The day after...

Good morning! ! For all of you Max the Wonderdog  fans out there. .here is an update! ! He is doing well. .eating and drinking without any problems along with all other bodily functions working. The incision is large and when Matthias picked him up yesterday the vet was out on an emergency call so as of yet we have no feedback as to what the mass was..but Max has a follow up appointment on Monday so we will know more then. They sent him home in one of those funny plastic cones which was promptly removed by me ..don't worry. .yes, I kept it in case he needs it later..like when the stiches start to itch like mine are☺. So..today is grey and wet..fire is already going and I am about to settle in with my Nursing and Healthcare Policy book..only 9 more chapters to go before Monday! ! I wish you all a wonderful weekend. 

          It is not how much we go, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into the giving.  -Mother Teresa

                

A bit anxious this morning. ..

Good Morning to everyone. ..this morning Max goes in for his 3rd surgery in 3.5 years. We found a large lump his flank area a couple of days ago and the vet will remove it today..he says it appears to be encapsulated but we won't know until he gets a look at the mass. Poor little guy. .he is such a fighter..at 14 years old he is still pretty active. .granted his sight and hearing are not so good anymore and he sleeps a lot but he still loves to go on walks and play with his many toys..and he is always up for a good snuggle fest!! And truth be told I can't bear the thought of my constant companion for more than a decade not being there.. So, if each of you can take a minute to send up a small prayer for Max the Wonderdog  today that would be very much appreciated.

                                             Say to him: ' Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!'

                                                                             1 Samual 25:6

Today is a really good day to....

Hello everyone. ...as we had a few snow flurries this morning I thought what a great day it is to bake...and..bake..and bake.. .blueberry and apple muffins. .peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies...Yes..I am one of those crazy wife-mother type people who feels guilty when I have to send my husband to work with store bought goodies to eat for lunch, when my boys were small I did not always have the time or the money to indulge my inner Betty Crocker but now that she is released watch out!!..and your foot you ask?? Yes, well it hurts a bit now but I have it elevated and iced..as my mom can tell everyone, I am ..historically not the best patient material...but I am trying!! Wink wink..

Had a yummy breakfast full of color and am snacking on some grapes as we speak, the splash of color below will be dinner with some rice, sauteed mushrooms, and a cheese platter..one thing about baking..for me at least..after working with the ingredients for hours I have pretty much no desire to eat the finished product..it is more of the creative process for others to enjoy that makes it so much fun.

My mini workouts in the mornings are really doing me good, even something just so simple as some reps with handweights and a few ab exercises can make all of the difference in the mood of the day as well as the energy level. 

So, now is time to journal, do my Bible readings for the day and get busy reading several chapters for my course..Nursing policy and politics is really not so my thing but part of the big picture so read on I will!!

                                                                    Yet, O Lord, you are our father. We are the clay, you    are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. 

                                                                             Isaiah 64:8

                                    

Yummy..this almost 100% homebound thing is not too bad!!

Good Morning all !! Am happy to report that our outing yesterday evening was a wonderful time. ..delicious food and great company. Completely relaxed and fun..repeat requested please ☺ The food was a bit off my new eating plan but in my world homemade spring rolls are not to be passed up. .ever!! Plus my super colorful and fresh breakfast and lunch left ample room for a little splurge. Our youngest will be a little in the jealous side as this food item is also a favorite of his!! Don't worry kiddo..we ate a couple for you too!! I thought I would include some pics of what my days revolve around now..lots of reading..book of the week is Orange is the new Black..lots of snuggles with my fuzzy faces...you can see what hard work it is for the 3..:D...and trying to keep things interesting with patterned socks..what do you expect when restricted to 4 rooms?? I personally get a kick out of my semi crutches..with reflectors front and back ?? Not so sure of the reasoning behind that but okay..All of the snow is gone thanks to the rain from yesterday and there are some really dark clouds overhead this morning..if I have to be on restricted activity this is the perfect time of year..fire lit, warm house, snoring dogs at my feet!! Life doesn't get much better and I have to admit..I am really enjoying the fact that I have no place to be today..no schedule to be kept..well, yes my course work..but I don't have to get in the car and drive..jammies all day, lots of time to blog, journal, read..as one of my favorite artist..Kenny Chesney puts it..That's the good stuff!!!

                       Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

                                                                                              Romans 12:2

 

Monday...almost 1 week in...

Hello to you all!! Well, today finds me almost 1 week into a 6 week recovery time as instructed by my Dr., needless to say I was soooo not expecting 6 weeks restriction from everything. I had thought..nah, ja a couple of weeks until the stitches come out and then..then I can resume my whirlwind schedule and be off and running, and traveling, and working...and no..nichts. Stay at home, hang out on the couch, elevate your foot, and be a good little patient. For me this is really,really hard to do..I am generally a fluster of activity, here and there, in and out...so, I will do as instructed..that and because my husband took my car to work with him and I hate driving our other one..BUT..the house is clean..the downstairs anyway!!The snow that we had over the weekend is getting washed away by a long soaking rain today, all I know is my poor tulips were trying to come up before Christmas due to the crazy weather we have been having here.
I finally got Matthias to bring my hand weights and scale downstairs where  can use them..did some arms and abs this morning..I must say..doing planks with 1 leg is an interesting experience!! We will not talk about what the scale said..but after being sick for over a week and then heading right into surgery I must say I was pretty happy to see the numbers that I saw!! ;D I fixed a gorgeous, colorful breakfast plate filled with veggies and fruits, a boiled egg, and yogurt we are heading to the in laws for dinner tonight so in a minute I will have something light and fit more water in!! 
Okay..time to hit the books..I really pushed it last week on turning in my assignment..but ended up getting it in on time..not wanting to experience that feeling of slight panic again..so goal this week is to be finished by Wednesday for the week!! I wish you all a beautiful Monday and start to your week..Bis Später!!


          The Lord is my strength and my sheild; my heart trusts in him and I am helped.

                                                                                                     Psalm 28:7  
 

Just hanging out!!

Good Morning all...well, day after foot surgery and for me that means a forced break in my somewhat crazy schedule and about 2.5 weeks to hang out at home and not be terribly productive outside of course work for my MSN and doing a whole lot of reading and writing. Also means tons of cuddle time with my 4 footed kids which is sooooo very good for the soul!! I must say, yesterday after the surgery I had pretty much no pain but this morning is a little bit of a different story..I am hoping the prescribed Ibuprofen does the trick. Have taken advantage of a quiet house this morning and written a couple of emails and doing some journaling..also read a few inspirational emails that I recieve on a regular basis. One of them included this passage from the author..

" Perhaps your roadblocks aren't roadblocks at all, but rather new beginnings in disguise. Perhaps your missteps are actually opportunities for growth, greater closeness with God, or a nudge to take a leap of faith."

As I have been really struggling with some issues as mentioned in the previous post, I find it interesting that passages like this one seem to appear just when needed. Our God works in amazing ways when we open our hearts and minds to him. Yes, sometimes we are tested but with faith and letting him work in our lives things seem to always work out... maybe not in the timeframe we want or exactly how we expected but always as we need.

Being home makes me want to hop on my treadmill, turn on some music and sweat but none of that for a minimum of 3 months..ugh..for a non runner I am missing it, will have my husband at least bring the hand weights and balance ball downstairs so all will not go to flab as things seem to do when we are a tick over 40!!

So, time to get dressed for my f/u appt..the nurse yesterday said no shower but we will just have to see about that..a plastic bag and duct tape works wonders!! 

Sometimes you just need to get really pissed off.....to realize it really isn't doing any good!!

Good morning all..it has been a couple of weeks now since I have written, I would like to say that I have been hard at work but that is only half true as I ended up catch a nasty viral infection and have spent most of this week isolated from the general public..now this has 2 sides..some would say good as it put a screaming halt to my insane schedule and since the Dr. I saw wrote me out of work until this coming Monday I have no choice but to rest and take care of myself..for me this means that even though I am definantly not healthy enough to be around others  I have invested a lot of time in thinking and evaluating..which has lead to me getting some things done..like work for my course, lots and lots of journaling, reading my Bible, reading I think 3 books at this point and thinking about the disorganization of some areas of my life..which are unfortunantly areas that I have absolutely no control over..they are..for the most part.. based on other people's actions but still have a huge impact on my stress level. I know some of you are thinking..well, just don't let it concern you but sometimes when things are so close you cannot just blow it off and not think about it..but after getting really upset about things last night, getting some advice from a good friend and my parents and journaling like a mad woman this morning I have come to realize that perhaps my seemingly regular bouts of raging about these particular topic(s) are not going to change a thing...and that from now on instead of sharing my stress and anger I will turn these basically completely unproductive feelings into actions..actions that make me a better..and dare I say it?? more mature.. person instead of the stressed out, sometimes not so nice person that I see more often than not now. This negative energy will be channeled into more spritual growth and physical activity..which has been next to nothing on my schedule now for over a week ( the physical part)..I know, could be part of the problem..right?? and creativity of some sort..writing, crafts, something. ..I have always been taught through the years in various settings that when we attempt to grow closer to God that the devil will fight us more and more. I had made a choice and commitment several months ago to do this..to start a prayer journal, read the Bible, worship more..even though there is really no support basis for any of that where I live now..and I have to say some days I feel strong and ready to fight and sometimes it is a real struggle..like yesterday. But, today is a new day..a day to start over and thank God for a new beginning..a new chance to fight the devil off and become the person God is working on shaping to be who he wants me to be..In my readings this morning I came across this passage....

Jeremiah 29:11
For know the thoughts and plans I have for you says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace, and not for evil, to give you hope for your final outcome.

For me this passage was put in front of me not by accident, but to help me shake the feelings of negativity off and start fresh this morning..
and if that was not enough I came across this little nugget also...

Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.-Pema Chödrön

So..readers of Fluffy....for those of you who have your own struggles I wish you peace and strength because sometimes this life can really be a challenge..I hope you find what works for you to refocus on what is important and to keep stress and negative reactions to a minimum. 
  

 

What a smushy way to start the week!!

Happy Monday to you all !! As I leave home today to start my new job in the morning I wanted to send fuzzy face greetings as I won't be seeing these 3 for a few days :C. But..I am excited to open a new door..or 2 !! As I was on the treadmill this morning it hit me that I will have to be creative on getting my daily workout in...while living out of a suitcase with no equipment. .but with working daily my steps taken count will certainly dramatically increase...right?? I do have good news besides a new lifestyle..since 30 December I have lost 2 kilograms..or a little over 4 lbs. Just when I was beginning to think that months of working out was getting me no where..:D Now is the time to really put some dietary changes into place, my energy level is way up, my water consumption on most days is above average.As far as the months put into increasing my activity level..it has had pay offs..my strength has increased, the time I can run without stopping has increased..it has had nothing but positve effects on me my body, and how I feel. So, readers of Fluffy..time to finish packing the car, head to the gas station and be on my way..will touch base in the next day or so!! Have a great week!!

Oh my goodness....

Hi there!! I hope the 2nd of Jaunuary finds you all well and getting back into the swing of normalicy!! It is a bit later in the day than I usually touch base with all of you but today was Tafel day and having to be there at 0815 put a bit of a time crunch of completing what I wanted to before I left the house..I did, however, get my workout done and journaled ..now is time to play catch up with the rest. Things are really going to start getting crazy around here as I just talked to my new employeer and they are wanting me to start work next week..what I was planning on being an appointment on Tuesday to finish up my new hire paperwork, etc. has now turned into 3 days of work and then off to Kaiserslatern for 3 days I will go..now, I know most of you are thinking, yes..and??? The yes, and part here is that my new job is located a few hours from home so I will be staying there when I work..not at home. Now, don't get me wrong..I am completely and totally excited and jazzed about this new position..I will be working as an ER nurse in German hospital!! Under a visionary, progressive  physician and with an awesome team..:D Woo Hoooo!!! but..my husband and I from Monday on will be having a pretty much long distance relationship..but for us that is so not a problem..I think that we are one of those couples, like 1 of my fave cousins and his wife..that this sort of thing works really well for us. Too bad I can't take my critters with though..:C 
Our youngest son has been here for 2 weeks and goes back tomorrow, am a little bummed about that but I know that now he is a young adult hanging with the parents is not so exciting although I know he has enjoyed sleeping in a real bed..as he says the one he has on base is not so comfy..
On the menu this evening..past with homemade sauce..crammed full of fresh veggies, french bread with assorted dipping oils, for the guys..chicken, and spinach!!
So..it is time to get busy as somehow the day has flown by..I wish you all a great friday..Bis Morgen!!

2015 ..Here we go!!!

Guten Morgen!! Am happy to report that Melissa made it through the night of fireworks and all is quiet here in Moordorf now..maybe now we can resume a normal sleeping schedule...the Holiday Season is always fun but now I am itching for things to start new and resume a schedule of some sort..for today new calendars have been hung, 2 new journals started and after I finish writing and have finished my coffee it is time to workout!! Bought a new issue of Women's Health a couple of days ago to add some now exercises into my routiene..this is the positive about having a dedicated workout space at home..I have a blank half wall that I use to post pictures and explanations of exercises that I am not familiar with..add some good music and wah la..my own personal gym..now to talk my husband into installing a heated pool!! Just kidding here..our backyard is not big enough!!
I hope that all of you celebrate the coming in of 2015 however suited you best..we were totally comfy at home and then greeted the neighbors outside at midnight to watch the sky light up..I know..not so exciting but it works for us!! So...I wish you all a quiet, peaceful 1st of January..bis Morgen.