Thursday, September 20, 2012
Books Read 2012
Books I've Read 2012
1. A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff
2. The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar This book was intriguing, a page turner, but it left me wanting more. I didn't feel the book had ended yet.
3. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom Very powerful book. I kept wanting to put it down but not, if that makes sense. I was thinking that it would be a heartwarming book but it was a series of tragedies. I fell in love or hated some of the characters and was engrossed with the story the whole time. Definitely a book I'll be thinking about for some time.
4. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh I'd actually like to give this book 3.5 stars but since I can't I went with 3. I was frustrated reading this book. I was angry with the main character and the way she was acting. Funny I'm using such bad terms for a book I liked. But I guess I was just very engrossed with the book and felt connected to the characters in such a way that I had strong feelings toward them.
5. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes and the Greatest Race the World Has Seen by Chirstopher McDougall
6. Mrs. Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I loved this book. It kept me enthralled and I loved the concept that the author wrote the book from some old photos he found at flea markets. I'm eagerly waiting the next book.
7. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
8. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Allen Addison
9. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
10. The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzch
11. Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott Great book for mothers. I laughed out loud and commiserated with Anne and her first year of parenting.
12. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
13. Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres
14. Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green I really liked this book. I don't know what part of it I was attached to, but it was a truly lovely story.
15. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
16. The Dolphin in the Mirror: Exploring Dolphin Minds and Saving Dolphin Lives by Diana Reiss. I really liked this book but I majored in Marine Biology and really wanted to study dolphin cognition. Until I worked in a dolphin lab in Hawaii and realized how much work it would be for no money. So I gave up my dream for a different one. This book talked about many of the things I studied in Hawaii and about the lead researchers in this topic which I read about years ago. It may be dry for non-science majors, but for me I really enjoyed reading it.
17. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
18. Your Five-Year-Old Sunny and Serene: by Frances Ilg
19. The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner
20. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I was so liking the series until this book. Got too sci-fi on me, too graphic and gory for me and ended in a disappointment.
21. I Feel Bad about My Neck: And Other thoughts on being a Woman by Nora Ephron. More of a chick-lit for the 60 year old's. Too old for me to really enjoy the humor.
22. When Did I Get Like This? The Screamer, the Worrier, the Dinosaur-Chicken-Nugget-Buyer, and Other Mother's I Swore I'd Never Be by Amy Wilson This book was hilarious. So many times I was laughing out loud or reading sections to my husband. I felt that I could relate to many of the things that happened to Amy. It was nice to hear other mom's going though what I'm going through, and it was perfect that she was a mom of 3 too. I have already passed the book on to another mom for a quick read and good laugh.
23. The Young Wan by Brendan O'Carroll, I love this series, all of the books have kept me super entertained. Definitely recommend the series.
24. A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay
25. Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews
26. The Bungalow by Sarah Jio Definitely a page turner that kept me up all hours finishing it. Loved the story, very well written and captivating.
27. Train Like A Mother: How to Get Across Any Finish Line and Not Lose Your Family, Job or Sanity by Dimity Mcdowell and Sarah Bowen Shea. I was mentioned in the beginning of the book. I was one of the ladies at the Nike Women's Marathon book reading who was questioned whether they wanted a training log as their next book. I was hoping for a book just like Train Like A Mother. So glad they went this route.
28. Where We Belong by Emily Giffin This was a wonderful story. A story about an adopted girl finding her birth mother and father and finding herself. I was moved by both main characters as the author wove both their stories together (daughter and birth mother). It was well written and kept me enthralled. I just finished the book and the ending was well done. It could have ended in so many ways, but I like how the author concluded the story.
29. Beyond Sibling Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Become Cooperative, Caring and Compassionate by Peter Goldenthal
30. The Violets of March by Sarah Jio
Friday, June 22, 2012
Music I'm Loving Now
Always new songs are coming out. Here are a list of my current fav's.
You Were Born by Cloud Cult
Glad You Came by The Wanted
Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heros
Rumour Has It by Adele
Sexy and I Know It by LMFAO
What Doesn't Kill You by Kelly Clarkson
Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People
In The Dark by Dev
You Make Me Feel by Cobra Starship
Without You by David Guetta
I Wanna Go by Britney Spears
Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5
Feels So Close by Calvin Harris
Hello by Martin Solveig and Dragonette
Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
Payphone by Maroon 5
Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye
We Are Young by Fun
Wild Ones by Flo Rida
What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction
Starships by Nicki Minaj
Drive By by Train
Everybody Talks by Neon Trees
Brokenhearted by Karmin
Good Feeling by Flo Rida
International Love by Pitbull
You Were Born by Cloud Cult
Glad You Came by The Wanted
Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heros
Rumour Has It by Adele
Sexy and I Know It by LMFAO
What Doesn't Kill You by Kelly Clarkson
Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People
In The Dark by Dev
You Make Me Feel by Cobra Starship
Without You by David Guetta
I Wanna Go by Britney Spears
Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5
Feels So Close by Calvin Harris
Hello by Martin Solveig and Dragonette
Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
Payphone by Maroon 5
Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye
We Are Young by Fun
Wild Ones by Flo Rida
What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction
Starships by Nicki Minaj
Drive By by Train
Everybody Talks by Neon Trees
Brokenhearted by Karmin
Good Feeling by Flo Rida
International Love by Pitbull
2012 Resolutions Revisited
The Resolutions:
1) Cook a new recipe once a month. (And post them here if I like it.)
2) Run 500 miles. I have already signed up for 2 half marathons (One in April and one in May)
3) Lose the 7-8 lbs I'm still carrying of baby weight.
4) Try new classes. Look for groupons or deals to experiment with different fitness classes in my area. I've already started a boot camp class that I bought on groupon.
5) Read 50 books. (I'm on book two right now.)
6) Host several dinners for my friends, especially the ones I haven't seen in ages.
What I've accomplished so far:
1) I have attempted a few new recipes...I will have to post them here.
2) I'm up to 300 miles ran this year. :)
3) I have lost all of the baby weight!! A couple of months ago I accomplished this one!
4) Other than the boot camp class I haven't tried another fitness class or other class.
5) I"m only on book 15, gotta speed up my reading.
6) I've had 2 dinner parties so far, well big dinner parties.
1) Cook a new recipe once a month. (And post them here if I like it.)
2) Run 500 miles. I have already signed up for 2 half marathons (One in April and one in May)
3) Lose the 7-8 lbs I'm still carrying of baby weight.
4) Try new classes. Look for groupons or deals to experiment with different fitness classes in my area. I've already started a boot camp class that I bought on groupon.
5) Read 50 books. (I'm on book two right now.)
6) Host several dinners for my friends, especially the ones I haven't seen in ages.
What I've accomplished so far:
1) I have attempted a few new recipes...I will have to post them here.
2) I'm up to 300 miles ran this year. :)
3) I have lost all of the baby weight!! A couple of months ago I accomplished this one!
4) Other than the boot camp class I haven't tried another fitness class or other class.
5) I"m only on book 15, gotta speed up my reading.
6) I've had 2 dinner parties so far, well big dinner parties.
Books I've Read 2012
Books I've Read 2012
1. A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff
2. The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar This book was intriguing, a page turner, but it left me wanting more. I didn't feel the book had ended yet.
3. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom Very powerful book. I kept wanting to put it down but not, if that makes sense. I was thinking that it would be a heartwarming book but it was a series of tragedies. I fell in love or hated some of the characters and was engrossed with the story the whole time. Definitely a book I'll be thinking about for some time.
4. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh I'd actually like to give this book 3.5 stars but since I can't I went with 3. I was frustrated reading this book. I was angry with the main character and the way she was acting. Funny I'm using such bad terms for a book I liked. But I guess I was just very engrossed with the book and felt connected to the characters in such a way that I had strong feelings toward them.
5. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes and the Greatest Race the World Has Seen by Chirstopher McDougall
6. Mrs. Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I loved this book. It kept me enthralled and I loved the concept that the author wrote the book from some old photos he found at flea markets. I'm eagerly waiting the next book.
7. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
8. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Allen Addison
9. The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzch
10. Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott Great book for mothers. I laughed out loud and commiserated with Anne and her first year of parenting.
11. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern12. Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres
13. Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green I really liked this book. I don't know what part of it I was attached to, but it was a truly lovely story.
14. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins I was putting off reading this book because of the premise. But upon reading it, it wasn't as gory and I thought it would be. They actually made it seem okay in a way. It was a good read, hard to believe this is a young adult book, I had to imagine the characters as being older than they were in order to feel okay with the games. I'm eager to read the 2nd book to see where Suzanne Collins will take the story.
1. A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff
2. The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar This book was intriguing, a page turner, but it left me wanting more. I didn't feel the book had ended yet.
3. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom Very powerful book. I kept wanting to put it down but not, if that makes sense. I was thinking that it would be a heartwarming book but it was a series of tragedies. I fell in love or hated some of the characters and was engrossed with the story the whole time. Definitely a book I'll be thinking about for some time.
4. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh I'd actually like to give this book 3.5 stars but since I can't I went with 3. I was frustrated reading this book. I was angry with the main character and the way she was acting. Funny I'm using such bad terms for a book I liked. But I guess I was just very engrossed with the book and felt connected to the characters in such a way that I had strong feelings toward them.
5. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes and the Greatest Race the World Has Seen by Chirstopher McDougall
6. Mrs. Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I loved this book. It kept me enthralled and I loved the concept that the author wrote the book from some old photos he found at flea markets. I'm eagerly waiting the next book.
7. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
8. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Allen Addison
9. The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzch
10. Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott Great book for mothers. I laughed out loud and commiserated with Anne and her first year of parenting.
11. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern12. Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres
13. Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green I really liked this book. I don't know what part of it I was attached to, but it was a truly lovely story.
14. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins I was putting off reading this book because of the premise. But upon reading it, it wasn't as gory and I thought it would be. They actually made it seem okay in a way. It was a good read, hard to believe this is a young adult book, I had to imagine the characters as being older than they were in order to feel okay with the games. I'm eager to read the 2nd book to see where Suzanne Collins will take the story.
Books in Bold I Highly Recommend.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
2012 up until now
2012 has been a busy one.
As of January 31, I decided to become a stay at home mom. Well, except for the spin class I teach weekly. I didn't realize how super busy I'd be staying at home. I seriously can't imagine doing the things I do plus working full time.
A typical week goes as follows:
Monday: Drop off kindergartner at 9:10 am. Rush off to Stroller strides class from 9:30 to 10:30 with 2 younger kids in the double BOB stroller. Play at the park after class from 10:30 to 11:45ish. Head home for lunch and to get the kids down for an early nap. Wake kids up at 2pm to pick up kindergartner. Play on the school playground till 3-3:30. Come home, start thinking about dinner. Feed snacks to the kids. Have kindergartner work on homework. 5:30pm hubby comes home. 6-6:30 eat dinner. 7-8pm, homework, pick up house, baths, etc. 8:30pm bedtime. 9pm-crash on couch to watch shows with hubby.
Tuesday: Drop off kindergartner at 9:10. Drop off preschooler at 9:40. Head to the trail to run with baby in the single BOB. Tuesday is my "relaxing day" I typically only run errands to stores I don't normally have on my weekly list. Or I clean house/laundry/meet up with friends. After 2pm my afternoon/evening is similar to Monday except with a preschool pick up anytime after 3:30.
Wednesday: Early day...kindergartner goes to school at 8:20. I take the two youngsters to the park or to Costco or to a playdate. Wednesday is a short day so we head back to the school to pick up eldest at 12:25. Then it's back home for lunch and naps for the young ones. Sometimes I have eldest watch tv or play quietly and I will cat nap. Afternoon I have to make dinner early because at 5:30pm I'm off to teach spin class.
Thursday: Same as Tuesday, but after I run, go to Costco if I didn't do it Wednesday. From 1:30 to 2:30pm I volunteer in my daughter's kindergarten classroom. (Sometimes my mother-in-law babysits the baby, sometimes I bring her with me.)
Friday: Same as Tuesday, sometimes I run, sometimes not. Definitely hit the grocery store on this day.
The weeks just FLY by! In fact, I can't believe it's the end of the school year. Summer seems daunting having the kids home pretty much every day, but I'm sure it'll be fall before I know it.
As of January 31, I decided to become a stay at home mom. Well, except for the spin class I teach weekly. I didn't realize how super busy I'd be staying at home. I seriously can't imagine doing the things I do plus working full time.
A typical week goes as follows:
Monday: Drop off kindergartner at 9:10 am. Rush off to Stroller strides class from 9:30 to 10:30 with 2 younger kids in the double BOB stroller. Play at the park after class from 10:30 to 11:45ish. Head home for lunch and to get the kids down for an early nap. Wake kids up at 2pm to pick up kindergartner. Play on the school playground till 3-3:30. Come home, start thinking about dinner. Feed snacks to the kids. Have kindergartner work on homework. 5:30pm hubby comes home. 6-6:30 eat dinner. 7-8pm, homework, pick up house, baths, etc. 8:30pm bedtime. 9pm-crash on couch to watch shows with hubby.
Tuesday: Drop off kindergartner at 9:10. Drop off preschooler at 9:40. Head to the trail to run with baby in the single BOB. Tuesday is my "relaxing day" I typically only run errands to stores I don't normally have on my weekly list. Or I clean house/laundry/meet up with friends. After 2pm my afternoon/evening is similar to Monday except with a preschool pick up anytime after 3:30.
Wednesday: Early day...kindergartner goes to school at 8:20. I take the two youngsters to the park or to Costco or to a playdate. Wednesday is a short day so we head back to the school to pick up eldest at 12:25. Then it's back home for lunch and naps for the young ones. Sometimes I have eldest watch tv or play quietly and I will cat nap. Afternoon I have to make dinner early because at 5:30pm I'm off to teach spin class.
Thursday: Same as Tuesday, but after I run, go to Costco if I didn't do it Wednesday. From 1:30 to 2:30pm I volunteer in my daughter's kindergarten classroom. (Sometimes my mother-in-law babysits the baby, sometimes I bring her with me.)
Friday: Same as Tuesday, sometimes I run, sometimes not. Definitely hit the grocery store on this day.
The weeks just FLY by! In fact, I can't believe it's the end of the school year. Summer seems daunting having the kids home pretty much every day, but I'm sure it'll be fall before I know it.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Resolutions for 2012
As I think about 2012, I feel excited about all of the things I want to do.
I did not reach my goals for 2011, so I will add them to this year in hopes I will complete them.
So my resolutions:
1) Cook a new recipe once a month. (And post them here if I like it.)
2) Run 500 miles. I have already signed up for 2 half marathons (One in April and one in May)
3) Lose the 7-8 lbs I'm still carrying of baby weight.
4) Try new classes. Look for groupons or deals to experiment with different fitness classes in my area. I've already started a boot camp class that I bought on groupon.
5) Read 50 books. (I'm on book two right now.)
6) Host several dinners for my friends, especially the ones I haven't seen in ages. It's hard for us to get out with 3 kids so I'm bringing people to me. I lure them in with dinners and playdates. :) I've hosted one tonight actually for my college roommate/bridesmaid and her boyfriend. I have sent out 2 emails to other people to try and coordinate dates. Now that I have a dining room, let the feasts begin. I told my husband when we were adding on that I really wanted a dining room and once I had one I'd be using it a ton. Sure enough...we've been getting use out of it.
I did not reach my goals for 2011, so I will add them to this year in hopes I will complete them.
So my resolutions:
1) Cook a new recipe once a month. (And post them here if I like it.)
2) Run 500 miles. I have already signed up for 2 half marathons (One in April and one in May)
3) Lose the 7-8 lbs I'm still carrying of baby weight.
4) Try new classes. Look for groupons or deals to experiment with different fitness classes in my area. I've already started a boot camp class that I bought on groupon.
5) Read 50 books. (I'm on book two right now.)
6) Host several dinners for my friends, especially the ones I haven't seen in ages. It's hard for us to get out with 3 kids so I'm bringing people to me. I lure them in with dinners and playdates. :) I've hosted one tonight actually for my college roommate/bridesmaid and her boyfriend. I have sent out 2 emails to other people to try and coordinate dates. Now that I have a dining room, let the feasts begin. I told my husband when we were adding on that I really wanted a dining room and once I had one I'd be using it a ton. Sure enough...we've been getting use out of it.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
2011 Year in Review
This year was chaotic.
January-March was pretty normal. Feb we did a trip to Tahoe.
March started interviewing contractors to add on to our house. Found out baby #3 is a girl.
April-Girl's weekend away to Napa. Submitted paperwork to the city for permits.
May- Ran a 5k at 28.5 weeks pregnant
June-Ran a 5k at 30.5 weeks pregnant and our house addition starts (end of the month)
July- E's 2nd birthday and his choking incident. Start maternity leave.
August- Baby Girl named A is born the day before my birthday. :) Also the wall between our kitchen and new addition is torn down a few days after we come home from the hospital. Talk about a mess in our crowded house! And M starts kindergarten!
September- E's back in the ER for stitches on his forehead. (Accident prone?)
October- By the end of the month the addition is done. We get to move in.
November- M turns 5 years old. Our house is finally complete. (Old bathroom and bedroom remodeled.) We host Thanksgiving this year in our bigger home.
December-Hubby's birthday and Christmas. As well as every weekend M has birthday parties to attend.
We survived through so much this year. It was rough at times. Especially during the remodel. The house was a disaster, dusty, crowded, loud etc and all the while with a newborn. Kindergarten was a transition for the whole family. We have now adjusted to being a family of 5, we have space in our house and we've established a good routine that works for us. I'm finally able to relax in the evenings though sometimes that means crashing early.
Though I wasn't able to reach my goals for 2011, I'm sure I'll more than make up for them in 2012. ;)
Running talley: 217.42 miles. Very short of my 300 mile goal.
Book talley: 37 books out of my 50 book goal.
January-March was pretty normal. Feb we did a trip to Tahoe.
March started interviewing contractors to add on to our house. Found out baby #3 is a girl.
April-Girl's weekend away to Napa. Submitted paperwork to the city for permits.
May- Ran a 5k at 28.5 weeks pregnant
June-Ran a 5k at 30.5 weeks pregnant and our house addition starts (end of the month)
July- E's 2nd birthday and his choking incident. Start maternity leave.
August- Baby Girl named A is born the day before my birthday. :) Also the wall between our kitchen and new addition is torn down a few days after we come home from the hospital. Talk about a mess in our crowded house! And M starts kindergarten!
September- E's back in the ER for stitches on his forehead. (Accident prone?)
October- By the end of the month the addition is done. We get to move in.
November- M turns 5 years old. Our house is finally complete. (Old bathroom and bedroom remodeled.) We host Thanksgiving this year in our bigger home.
December-Hubby's birthday and Christmas. As well as every weekend M has birthday parties to attend.
We survived through so much this year. It was rough at times. Especially during the remodel. The house was a disaster, dusty, crowded, loud etc and all the while with a newborn. Kindergarten was a transition for the whole family. We have now adjusted to being a family of 5, we have space in our house and we've established a good routine that works for us. I'm finally able to relax in the evenings though sometimes that means crashing early.
Though I wasn't able to reach my goals for 2011, I'm sure I'll more than make up for them in 2012. ;)
Running talley: 217.42 miles. Very short of my 300 mile goal.
Book talley: 37 books out of my 50 book goal.
Friday, December 30, 2011
End of the Year Music Playlist list
Realized I haven't updated my fav music since January!!
Here's on my running/spinning playlist now:
Give Me Everything by Pitbull/Ne-yo et al.
The Edge of Glory by Lady Gaga
Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO
Till the World Ends by Britney Spears
On The Floor by Jennifer Lopez
Hey Baby by Pitbull
Shake Senora by Pitbull
What the Hell by Avril Lavigne
The Time (Dirty Bit) by Black Eyed Peas
Tonight I'm Loving You by Enrique Iglesias
Born This Way by Lady Gaga
Stereo Love by Edward Maya
Yeah 3x by Chris Brown
Like a G6 by Far East Movement
Only Girl by Rihanna
We R Who We R by Ke$ha
Raise Your Glass by Pink
Marry You by Bruno Mars
Dog Days are Over by Florence and The Machine
Here's on my running/spinning playlist now:
Give Me Everything by Pitbull/Ne-yo et al.
The Edge of Glory by Lady Gaga
Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO
Till the World Ends by Britney Spears
On The Floor by Jennifer Lopez
Hey Baby by Pitbull
Shake Senora by Pitbull
What the Hell by Avril Lavigne
The Time (Dirty Bit) by Black Eyed Peas
Tonight I'm Loving You by Enrique Iglesias
Born This Way by Lady Gaga
Stereo Love by Edward Maya
Yeah 3x by Chris Brown
Like a G6 by Far East Movement
Only Girl by Rihanna
We R Who We R by Ke$ha
Raise Your Glass by Pink
Marry You by Bruno Mars
Dog Days are Over by Florence and The Machine
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Books Read 2011
Books Read 2011
Books Read 2011 (Items in bold are books I highly recommend)
1. Dixieland Sushi by Cara Lockwood
2. Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
3. Courting Trouble by Deeanne Gist
4. Women Who Run by Shanti Sosienski Loved this book! So inspiring to read about these amazing women who fought to bring women's running into theolympics or to fight a personal struggle. I truely enjoyed reading each story. And the interesting one was of the man who had a sex change to a woman. Reading how estrogen slowed him down was fascinating.
5. Without a Backward Glance by Kate Veitch
6. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
7. My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares Amazing book! I've recommended this book to everyone I know. Such a great story/plot. At first I was disappointed with the lackluster ending but later learned that this book is supposed to be Part 1 of a trilogy. I can't wait till the next book comes out.
8. Ape House by Sara Gruen (A little disappointing, I really liked Water for Elephants and had high hopes for this book.)
9. Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier-Again I was hoping for an exciting story, it seemed a little slow. Apparently this book is historical fiction but I sort of wished it was spiced up a little.
10. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins This was a cute teen novel. My friend recommended it to me so I requested the book from the library. I didn't find it amazing, but a cute story.
11. The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern. I liked the book, it wasn't as amazing as it sounded like it would be, but it was entertaining. There were some twists in there that I liked.
12. The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes. Very cute book! I thought it was creatively written and kept my interest throughout the book as it followed inhabitants of an apartment building.
13. Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run by Kristen Armstrong. I didn't like the layout of the book in that it wasn't chronological. So it took a bit to get used to kids ages changing etc. But for the most part it was a book about friendship and the bonds you make while running. I had an issue with Kristin saying she's not a runner, etc when she's super fast, spits out 2 hour runs on the weekends often, qualified and ran the Boston Marathon and made an ultra-marathon (trail one nontheless) seem easy. For me that is a super runner, something I don't think I'll ever be...so I was really mad that she says I'm not a runner and here I am saying I"m a runner but can't even imagine being at her level.
14. These Hidden Things by Heather Gudenkauf Very good book! I whipped through it in 4 days which recently is amazing for me. Some of it was predictable but it still kept my attention.
15. The Last to Know by Melissa Hill This book kept me guessing the whole way through. I loved that.
16. Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult It was interesting, didn't have the usual Jodi Picoult drama in the end. It was a good read though I was expecting a bit more to be played out.
17. The Boy Who Loved Tornadoes by Randi Davenport
18. The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
19. The Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the Stairs by Christina Hopkinson
20. Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal. I was a huge Sweet Valley fan when I was a little girl. I saw this book and was hoping to bring back those memories. Not so much. Total twist on the plot that I remember. Maybe if I had read the college years it would have made sense but all in all it was eh.
21. The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin
22. The Luxe by Anna Godbersen: I picked up this book because of the beautiful dress on the cover. I loved it. It's a young adult book and it's best described as Gossip Girl in the 1800's.
23. The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer
24. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
25. Rumors by Anna Godbersen Sequel to Luxe.
26. Bossypants by Tina Fey Funny easy read.
27. Envy by Anna Godbersen
28. Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner This was a great book. I felt I haven't read a really good Jennifer Weiner book in a while but this one was really good. I loved how it was a story about one baby told by several "mothers", egg donor, surrogate and actual mother. It was cleverly written and kept me captivated.
29. Splendor by Anna Godbersen Final Luxe series book. I really liked the series and would recommend it at a fun, easy read.
30. The Lies we Told by Diane Chamberlain
31. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
32. Still Alice by Lisa Genova I loved reading the book in the affected patients perspective. Not that I'd know what Alzheimers is like but I felt it could quite possibly have portrayed the disease very well.
33. Forget Me Knot by Sue Margolis
34. Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain
35. Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
36. Sisterhood Everlasting (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants #5) by Ann Brashares Wow, just wow. Not what I was expecting when I picked up this book, but a very good read. Like the twists Brashares did.
37. Secrets She Left Behind by Diane Chamberlain
17. The Boy Who Loved Tornadoes by Randi Davenport
18. The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
19. The Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the Stairs by Christina Hopkinson
20. Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal. I was a huge Sweet Valley fan when I was a little girl. I saw this book and was hoping to bring back those memories. Not so much. Total twist on the plot that I remember. Maybe if I had read the college years it would have made sense but all in all it was eh.
21. The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin
22. The Luxe by Anna Godbersen: I picked up this book because of the beautiful dress on the cover. I loved it. It's a young adult book and it's best described as Gossip Girl in the 1800's.
23. The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer
24. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
25. Rumors by Anna Godbersen Sequel to Luxe.
26. Bossypants by Tina Fey Funny easy read.
27. Envy by Anna Godbersen
28. Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner This was a great book. I felt I haven't read a really good Jennifer Weiner book in a while but this one was really good. I loved how it was a story about one baby told by several "mothers", egg donor, surrogate and actual mother. It was cleverly written and kept me captivated.
29. Splendor by Anna Godbersen Final Luxe series book. I really liked the series and would recommend it at a fun, easy read.
30. The Lies we Told by Diane Chamberlain
31. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
32. Still Alice by Lisa Genova I loved reading the book in the affected patients perspective. Not that I'd know what Alzheimers is like but I felt it could quite possibly have portrayed the disease very well.
33. Forget Me Knot by Sue Margolis
34. Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain
35. Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
36. Sisterhood Everlasting (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants #5) by Ann Brashares Wow, just wow. Not what I was expecting when I picked up this book, but a very good read. Like the twists Brashares did.
37. Secrets She Left Behind by Diane Chamberlain
Adding to my books read 2011:
Books Listened to in 2011
1. Love and Impossible Pursuits byAyelet Waldman
2. Between Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson
3. Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende
4. Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
5. Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving
5. Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving
Thursday, July 21, 2011
My Son's Choking Story
My son’s choking Story
Wednesday July 6, just under a week after E turned 2.
Was a normal evening, called DH on my way to spin class and hung up as he was picking up E. I turned off my ringer because I knew he had both kids. After my hour long class I looked at my phone to 7 missed calls and a text that DH and E were in the ER. I ran out of the gym and called to find out what was going on.
Apparently my DH walks in the door of daycare with our daughter to pick up E and as soon as he walked in the provider comments “He’s choking!” DH runs over grabs him, holds him upside down and tries to pound the food out. He was eating strawberries (cut up). As he was trying to get the strawberry out, provider was trying to sweep the mouth. DH felt E go limp and they called 911. DH is not sure about timing of things but E got a little blue but then started to moan and some of the strawberry dribbled out. Police/Fire and Ambulance came and by the time they arrived E was crying. They put him on oxygen and DH and E went to ER to be seen. Daughter was removed from the room by provider’s children so she didn’t have to see what was going on.
I picked up Daughter and then headed to the ER, got there about 1.5 hours since the incident. E was groggy from Benedryl, they gave that to him just in case he was having an allergic reaction to strawberries (he’s not allergic). And they had an oxygen mask on him because he wasn’t getting 100% oxygen. X-ray’s showed cloudiness in the lungs which could be more food or fluid. They gave him some albuterol (asthma) treatments to open his lungs up to get more oxygen. And in the meantime we were waiting for a team of pediatric respiratory specialists to come up in an ambulance from Santa Clara to transport him to that hospital.
We waited 2 hours in the ER till they showed up and were able to load him into an ambulance. Daughter was really good sitting with us, I wasn’t too worried at that point because E seemed allright, just a little out of it probably because of Benedryl and bedtime. DH rode in the ambulance down to Santa Clara while I followed with Daughter. Grandparents were waiting at Santa Clara to take her home. 10pm we check in to SC Pediatric ICU and 10:30pm Daughter was taken home. X-ray’s were reviewed, his lungs were listened to and they made a decision that they wanted to do an endoscopy (look in his lungs) to make sure that the cloudiness they see and raspiness they hear wasn’t food particles. 11:30 they take him in to surgery (as they called it). They told us 1.5-2 hours, but 3 hours later they finally come out. They said they had cleared out the lungs and that during the procedure he had vomited and coughed so he may have aspirated more food so they’d keep him on a ventilator for a little while with tubes in his lungs and stomach to clear things out. They said a strawberry was a very hard thing to deal with. If it was a penny or a peanut they could go in there and simply remove it, but when they looked it was just mushed strawberry and seeds so a lot to clean up. We then had to wait another 1.5 hours to see him in the ICU and I finally was able to run home at 5am to change out of my workout clothes and grab some stuff from home.
Thursday July 7.
Most horrible day for me. Seeing my son on a ventilator with many wires and tubes coming out of him was the hardest thing for me. I cried pretty much all day. The nurses were awesome and would come and explain what was going on and give me hugs. They were very doting on me considering I was also 35 weeks pregnant. My friends were wonderful and brought us food/meals/snacks etc. Things I didn’t even think of until they were put in front of me. My parents drove up to see what was going on and to help out if they could. What was really difficult was that I kept thinking, you choke, they clean up the lungs and then you go home. But seeing E on 3 different sedation meds so that he wouldn’t touch anything, then occasionally having them suck things out of the lungs and seeing him struggling to wake up and us having to pin him down was heartbreaking. He was so strong and wanted to wake up that Thurs night they had to pump him with a lot of drugs to get him to sleep. Daughter was not allowed to see him in this state. When she visited, DH and I went outside and hung out with her instead of her coming to the room. The nurses insisted I sleep in the parents room near the ICU because I was going on 1.5 hours of sleep in 2 days. DH stayed in the room with E and I snuck in 5 hours of sleep.
Friday July 8
Mornings orders were 7am take E off sedation meds, let him wake up a bit then remove tubes. I asked how long it would take for him to wake up and they said not long. Sure enough, 15 min after the meds were turned off he was struggling. DH and I pinned him down until the nurses could come in and remove the tubes. So 7:20 he was off the ventilator, breathing on his own, just had an IV in. The first words he said was…”Dada”. I got to hold him for a while and we all took turns holding him that morning. He was very groggy and was only awake for 30 min max at a time. He was running a fever which was expected, could be the start of pneumonia from the fluid in his lungs. He talked a little and then started asking for food. He had a horrible cough too. Funny, he didn’t want jello or soft foods, he wanted my turkey sandwich and chips. I didn’t want to give him hard foods yet but the nurses said it’s fine, let him eat whatever he wants. We watched a lot of movies with him and let him nap a lot. He was visited by his sister and when she walked in the room, he rolled over and tried to sit up…so sweet! That night he slept well. DH and I well…the parents room wasn’t available so I stayed up till 1:30am until my back was killing me in the chair. I woke DH up and I took my turn sleeping in the pullout chair bed thing. I slept for a good 6 hours.
Saturday July 9
E was back to normal in my mind. He wasn’t talking as much as he used to, but he was definitely ready to be out and about. We took a walk to the pediatric play room and walked the halls. He tried to escape down the elevator and put up a huge fight when we tried to get him back in his room. Our goal of the day was to get him to take his antibiotics orally (he’d been getting them through IV) so we could go home. That evening they released us to the regular pediatric ward. They wanted to monitor us another night. So annoying. He was ready to go, we were ready to go…we spent most of the day hanging out in the hallways because he hated being cooped up in the room. The nurses were great and got us a normal sized bed for his room so I could sleep with him. Turns out toddler and a pg woman in a hospital bed is very uncomfortable. Especially when they come in and check on him every 4 hours. So I switched with DH and he took the bed while I took the pullout chairbed which for some reason in this room was uncomfortable.
Sunday July 10
We were finally released! 9am and we were out of the hospital. Instructions were to give him antibiotics for a week. Antibiotics that is horrible tasting and kids hate. Great! No restrictions on him, he could play/eat anything/swim etc. DH and I decided to keep him home for the week to monitor him. The grandmas were more than willing to help out. Especially since I had only 4 work days left till maternity leave.
And when we got home, first thing he asks to do…jump on the trampoline and then run a race. All things that made him cough (normal) but doctor’s encouraged to work his lungs.
Aftermath: Antibiotics did not work for him. He gagged and threw them up twice. So doctor switched up the prescription at the follow-up appointment on Tuesday. New antibiotics were easier to get down but has given him diarrhea which sucks! I’ve had to do more laundry then I’ve ever done. Plus he has a horrible diaper rash and cries when you change his diaper and this morning I had to steam clean the rugs because of his poop. He’s been off the antibiotics for 3 days and we haven’t really seen an improvement in the poop department. But other than that he’s his normal self. Eating everything, making us yell chew chew chew at his every bite and just being him. Like I said, I never knew that this would be a 4 day hospital ordeal. I thought choking was simple but I was wrong. I’m so glad that he’s back to normal and I hope that I never have to go through this again.
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