TIRED

Wow - it's been a L-O-N-G day.  A very long day in front of the computer.  One of my grad students is giving a poster next weekend.  We need to have it to the person printing it tomorrow.  It still needs to be run by a collaborator.  Like the kid who is doing her homework at the very last minute, we were at school working on this thing FOREVER.  Well, about 6 solid hours today on it, anyway, on top of other stuff.  Which is a long time to futz with a poster.  Anyway...

The blood draw was successful this time and went MUCH better!  Ian barely cried and he got his first taste of candy.  The registration person at the desk in the hospital remembered us and when I told her why we were back, she gave me a roll of Smarties for Ian.  Before we were called back, he had some oyster crackers and his sippy with water.  Here he is, looking like he's contemplating his fate (he knew exactly where we were):

No after picture, but suffice it to say, he and I were both very happy it was over and went smoothly.

For dinner, I tried making a greek quinoa salad, of sorts.  AND IAN GOBBLED IT UP!! I wasn't even that crazy about it, but I was so excited that he scarfed down something I made.  Ok, yeah, it involved cut-up chicken tenders, but you know, baby steps.

Recipe (for 2 plus a baby):
2/3 cup quinoa
1 1/3 cup water
frozen or fresh veggies - I used some partial bags of broccoli and peas that I had in the freezer
chicken tenders, baked and diced
feta cheese
greek salad dressing (I used Kraft)

Put quinoa and water in a pot.  Bring to a boil, back off to a simmer.  Cover for about 10 minutes, until all water is absorbed.  While this is going, bake the chicken (or meat of choice, or if you're not adding meat, ignore).  Cook veggies.  When everything is done, divide between bowls, top with feta, and add dressing to taste.  Stir.  Watch in amazement as child actually eats it.

If you look closely, you can see the quinoa trail down his hand, up his arm, into his sleeves (forgot to roll them up) and up his nose.  There were also quinoa granules on the highchair, on the floor, and on his pants.  But did I mention that he LOVED dinner????  The dogs helped with clean-up.  Oh yeah, his shirt does have skulls on it - and it says "Rockstar".  No, I haven't started shopping at a metal store - it's from Children's Place.  Maybe the skulls were why it was on sale?

After dinner, I went back to work, got home at 9:15.  And now I'm going to shoot up and go to bed.  I might have to listen to "Jeremiah was a bullfrog" one more time - it's been stuck in my head all day.  Better yet - I'll blare it in my office tomorrow.  It will keep the students out. :)

The Chickee Monster

Dinner tonight was at Freddie's Frozen Custard.  It was way overpriced for what we got, I thought, and the food wasn't good.  Maybe they were having an off day, who knows?  Ian was in 7th heaven because dinner involved chicken tenders, some of Daddy's fries, and ice cream.  We've never let him have that much junk food in one sitting, but we all needed a pick-me-up.  And it was nice not to have to try at least two different meals before giving in to chicken anyway.  Just call him the Chickee Monster.

We went to Freddie's after being at the hospital for a repeat of some routine bloodwork for Ian.  His white count was a little elevated when they did his 12 month CBC.  No big deal - he'd had the beginnings of a cold last time we had blood drawn.  So, sniffle-free, we went back.  The last time, the tech got him on the first stick and there were NO tears.  This time...not so much.  Ian doesn't have the easiest veins.  We didn't get the same tech (who is one of my advisees too), and the tech we had tried a few times to get it, to no avail.  I don't know if she was digging - I can't watch anything involving needles or I pass out, pretty ironic, huh? - but 3-4 minutes of Ian sobbing was long enough for us.  I finally asked if the tech from the last time was working.  She said that he'd be in tomorrow and asked if we wanted to come back.  We said yes.  So, say a little prayer that things go better tomorrow.  I am not a wuss and I can hold Ian down for all his vaccinations, but having to hold him while they tried to find a vein while he was sobbing hysterically was heartbreaking.  I know he won't even remember this years from now, but  ya know, you hate to see your child scared or in pain.

So, after chicken and ice cream, all was forgiven.  We came home and played hard before bath and bedtime.  We listened to "Jeremiah was a Bullfrog" - you can't help but smile when you hear that song.  Go on, listen to this - I dare you to not smile once.  For a couple of reasons, I have spent tonight just feeling profoundly grateful for our sweet, silly, wonderful kid.  God blessed us.

Speaking of happy tunes, I played this in class today in honor of the cardiovascular system.  Oh yeah, lovin' some Potsie.  I always love my students' reactions to it.  I love being a little silly and funny in class.  Learning shouldn't be all serious.  One of my grad school profs said once that the greatest professors are half clown.  I'd say I'm at least 46.5%.  But don't let my chipper demeanor fool you - if you don't study, you won't pass my class. :)

Hope you listen to something that makes you smile tonight - life is too short to be anything but joyful.

Oh. Hell. Yeah.

1400 yards today.  Maybe not a lot in the swim world, but considering I haven't been in the pool in about 2 years, not too shabby.  And I wasn't gasping.  And I got to get out my toys.  And it was *fun*.  Win.

Other good things that happened today (in chronological order):

1) I found a crucial data sheet that had been missing.  Almost a year and a half's worth of irreplaceable data.  Yeah, we should've been more careful with it in the first place, but I found it paper-clipped to other data that my grad student had given me.  We were both extremely happy. :)

2) My new lab manual that I've been putting together for a couple of months is finished.  I was able to preview an ebook copy today.  And it's pretty.  It's a combination of the original material my predecessors had written (I contributed too) and we've been using for a long time and some content from other, already published, manuals.  I'm super excited.  I hope the students will be too.  Although I'll still probably be slightly more excited than them.

3) Dinner was practically tear-free! Ian had chicken, cheese grits, a couple of animal crackers, and applesauce!  Woo-hoo!  We had cheese grits with bacon, garlic, and hot sauce (and I'm not talking about using wussy Tabasco sauce either - this was hot sauce I brought back from Puerto Rico, it's really hot).

4) Playtime with Ian.  This happens every day, but tonight it just seemed especially good.  I know I'm repeating what every parent feels, but it's so cool to see him become more independent in his thinking and to see his personality coming out.  So cute.

So, I'm tired, but it was a good day. :)  I got more accomplished than I thought I would, I had some fun, and really, can you ask for more than that?

Win some, lose some...

Workout today - meh.  I lasted about 2.3 minutes on the treadmill, did 2 miles on the elliptical, and called it a day.  And it made me realize - why am I trying to be a runner?  I hate running.  The only runner's high that I ever get is from being finished with a run.  And I'm so slow that a friend told me, once upon a time, that the only way I'd ever pass the qualifying run for police academy (1.5 miles in 15 minutes) would be if he put marijuana in my back pocket and sicced a drug dog on me.  I firmly maintain that I could also run that fast if someone was chasing me...with a taser.  So after sucking it this morning, I realized, go with what you're good at.  And I am good at swimming.  I have short legs.  I have linebacker shoulders and freakish upper body strength.  Let's harness this.  So I'm going to find my fins, my goggles, my cap, and my waterproof iPod case, and I'm going to kick some butt in the pool tomorrow!  Just call me the white streak. Or, since it's been 2 years (wow!) since I've had a serious swim, I'm going to attempt to not drown.  Baby steps.

Another learning moment - this morning I had some plain yogurt topped with peanut butter, sugar-free jelly, and some kashi.  Too many carbs, apparently.  The bloodsugar did NOT like that.  Back to eggs.

Winner winner was tonight's dinner, though.  Spinach-artichoke pizza.  With ham.  YUMMY!

The recipe:
1 whole wheat pizza crust
1/2 cup sour cream (light or regular)
1/2 cup mayo (light or regular)
garlic
parmesan cheese
1/2 box spinach, thawed
1 jar artichokes (I used grilled, marinated)
meat, if desired - pepperoni is awesome, chicken would be good, ham was tasty
mozzarella

Mix everything except mozzarella, spread on pizza crust.  Top with mozzarella.  Bake at 400F (or whatever your pizza crust says) until golden.  The best part?  It tastes even better the next day!

Well, time to go find my swim stuff and dig out and try on, a swimsuit that I haven't worn since before Ian was born.  Yikes!

Spring break over...6 weeks to go

AAAAAAhhhhhh! I just realized today that there are about 6 weeks left in the semester.  A week left in one project, 2 weeks until starting the next one.  Six weeks to finish my current class and plan my two summer classes.  OMG.  I'd better get moving.  Oh yeah, and I'm going to run/jog/walk/hobble gasping like an 80-year old in a 5K in two weeks.  Breathe.

Time is flying in other ways too.  Ian is 13 months old.  He's almost walking. Sooo close.  He's talking, a little.  He definitely has an opinion on everything.  I can't believe that 1 year ago, the end of spring break found me coming back from maternity leave.  In some ways, it's been the fastest year and the slowest year. Dave and I remember exactly what life was like before Ian (hey, we were married 10 years before we had him), but wouldn't trade the freedom we had for the sloppy kisses, the hugs, the giggles, and the smiles we get now.  Ok, tonight when he flung sweet potatoes and ham on the floor and cried at everything we put in front of him, I did think about it.  Kidding.  Mostly. :)

So now, I think I'll say good night.  Tomorrow will bring a workout, students, deadlines, projects, proposals, and probably more food battles with Ian.  For now, though, he's in bed, and I'm going to finish watching Chopped. :)

I'm a Blogaholic

Ok, I admit it.  I'm a blogaholic.  I read several - Losing Weight in the City, KERF, and CNC, to name a few.  There are others dealing with everything from fitness to nutrition, and some about everyday life.  When did I become so interested in other peoples' lives??  Anyway, this is my attempt at blogging.  I tried to start blogging once before...in 2006...I posted once.  Hopefully I'll post more regularly here.

A little about me - other than being a blogaholic, I'm married to a wonderful guy, Dave, (11 years and counting), mom to one adorable, headstrong little boy, Ian, who is the center of our world, and an assistant professor at a midwestern college.  Juggling act?  Absolutely.  Worth it?  Without question.  Some days I juggle better than others. :)  Oh yeah, and I'm trying to love running...ok it's jogging.  Or fast walking.  You get the picture, so sometimes you'll have to hear about my progress or lack thereof.

Anyway, pull up a chair and be a voyeur.  I'll try to be entertaining. :)