RSV and My Birthday

  Happy Late Valentine's Day, everyone! We had a wonderful day, minus Addison having RSV. She was diagnosed Wednesday and it has been a long terrible week with her being sick. Daddy brought it home with him, then Addison got it, and wouldn't you know it, I got it next. Luckily, I got it the weekend AFTER my birthday. YAY? At least I wasn't sick for my birthday, again.
  I knew I was going to get it too, because yesterday while going for our first outdoor run in a couple of weeks, I felt horrible before I even got a mile in. I pieced together another mile, then walked the third. I was hoping to run 4, but what can you do?
   I did have a great birthday, minus the sick baby. Mark took Valentines Day off (which is my birthday) and watched Addison so I could go to the salon and get a haircut, manicure and pedicure. Basically, it was my own personal heaven. He also got me flowers and we got takeout to eat at home with candle light while Addison happily watched Sesame Street recordings. Oh! And did I mention my husband made me chocolate dipped strawberries rolled in an assortment of candies? Yeah, I have the best husband ever!

Yeah, be jealous! They were YUMMY.

   I hope everyone had a great holiday and will be starting out next week on a great foot. We are starting Level 3 of The Shred, so be praying for me! ;) Hopefully my sick self can handle the burn.

Addison's Birthday Party

    I know I usually talk about what fitness goals I am trying to accomplish, but I have to brag a little about my Pintrest worthy party I just threw for Addison's 2nd birthday. I am not a crafty person. Scratch that. I am a crafty person, too bad my ideas never look like what my hands make. I was worried Addison's birthday would be another disaster brought to you by my un-artistic hands, BUT, it turned out great!

Disclaimer, I didn't get a picture of everything I wanted to because I had a migraine and my meds didn't kick in yet. By the time they did, I totally forgot to get a picture of all of the decorations I had made. :( Oh, well. Here are the projects I did get a picture of.

Cookie Monster Cupcakes

 Elmo Cupcakes

Grover Cupcakes (Addison's favorite character)

Elmo Fruit AND Veggie Platter (with homemade ranch and vanilla fruit dip)

Oscar The Grouch Veggie Platter 

Big Bird Punch

For food we had character cupcakes, Cookie Monster Cookies, Big Bird Punch, and character fruit and veggie platters. For favors we gave out Gold Fish crackers in honor of Dorthy. 

More of The Spread.

Addison's banner and her new friends that match her much loved Elmo. 

A few of the many tissue paper flowers I made. What you can't see is the circle rainbow garland which Addison was very distraught I took down after the party.  Due to my migraine, I wasn't thinking clearly enough to take pictures of all the decorations I wanted to have a picture of. 

 Addison's Elmo shirt and the Elmo tutu I made her. She thought the whole outfit, even her much hated pigtails, were AWESOME.

Cupcake Time! I was surprised she picked out an Elmo cupcake over a Grover one, but I think the red was just too inviting for her to turn down. And luckily for her, she had so many people there that loved her enough to share their food, so she also got in more than a day's worth of fruits and veggies. I heard that she begged strawberries off anyone that would get one for her!

Addison's Thank You Cards

Addison's personal thank you.

The character heads and Sesame signs I made.

All hand cut. We don't own a anything cool enough to keep me from cutting these out by hand.

Grover

Oscar

Elmo

Big Bird with flap-able beak!

Addison's welcome sign. This was on our front door.

THE Song

  I heard this song today on a friend's blog and I knew I just had to watch this video over and over again. Something about the idea of someone fixing you really struck and motivated me. Sometimes giving your all isn't enough. Sometimes you need to ask for help. We are not made, as humans, to be islands. We have to rely on each other. I hope you enjoy the song, get something from it, and pass along the good thoughts to people you love.

Jillian, Running, and WAIT! That's me!

   So as you may know, Mark and I are in the middle of doing The 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michael's. Today we did Level 2, day 4. Well, sort of. Addison woke up an hour and a half early today and I was only allowed to do 16 minutes of it. In order to get more of my burn on, after breakfast I decided to try out a day of Ripped in 30, also by Jillian. HOLY CRAP! That is a workout. I am sore and tired just sitting here! I might have to change my workout plans over the next few months (because, I do have our workouts planned until June 3). And there is a reason for that. Mark and I are now talking about running a half marathon in Boise, ID in May!  In order to get there, we have to start doing a 12 week train soon, right after we are done with the Shred Challenge on March 5.
   I was planning on training AND doing Ripped in 30 4 days a week until we got 30 days in. After today, maybe not. But, maybe still. I know for a fact that doing The Shred has improved my athleticism more than anything in the past has. Seriously, I have so much more stamina when running and strength than I have ever had before. I know that some of that has to do with better shoes too, but I am sure most of it has to do with Jillian. I feel AWESOME since starting the Shred and I am sure that Ripped is even better. Can you even imagine a muscular runner? I can't wait to be one. 
   On top of tweaking my training and stuff, I have been spotlighted for my efforts on my friend's blog! Feel free to stay and read about his crazy weight loss and running journey. He is AMAZING. Anyway, I was able to really thing about what I am doing and where I want to be while answering his questions and I think I have figured out who I am a little more. What can be bad about that?