I’m still alive… not working out, kinda watching what i am eating, and OF COURSE I have an appointment with my cardiologist on Monday. *sigh*
I’m still alive, I promise
February 9th, 2011 by KendraHappy Thanksgiving
November 25th, 2010 by Wenders
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends. We are full, fat, and happy out in West Texas today. The food has been baked, smoked, boiled and cooked, and we devoured it all joyously. Now, while the babies and grandparents nap, there is nothing left to do but sit at the table and drink really bad wine and think about how much I dread going to the gym on Monday.
Even still, my beautiful family is blessed to have such warmth and love on this very fine day! Many blessings to you and yours! Be thankful.
Update
November 12th, 2010 by Wenders
Just to update, I am still on the planet…. Well physically anyway. Baby J is consuming most of my time these days. Time marches on however, and I am still working at getting in shape. It’s just not happening as fast as I want it to. I did join the gym and I have been going. Not a regular as I want to lately. It’s not a super fancy gym but it is easily accessible and open 24 hours. It suits me fine. Last week I was up to 30 min on the elliptical then 30 min on weight training with a cardio cool down on the treadmill. Now if I can just find more time to make it to the gym on a regular basis.
Diet wise we are trying to work in a more raw diet and cut out the junk. I’m all about salads and more fruit. Let’s just hope we can keep this up as well and bring on a complete lifestyle change.
More on this laters.
Peace out,
Wenders
Ps. Hey Kinundra, you still out there?
Oh dear God in heaven!
September 21st, 2010 by Wenders
These will be mine!!!!
As will these!
and probably these…
and these too….
But the latter only to replace a beloved pair of totally worn out ones I already have.
I am on the hunt for winter boots. Can you tell? I’ve had a long love affair with boots. I generally buy a pair of love love have to have pair every year… and then wear them every day… even with yoga pants and or running shorts… not kidding .
This year I am making a boot deal with myself. Loose the baby weight and get down to pre-prego and they are mine..all mine…muahahaha…ok maybe not all of them but at least two pair. I am loving loving loving the cuffed boots. I look excellent in a long flared jean, so it would stand to reason that a boot of the same cut would be killer. Especially with black leggings and the closet full of sundresses and tunics that I would fit into again. Seriously, I have no need for a new wardrobe when such a great one already exists within arms reach right? All that I am missing is another pair of perfect boots. In black of course since 2 years ago was brown. Last winter I was with child and opted for boots of the flat variety. Booooo on flat shoes that are not of the flip-flop species.
All of these beauties and more can be found here and here.
I am calling my plan The 6 step Jean Program in reference to the big pile of “wish I could still wear” jeans patiently waiting for me, and it commences immediately. After all, I must wear these boots while the season allows it right? AND I must have them by Thanksgiving or all bets are off….It is a brutal time for my waistline after all…
In other news, I am still in a bit of pain after my fall last week. I am trying to take it easy and all it is doing is making me stir crazy. It also caused a ton of lower back strain/pain/agony due to overcompensating with my walk…and probably doing too much… but whatever. However, today we did a bit of easy yoga and I felt pretty good about it. Tomorrow we are shooting for doing the abs workout and being able to stand up straight after. This might be a tall order! I am ready to get that gym membership and jump right back into things. I also believe a bit of healthy food shopping is in order since the fridge, freezer, and cupboards are all bare. A Whole Foods right down the road is supposed to open this fall. I can’t wait since the nearest one is at least a 45min drive.
That is pretty much all I have to offer at the moment so I will leave you with this:
Squeeeee!
head hung in shame
September 18th, 2010 by WendersWow what a crazy few months it has been. I cant really go into details as to why it has been so crazy since I’m only using that as an excuse for why I have sucked at blogging. It really has been busy…but normal busy. You know, the kind of busy that goes along with family and kiddos. School started back and 6am comes really early these days. I am having to rely on a few cups of coffee to manage consciousness.
I am still on the never ending quest for health and fitness. Honestly finding time to work in a good workout has been a killer. I tried the 5am thing and was toast by noon and forgoing that extra hour of sleep is like volunteering for a stoning. However, BFS and I have managed morning yoga and a excruciating ab work out a few times in the past few weeks and I have been doing pilates….ok once. Funnily enough, the abdominal workout did reminded me that I still have nerve damage from the c-section 6 months ago. BFS’s abs were so sore he had a hard time moving and I felt nothing. Trust me, it wasn’t because of my superior abdominal strength. I just didnt have anything there. I couldn’t even do the simplest of situps because the lack of muscle. Dang. There is way more work to do than I thouht.
Walking wise, Baby J and I were on a roll with the joggin stroller and pounding the neighborhood streets. We were clocking 2.5 miles a day. Since it is no longer a billion degrees before 8 am it is so nice to get the stroller out. Unfortunately, I had a minor fall a few days ago and am out of comission for a little while. I fell straight on my knee cap, and although I don’t think anything is broked, I still have to take it easy. I still have plans to carryout my new goals in how to get more active and even get myself out of the house at the same time. There is a gym down the street that I hope to join soon. It has a great deal for membership and I will definitely enjoy getting some alone time.
Anywhoo, I’m not sure if any of this made sense but I wanted to let y’all know I am still out there trying to get it together. I am feeling older and older every day and don’t want life to pass me buy with all the things I can’t do because I am so out of shape.
echo results
September 7th, 2010 by KendraMitral & Tricuspid valves: trace regurgitation presentation
Midtricuspid regurgitation with mild pulmonary hypertension…
Although the note on the findings says “no problems per Dr Suarez” I want to ask him what we can do to make these small things better… if possible
its going to be a long couple of weeks before I can go see him
hardcoreness HA!
September 2nd, 2010 by KendraI’m pretty sure my title says it all *sigh* LOL
August 12th I had an echo-cardiogram… no need to worry, any valve replacement patient should have one every 2 years… and my last one was in the hospital back in July of 2008
Monday I was supposed to see my cardiologist for the results, but my stupid car is in the shop, so I had to cancel it 
BOO! his nurse called me yesterday with the results and his thoughts on everything.
first and foremost, my prosthetic valve is still in place and working beautifully (YAY!) all in all, everything looked good. nothing concerning. she did however mention a couple of issues… #1: my tricuspid valve has slight regurgitation* and #2: there may be signs of pulmonary hypertension
so I think God is trying to tell me to get my ass on the treadmill and get HEALTHY!
my biggest hurdle/obstacle right now is my brain. I have GOT to train myself to think differently. how? I dunno… any ideas and suggestions are appreciated 
and a few prayers probably wouldn’t hurt 
*REGURGITATION definitions here as there are several (I had mitral valve regurgitation, which almost killed me, something like 50% – NOT good) as a valve replacement patient ANY sign of regurgitation freaks meOUT! but I was told that like 99% of the dang population has slight tricuspid regurgitation, so nothing to worry about (yah right?!)
Wednesday, August 11th
August 11th, 2010 by Kendratomorrow, I have decided, is the start of my hard coreness… no more fast food. definitely no more soda… I am going to make the gym a priority at least 5 days a week, hopefully 6. i almost have the hubs convinced we need to start going to bed around 9pm and getting up at 5, 5:30am and heading to the gym (any one who knows me, knows I do NOT take getting up before the absolute last second, lightly)
if he can start going with me, i know i am more likely to actually go. I’ve always done better with a workout buddy…
so we shall see. in my mind its all set, done, no problem… but i also know the depth of my laziness and i am hoping to conquer it sooner, rather than later.
wish me luck!
xoxo ~ kinundra
dog days of summer
August 3rd, 2010 by Wenders
Don’t worry Kinundra. I have been a bad blogger too! I have tried to keep up a fitness routine but these last few week have been difficult.
It has been soooo hot and my walking schedule has fluctuated from a few times during the week to nil. Early mornings and late evenings are not good times for me. I could go another time during the day, but I would find my jogging stroller wheels melted on the pavement half way through. Is it because I am getting older? or does it just seem unreasonably hot? The kiddos, dogs, and I just hole ourselves up in the house during the high heat and hope the air conditioner can keep it’s 24/7 pace and keep it cooled t0 80. This saddens me because I really am an outdoorsy person. I love love to garden and putter in the yard. Even last year I was taking several walks during the hottest parts of the day, but this year feels different. I even started to break out in a rash on my arms if I am in the hot too long……ohhh woes of getting old and living in hot as heck Texas I suppose.
Have no fear however, I do have the tread mill and have actually started the Couch to 5 k Program. I am on week 2 run 3. I did miss my last run. It has been 4 days so I will start week 2 over again. I love the C25K program. I did it a few years ago and it was surprisingly gentle and before I knew it I was running! I don’t have a problem physically doing the workout. Timing is the killer factor in this situation. Finding the time to workout with a baby that hates to nap is by far the biggest challenge I have so far. Baby J has woken up from his nap every time I start to get into it. When he wakes, I usually put him in the swing next to the treadmill, but so far he is not impressed with just sitting still. I have so many other things I need to fit into the day as well, so the window of opportunities are small. Bugger! Doing Yoga is pretty much the same story. The solution I know is to get up earlier, but when the baby is still asleep it is too hard to crawl out of bed. School will be starting soon for the teenage one so that will change. There will be lunches and breakfasts to be made and things to argue about in preparation for the school day. Perhaps if I can keep the tiny one asleep I can squeeze some AM yoga in……
As far as healthy eating is going, we are still shopping at whole foods and still love organic eating. I am trucking on strong as a vegetarian but am having a hard time getting enough protein. As a breastfeeding mommy I need a lot of protein and iron. The iron pills help and will be more diligent in getting enough protein throughout the day. I have recently had an issue with keeping my milk supply up even though I feel like I’m nursing 24/7, so I have to be really diligent in eating healthy.
This is all I know for now. Stay strong.
SORRY!
August 3rd, 2010 by Kendrasorry i have totally neglected this blog… I have been distracted, under the weather,etc etc… haven’t been to the gym, eaten well, etc etc. I did go see my cardiologist and he said my heart sounded GREAT!! we did schedule an echocardiogram in a couple of weeks because mitral valve replacement patients should have one every 2 years, and well, its been 2 years since my last one
we have a few things in the works such as selling my car soon because my poor knees cant take much more of the clutch on my Mustang, and while I will be sad to see my dear, sweet Sally go… it is definitely for the best! we will also be heading to ft worth at the end of august to celebrate our oldest nephews birthday… I cant believe he will be FOUR. boy time flies!! in the mean time I am trying to fight off allergies, or a cold, cant tell which, so hopefully I will get back to the gym. I want to lose at least 10 pounds before I see my cardiologist again at the end of the month!
PRAY FOR ME that this laziness GOES away!!
xoxo ~ Kinundra
Wenders
Kendra