A Drawback and a New Project

Apologies first off for not having been as consistent as I would like these last several days.... I really have not been all that motivated!

Some updates -

The running has been going really well. I'm halfway through the 8-week program, and I can already tell my endurance is starting to build. I love feeling capable like this.

I lost about 5 pounds last week within a few days, so that was a super nice surprise. Currently, I'm not exactly sure how I weigh, but I'm sure it's around the good weight.

A new development and unfortunate shortcoming is that I have a kidney infection of all things! I noticed a pain in my right side last Saturday night, felt feverish, later took my temperature, and discovered I had a slight fever of 101.3 degrees. My first reaction was dread that I would get Cillian sick with a fever, or Caleb. Better me than either of them!

Sunday night, I researched my symptoms and figured out that I probably had a kidney infection. Monday morning, I called urgent care and went in to get checked and they confirmed it. I got the antibiotics right away and have been on them for nearly four days. My side is still sore (almost a post-surgery soreness, but as I've never had surgery I'm not entirely sure...), but improving slightly, so I think the antibiotics are working. They said if the pain gets worse than it was originally, I should go to the ER. That would be exciting!

But I'm sure I'll be feeling better very soon. The sad thing about all of this is that I'm taking a week off from running, if not more time. It's absolutely killing my momentum. I was doing SO well, and now I'm slipping behind. I'm halfway through it, so all I really have to do is to pick it up again. But I'm debating on whether or not to repeat the last week of running I did and then go on, just to ease into it. Suggestions and advice would be very welcome on this subject. :)

On a very exciting note, I have decided to make stockings for me, Caleb, and Cillian for this Christmas! I'm super thrilled about it. I'm designing them and then I'm going to hand-sew them, since a) I don't own a sewing machine and b) I think it'll be more special. Yes, I'm aware that it will take me a considerably longer time finishing them this way, but I know I can do it, so I'm going to.

On Tuesday, I took a spin in Hobby Lobby (my favorite store) and found all kinds of wonderful potential materials for the stockings. That inspired the official designing. I'm not going to purchase anything until I know exactly what I need. They are going to be the most awesome looking stockings ever... I can't wait to start.

While I'm on the subject of projects and crafty-type things, I finished the scarf I was knitting, and now I'm on to some more knitting. I always have to have something going on with my hands. And that's why knitting is perfect for me! I bought a beautiful cream yarn as well as a deep wine red yarn in one of my favorite brands, Caron. It's so silky and soft, and it just makes gorgeous scarves.

So, I'm experimenting with some more knit patterns for these two yarns. I'm having a bit of trouble with the checkered pattern I wanted to try, but I'll figure it out.

Here's to recovering from infections, starting new projects, and getting motivated to keep working hard!

I hope you are having a thoroughly thoughtful Thursday.

Cheers.


Here's the Quote of the Day:

"Silence is golden - duct tape is silver."

~ Anonymous

Projects and Bedtime Stories

Starting last Tuesday night, something happened that Caleb and I have been talking about doing since before we got engaged. We both dreamed of reading to one another once we were finally married (and once Caleb was finally back in the US, as he was in England the first seven months of our relationship). Furthermore, the idea we had was that he would read me all of the Chronicles of Narnia books and I would read him all of the Harry Potter books as there are seven in each series. From the time we were engaged to the present, we'd gotten through maybe a chapter or two of each first book.

So, within the last seven days, Caleb read Prince Caspian to me. We chose this one because we're already so familiar with the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and since this is the next one in the order C. S. Lewis wrote the books, we started with it. I had forgotten how riveting it is to be read a story. Prince Caspian is one of the Narnia books I'm least familiar with, and I was eager to listen to my fantastic storyteller.

I found myself waking up looking forward to the evening because there was going to be more of the story... I never want to forget this wondrous, child-like anticipation. It is so enchanting.

Caleb finished reading Prince Caspian to me last night. Voyage of the Dawn Treader is next. Maybe we'll start tonight! (grin)

Something that kind of goes hand in hand with the bedtime stories... I've got a couple knitting projects going and have started to become a better knitter. It's something I've always enjoyed, and last week, (with some birthday money and a gift card to my ever-favorite Hobby Lobby,) I bought some yarn, a pair of knitting needles, some knitting books, AND a wedding photo album all for about $40. You guessed it - I was a happy gal.

I've never explored patterns or anything, so this time I really wanted to try getting into it (hence the knitting book.) And man, reading knitting patterns is tricky! But I guess once you get it, it's easy. And I'm a very consistent knitter, so it's pretty easy so far. For those of you who are knitters and might like knowing - I chose a simple knit two/purl two pattern (which creates a beautiful ribbed look) for a scarf I'm making for my brother-in-law for his birthday. I found a gorgeous charcoal grey color that I couldn't pass up... I think he'll like it.

As for the photo album, I've been meaning to put one together of our wedding pictures for... well... ever since we got married last year! So this is a long-overdue project to complete, and I'm going to really enjoy it. I've narrowed our 500-something pictures down to 200 (which is how many the album fits.) So now all I have to do is get them printed! And I'm going to do that here as soon as I get Cillian from his nap (I can hear him waking up) and service him and get him all ready to go. :)

So here's a Quote of the Day (it's short and sweet):

"Godliness is perfection that is never complete."

~ St. Philotheos of Sinai