Post surgery and goals for 2013

A couple of days before Christmas 2012, I had foot surgery to release the plantar fascia on my left foot.  This surgery & recovery went so much better than the last time because of several reasons, i.e., the nerve didn't have to be released, I took Lovanox (blood thinner) injections for 2 weeks afterwards to prevent another DVT, and I was able to get up and around within a couple of days.  I just went for my 1-month post-op earlier this week, and while I have been having some residual surgery pain, my incision is all but healed and life is getting back to normal.  I am able to wear a regular shoe with just a slight limp but overall, doing really good. 

Now that both of my feet have been repaired (so to speak), I want to focus on my goals for 2013 and where I would like to take life's journey. 

* Monthly date with Jeff.  Life has gotten in the way for several years and it is hard not having any family nearby to help us out, but I found a great kid, who is an 8th grader in the same school as Ethan, and we have had several recent dates going out just the two of us, as well as other times meeting friends.

*  Continue in my efforts to a healthier lifestyle.  Neither Jeff not I want to pass the bad habits we have had for the last 18 years onto Ethan, so we are both making a conscious effort to better those habits.

*  Make a weekly menu and shopping trip.  I have been doing this monthly, however, it is one area of my Type A personality that I suck at.

*  Upgrade my gym membership so that I can go to different clubs around town and have no excuse not to make it to the gym 2-3 times a week after work before I pick up Ethan.  

*  I just purchased a new pair of running shoes, and once my foot is completely healed, hopefully within the next month, I plan on taking them to the road.  My goal this year it to be able to run a whole 5k without stopping.  I ran/walked several 5k's last year, which was a great accomplishment, however, I want to be able to be able to prove to myself that I can accomplish running the whole way.

*  Spend more time with family and friends.  We have several fun adventures and fun trips planned this year, one to Sunriver in March with the Springer family and then the 3 of us are also going to Yellowstone to meet some of our family members for a week this summer.  Ethan will also be spending a few weeks in Utah this summer with our families and Jeff and I are looking forward to finding some new adventures of our own. 

*  Get a tattoo.  I thought about this for a long time before I did it, and last year just before my birthday, I got a tattoo on the inside wrist of my left arm.  The words help remind me daily of the person I am striving to become.  As one of my other friends had said after she got her tattoo, "I know it's "outside of the box" for how many people think of me, but to me, it is ME" and I feel the same way. 

School field trip to the Children's Museum & artwork

Thanks to Ethan's teacher, Mrs. Brocka, Ethan and his classmates were lucky enough to be picked for a grant to take a field trip.  They were able to go to the Children's Museum on January 18th with their main focus being on the art exhibit, which focused on the works of impressionist Marc Chagall.  Earlier that same week, the kids had also learned about other artist Monet & Picasso, as well as Chagall, and made various art projects depicting their works.  The class had a great field trip and started off with an epic failure as the bus bottomed out on its way out of the side parking lot, so with the bus stuck and halfway out in the road, the chaperones were able to safely get all the kids off the bus and waited patiently for another bus to take them to the museum.

Mrs. Brocka shared some of those photos, which I attached below: (Click each image to make it bigger)

 Bus is stuck.....taking up both eastbound lanes of Halsey.

 Pua, Peyton and Ethan painting at the Children's Museum

 Ethan is the wearing the white shirt painting a Monet painting.

 
Ethan has a great love for drawing, and does pretty well at it, so I thought I would show off some of his creations below: (click each image to make it bigger)

 Nananananananananana...Batman

 Peyton and Ethan playing basketball (he doesn't know how to spell Peyton's name but definitely knew how to draw his size (heehee).  Although funny that Ethan won the game 1009 to 1002.

 He said these were some of his friends - Jase, Petyon, Evan, and Pua (only Evan had his name spelled correctyl).

 Ethan and Peyton - Best Friends

 Underdog

T-ball

Ethan received a practice net for Christmas so after signing him up for T-ball, that begins in March, Daddy and he did some practicing.  He has a pretty good throwing arm when he really want to play.

Tooth #2

Tooth #2 made its exit tonight and one of his front teeth is beginning to wiggle.

One Six

Happy Anniverysary, baby (the way E says baby)!