulled apart. We left the office and gave everyone an update that there wasn't a baby coming yet.

We had done everything we could think of to help get the party started. We went hiking in the local park. I ate spicy food. I ate pineapples. Daryl and I even went walking around the galleria on Thursday in hopes that something would happen. It didn't. We went home tired and exhausted from walking, with no hint of a baby coming any time soon.

Fast foward to Friday morning.

Since I was going to be induced, our morning was fairly laid back. We got up and out of bed at 4:00. We got dressed and I straightened my hair. We woke Madeline up, and got her dressed and ready to go. We were trying to get out of the house on time to be able to drop Madeline off at her grandparents' house. We were almost out the door, and I stopped Daryl and said we had to take pictures, as this would be the last time we were a family of 3.

We took our pictures and headed out the door. We got Madeline off to her grandparents' house, and we headed to the hospital.

When we got to the hospital, I told the nurse at the counter that we were going to be induced, and were "here to have a baby." She gave me a clipboard and a pen, and walked me through the double doors into the waiting area. I filled out the paperwork, and Daryl and I were having a great conversation, laughing and joking about this and that. I finally finished and the nurse reviewed my medical history with me, and then walked us back to our room.

We walked around the corner to our room, and the nurse handed me a gown and told me to change so she could check me. I know the gowns are washed and reused, but the one she gave me had a huge, blood like stain on the front of it. I looked at Daryl with a disgusted look on my face, and was hesitant to ask for another one, because I didn't want to come across as being rude. Thankfully Daryl asked for me. I mean it was possibly blood. Gross.

I got another gown, and hopped into the bed so she could check me. She said I was only 2 cm! I was disappointed. How could I go from 4 to 2?? She said my doctor was probably "very thorough" in his exam. She got me hooked up to all the monitors and said my doctor would be in to break my water at 7 am.

It was shift change somewhere between me getting checked and having my water broken, and Dana was going to be my nurse during labor and delivery. She was extremely nice, and we chatted and joked for awhile. The doctor (not my doctor, but another one in the practice) came in at about 8 am to break my water. It was really painful! I told Daryl and Dana that it was really uncomfortable, and I didn't remember it being that painful. Dana assured me that it was painful, and that he broke her water, and it was really uncomfortable for her too. I was then hooked up to the Pitocin and waited for things to get moving.

I was able to get up and down and go to the restroom as I needed, but was reminded that once I got the epidural, I would not be able to get out of bed. I went to the restroom, carting my IV tree with me, and I looked at Daryl and said don't watch me walk to the bathroom Daryl, my gown doesn't have a back. I made it to the restroom, and then he called out to me "I can see your butt." It was funny, but still, it was embarrassing, even if it was only the two of us in the room. 

 I told Daryl at one point that I didn't think I was going to get one. I told Dana of my failed epidural with Madeline, and she suggested that I wait until the contractions were stronger to decide if I wanted to get it. I was doing pretty well, and was able to make it a few hours without any pain medicine. I decided around 10 or so that I did want to have an epidural. 

The anesthesiologist came in and I explained that the epidural failed last time, and I didn't want that to happen again. She said she was going to give me something else, and to think of it as the "Mercedes Benz" of epidurals. So here I was, in the middle of really strong contractions, hunched over in a ball, while the anesthesiologist stuck a huge needle in my back, and told me not to move. Definitely, not as easy as it sounded, but I made it through. 

My in-laws came up to the hospital with Madeline. My parents showed up, and we all visited and had a good time. We took pictures, and my mom checked the monitors and told me when I was having contractions. They were kicked out of the room so Dana could check me again.
Dana then said that the baby wasn't turned correctly, and was "sunny side up." He was in the correct head down position, but was face up. She said that was one of the most difficult positions to deliver a baby.


I was making it through contractions OK, but Dana had me get up on my hands and knees and sway back and forth to try and get him to turn and make it easier for me. So I did. I rocked back and forth and all I could think was 1. I feel like a cow swaying back and forth like this and 2. the "I like it when she rock her hips" lyrics were running through my head. I remember laughing at myself, thinking who thinks that when they're having a baby?

A little while later, I told Dana I was having some pain. She asked me if it was pain or pressure. I couldn't tell. She checked me and said I was at 10 cm, and that it was probably pressure. This was awesome! I wasn't really in that much pain, I was breathing through the contractions, and was excited to meet my little guy. Daryl and I asked her how long she thought I would be pushing, and she responded with a quick " 20 minutes. You will probably have a baby before noon." Heck yes! I was really excited, as 20 minutes sounded like a piece of cake.





So the pushing phase began. The pushing was not effective at the beginning, I could tell they didn't feel right. Dana coached me and helped me focus. 12 o'clock came around, and I was still pushing. Dana called my doctor to give him a heads up on my progress. The room started to get extremely hot, and I didn't think I was going to be able to push this baby out of my body.

Dana asked me if I wanted her to get he mirror. Umm sure, I guess. So off she went to get the mirror so I could watch. I pushed and pushed and pushed. It was hot, and sweat was dripping down my face, and the rest of my body. The mirror was set up and she showed me that his head was "right there," and that "I was so close." She encouraged me to keep at it.

My doctor was finally called in to deliver my little guy. Because he was "sunny side up," the doctor got out the vacuum to help guide him out, but told me I would still have to push.

I pushed, but did not feel a thing. He said I was having really strong contractions, and then looked up at me and asked me if I felt it. Nope. Not at all! Oh my gosh, this was amazing... the baby was crowning, and I was not feeling a thing. The next thing I knew, my doctor said "he's here, oh he's big! Wow he's really long." His head was swollen from the vacuum, and he had a bruise on his left eyebrow and a little on his forehead from being pushed up against my pelvic bone. We each had our own battle scars, as it was tough for both of us.

On December 30, 2011 at 1:04 pm, baby Nolan entered the world. He was the most handsome little guy I had ever seen.

* Note: if you ask Daryl about Nolan's birth story, I'm sure it is a completely different story, from a father's perspective anyway.

Announcements, Announcements, Annooooucements!

Things have been a little hectic with my work schedule, and I have not had a moment to post. 

It is April, which means it is the start of the A to Z blog challenge. I am excited, and also a little nervous to take on this blog challenge. Today is the first day, and it's all about the letter A. So, let's get this "A" party started.

  A is for Announcement

I posted a few weeks ago asking the question is it too late? I have been working on completing Nolan's birth announcements, and let's just say I am close to finishing. Even though my little guy is now 3 months old, needless to say, my announcements still are not sent out. I read online that proper etiquette is within 6 months. So there is still some time.

I first got my inspiration for my card here, and thought this would be an easy card to mass produce. I really loved Christine's cards, as I thought I would be able to get more pictures, information, and simple to put together.  



Source



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I decided to go with the Horizontal Pocket Card variation. My dimensions are a little different than stated in the directions though.

I have been having some issues with printing the pictures down to scale. I have them picked out and all, but I guess I am going to have to get them printed somewhere because I keep getting Nolan's head cut off. That's one of the focal points on a birth announcement. Anyway, here is the sample layout of what the completed card will look like.

                      

Of course, the black tabs will be attached, and an actual picture of Nolan will be on either side. Since they are not completed, I didn't want to give away the surprise of which pictures of my handsome little guy I will be using.

This will be the birth facts insert. I still need to tweak a few things, but this is basically it. A cute way to tie in our Winnie the Pooh theme, and cut down on the Ronald McDonald color scheme. On the other side of the insert, I'll have a printout of "Proud parents, and older sister." 

I was hoping that starting this challenge would help me to actually get these done, but this is all I have so far. I am struggling already. Maybe I'll get on them this weekend? I will have to come back and post pictures of the completed announcement, so be on the look out!

Happy Sunday everyone!