Oh how nice it is

On Thursday it was Kamden's final day of classes. She only had 1/2 a day of classes, so I decided to take Simon with me to the school to work in the library with me. I had been there the day before sorting out all the books on the shelf. After the school year is up the books tend to be fairly unorganized on the shelves as the little ones don't use their bookmarks like they are supposed to and shove the books back wherever (not a big deal...I am sure I did the same thing when I was little). I finished about 1/2 of the library on Wednesday and we managed to finish the rest on Thursday. Yesterday in the late afternoon grandma came to pick up the kids so that they could sleep over till Sunday (tomorrow). I had an appointment bright and early at the hospital with my psychiatrist. Things are going really well. I love that I am able to vent to someone and just talk without thinking that I have to watch what I say. I am learning how to change my thinking process. I am such a black and white thinker. Either things are going great or they are going bad. I guess that my attitude with everything...either everything is perfect or it sucks...yeah I know that is terrible, but I am in treatment and learning how to work through things and analyze my thoughts rather than jump to conclusions to quickly (without any thinking what so ever). I went home from the appointment with a pretty positive attitude, which worked out in my favor as I had a 6 hour ride on the computrainer (managed to do 127 miles and burn of just under 2300 cals). I've rode before for hours alone in the house and it has gotten me down in the past, so I was pleasantly surprised that I was in pretty good spirits for the majority of the ride and no lower back pain. I started the bike just after 11 am and this was my television agenda:

11am-12pm: The View
12pm-1:00pm: Ellen
1:00pm-1:30pm: Entertainment Tonight Canada
1:30pm-1:45pm :Popped in a movie (DVD player) and took a break to fill up 3 water bottles
1:45pm-3:15pm: Watch "Mad Money"
3:15pm-4:00pm: Oprah
4:00pm -5:00: Dr. Phil
5:00pm-5:15ish: Local News

5:30pm-6:20is: 4 mile run (ouch)

Phew...thank goodness for TV. I was thinking while I was on my bike how nice it would be to ride outside. Trevor really should hook up the computrainer outdoors---I was thinking on the deck would be great. Why don't I just ride outside you ask? Well...I've tried that before and I was at my parent's cabin out at Pigeon Lake last summer. My sense of direction is bad to begin with, so I am sure you can only guess what happened...yup I completely got lost. I got to some little town and called my mom to come pick me up. It took her over half an hour to get to me (driving 100 km/hr. Honestly I was very uncomfortable riding on the highway. The shoulders where fairly narrow and a lot of big semis and trucks hauling farm equipment passed by. It was extremely nerve racking. Trevor and I just have agreed to stay safe instead of jeopardizing our lives. Yeah...it seems loopy to ride on a computrainer for hours and hours, but I sweat hard and I push hard on that thing and most important is that the only thing I'll injure is my a$$ from sitting on the darn bike seat too long.

I suppose you are just dying to hear what news I had for you in a previous blog that was so great. Well....I got a job...a job that pays...to tell you the truth I don't know how much it pays, but that really doesn't matter. Get this...I will be support staff at Kamden and Simon's school. The job is from 11am-2pm (start with 3 days per week and will go to 5) and I basically get to do what I did before (helping the teachers) and I get to go to different classes over their lunch break and supervise them while they eat and the teachers go to their lunchroom. I am pretty excited. I will still be taking my classes, but instead of being at home by myself studying I will head to the library after I drop off the kids and then get my workout in after school.

Today I headed to The Bay to pick up our race packages for the 10km race on Canada Day. The swag bags were full of free samples. Including a full sized bottle of Aveeno 60 spf sunscreen, which we will have no use for on race day as it is forecasting rain for the entire day. I really don't mind running in the rain, but Kamden and Simon are running a 1km race and it would have been nice for them to have sun, but you take what you get. After The Bay I headed to the gym for an hour bike and then a fun hour on the elliptical. My legs were a tad sore for the bike from the day before. When I got home Trevor only had 1.5 hours left of his long bike, so I just made my lunch and hung out while he finished the rest of his bike and run and then it was time to go to the mall again. This time I got some new workout clothes. I am now the first time owner of one of those running skirts (as well as a new top). I will be testing it for chaffing tomorrow as Trevor and I venture out for a 10 miler around the Reservoir. I think it is supposed to get close to 30 degrees Celsius tomorrow...hmmm...should use that sunscreen tomorrow.

ONLY 8 MORE SLEEPS TILL CALGARY MARATHON....YIKES!!!!!

My father-in-law sent this to us yesterday and it was really touching. It is pretty long, but worth the read.

I BELIEVE...

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born
A Death Certificate shows that we die

Pictures show that we lived!

Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly.

I Believe...
That just because two people argue,it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,it doesn't mean they do love each other.
I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.
I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over
the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.
I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.
I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.
I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.
I Believe...
That we are responsible for for what we do,
no matter how we feel.
I Believe...
That either you control your attitude
or it controls you.
I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I Believe ...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I Believe...
That my best friend and I, can do anything,
or nothing and have the best time.
I Believe...
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you
when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I Believe...
That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others.
sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I Believe...

That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but, we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
out a secret. It could change your life Forever.
I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different.
I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by people who don't even know you.
I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when
a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.
I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
I Believe...
That you should send this to all of the people that you believe in.
"The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything.

un-birthday for Simon

Are you one of those individuals whose birthday falls in the summer when all of your friends are on holidays?? Wasn't it sad when you had your birthday party and there was only like 2 kids that showed up? Well, I didn't want that to happen to Mr. Simon, whose birthday is on Jul 24th. I asked his teacher last week if it would be alright if we celebrated his birthday on Monday (4.5 weeks early) and she said that would be okay. I went to Safeway and ordered a cake for him. His only requests were either "Cars" or "Hot Wheels" (such a boy). I managed to find a cupcake cake with three little cars on it and a huge monster truck driving over top of the cars. I knew it would be something that he would love. Instead of handing out treat bags Simon and I sat down at the computer last week fro about 1.5 hours to design bookmarks for each child in his class with his or her name on it. He had a lot of fun picking out the different graphics. The other highlight of Simon's non-birthday was when they sang "happy un-birthday to you"...funny...

Today I was planning out the summer a bit and I know have a few of weeks planned in order to keep the kids busy. Kamden has Jazzercise summer camp Jul 7-11th and Jul 28th-Aug 1st from 9 am - 12 pm. The plan is that Simon and I will drop her off 10 minutes early and head across the street to the pool and Simon will take his Level 1 swim lesson during the Jul 7 - 11th week from 9:00 - 9:45 and then when he finishes we will either go biking or roller blading while we wait for Kamden. Then on Kamden's second session (week) I have Simon sechuled for Level 2 swimming (same time---same place). They have summer camp from Jul 16-19th. fun fun fun. Right now I have August plan free (and I don't have school during that month) besides the Oseen Family Reunion. If Simon gets through his Level 2 then it would be nice to put both kids in Level 3 sometime in August. For some reason I purposely make my life crazy. Trevor was already telling me that it's going to be insanity. OH....I have some great plans for September, but due to an oath of silence I am not able to indulge the info...but it makes me oh so happy. Maybe good things actually do happen to good people. (and NO we are not expanding that family).

Calgary marathon is only a week and a half away...oh the nerves...Trevor never gets nervous doing marathons...how does he stay so calm. Well...he's good at them...maybe that's why. Anyways, we are both excited about the race and we, like our friend Cam, are looking forward to the food after....Lots to be had.

Congrats to my buddy, Matthew Banger, for completing his 2nd IM with a personal best. Unfortunately, Desiree Ficker's day didn't go as well as Matt's did, but the thing with IM is that you never know what you are up against. It's all about going out there and giving it your all, so you know that you had nothing left to give.

Summer

I think that may be one of my favorite words. Okay...no...summer is actually my second favorite season right after spring. I love spring cause the snow melts, I can see the grass again, everything starts blooming. Summer is just a happy time. Everyone seems to be so much more relaxed and happy. I think it has a lot to do with the happy sunshine. (I think I said HAPPY one too many times).

Tomorrow the kids have their soccer tournament. Life was so much easier when they were on the same team. Trevor is the lucky one that gets to take the kids. The game times are 10:00, 11:30, 12:00 and 1:30. Fortunately they are playing at the same field. Sunday is their wind-up party from 3pm -7pm. Why does the kid's busiest weekend have to coincide with one our busiest training weekends. Trevor is going for his long run tomorrow before taking the kids (2.5 hours) while I get on the bike at 7am for a 6 hour ride followed by a super joyous 45 minute run. Then on Sunday he will do his long bike and his run and I will do my 2.5 hour run.

It's hard to believe that last year at this time we were in Coeur d'Alene at the athlete's dinner. I can't believe how much time flies...crazy...I hope everyone has a great day on Sunday for the race. I have a few athlete's that I will be tracking including one of my favorite female pros, Desiree Ficker. (Check out those abs)


The last few days of school Kamden has been going on and on about a Jazzercise class that Mrs. Gies will be holding during the summer. Somehow...I am not sure how...but during a conversation today we discover that Kamden has been participating in Jazzercise during her lunch and lunch recess on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I asked her about it and she said that they exercise to "Route 66" from The Cars soundtrack and some other songs from there. I went on the internet and found the song and played it for her and she busts out in her Jazzercise move. You know what??? she was pretty darn good. I can't believe I actually thought she had 2 left feet...I take it back...So cute!!! She said that they might be doing a jazzercise routine on Monday, which would be great cause I am at the school.



Well it is 10pm and I am starting to get a wee bit tired, but first some race news. I have signed up for the Calgary Marathon (July 6, 2008) despite the fact that I feel undertrained for a marathon, but I've always wanted to do it. Also we are racing on Canada (Jul 1st) as a family. Kamden and Simon will be doing a 1km race and Trevor and I will race in the 10km. I love that we can enjoy this life with our kids.

Big Problems : (

For the past few weeks I have been struggling with a bit of depression. It seems that everything is getting to me. Yesterday and today we have finally had some nice weather and I have been able to enjoy the sun, which always cheers me up....rain..I don't like you. Yesterday was actually less enjoyable because I was working on an assignment, which was stressing me out...got it done last night and was able to somewhat enjoy my day today. I somehow managed to pack in a lot of errands in today including:

1. Go to post office to mail my assignment (instructor requested that assignment be mailed and post marked....DONE....Check
2. Go to Home Depot to buy a new umbrella for our "new" patio set, ant nest destroyer, and some lawn chairs (not on my list of things to purchase---couldn't avoid the 50% off deal)
3. Go to Safeway to order birthday cake for Simon for Monday (His birthday is actually on July 24th, but with his birthday being in the summer he gets ripped off with the children's parties as everyone is on holidays during the summer---so I thought an early celebration would be nice and I can't think of anyone he'd rather spend it with than all his classmates)
4. Pick-up Simon from school
5. Go to the gym for 2.5 hours
6. Go Home--help Simon with homework and eat lunch
   
7. Pick-up Kamden from bus stop
8. See paragraph below
9. Make Supper
10. Simon's soccer game
11. Kid's bath time
    
12. Tuck kid's into bed
13. RELAX----Blog time

We have this perennial/annual garden beside our backstairs to the house---it's touching the house and the backstairs. We have had it there for about 5/6 years. I've noticed ants probably for the last 3 years. Every year I am always trying things to get rid of them. I've never really paid much attention, but this year they seem to have multiplied by the millions...It's a HUGE problem. After picking up Kamden I followed the directions on the can of ant nest destroyer. After the soccer game we went to the garden to check if the treatment had helped. I had this brilliant idea to move a couple of the rocks to get a closer look....YIKES....the treatment did nothing....ANTS...Millions....possibly billions....gazillions....Yuckier yet is all the larva....EWWW....Help.....what do I do???? My neighbor suggested cornmeal, so I went into the kitchen and grabbed what I had left and poured it where ever I could. Just before I started blogging I searched the Internet for some info...the one suggestion that sticks out is human urine, so I told Trevor that next time he has to piss to go out and piss on the garden. I would do it, but I am sure it would look funny if someone is looking out their window and see some lady squatting over her garden taking a whiz. At least if Trevor does it, it may just look like he is looking at the garden. Anyways...I need ideas to get rid of this nuisance of a problem before they starting ruining our lives or coming into the house.

Taking a break

Seems like I have taken a break from Blog Land. A week without blogging...that is not like me. Between assignments, appointments and group therapy at the ed clinic, and the kid's extracurricular activities I just haven't had the time. Last week I started some new medication, which left me feeling super tired and I have been needing to take naps in the afternoon. Unfortunately, it has been effecting my workouts, so I have decided that the side effects out weigh the benefits of the med and I decided to no longer take them (don't worry---my doctor knows).

Our little Kamden finished off her tap dancing year with a wonderful performance on Saturday night at the Jack Singer Hall. She was in the first half of the show and was able to watch the second half of the show with us, which inspired her to continue on with tap dance next year. Trevor and I are going to be really busy next year as Kamden will be in tap and gymnastics and Simon will be in indoor soccer and gymnastics. I for see a lot of driving in store for me.

Tomorrow night Trevor is heading out to a pre-season Stampeders football game with his brother. So we went to Blockbuster to rent a few movies for the kids and I to watch Friday night...Mad Money, Untraceable, and National Treasure 2...should keep me busy and out of trouble.

Besides that nothing new and exciting....just lots of rain...kind of a downer. K & S have the day off of school tomorrow, but I have a ton of things to do including going to the gym, shopping for a birthday gift, clean the car, and picking up some Father's Day cards.

Phobias and other stuff

Today I headed to the gym after I dropped the kids off at the bus stop as I had a volunteer tea to go to at Kamden and Simon's school. So I did my 1 hour and 35 minute bike and then it was time to get ready and take a shower. This is where the phobia comes in...I can not stand when I am taking a shower at a public place (be it a gym, swimming pool or hotel) and I find hair in the shower, which is dark and I know it isn't mine. Why does it always seem to be right at eye level. Is it really that hard to clean the shower after you are done cleaning yourself....EWWWW!!!!

The Volunteer Tea Party was from 1 - 3 pm and it was quite nice. The gymnasium was decorated with candles and really beautiful decorations. Food....wow....there was so much food there it was unbelievable. The entertainment consisted of the kids classes either doing poems, singing (even a grade one class doing a rap) and readings. There was door prized and I actually won a set of "Retro Rooster" dessert plates and mugs (I had Simon with me and I let him choose from the pile of gifts on the table---of course he picked the biggest one---I wanted to pick an envelope as I knew there would be some sort of gift certificate).

Kamden had a soccer game tonight. I always make sure that they go to the bathroom prior to us departing, which they both did. We get to the field and about 3 minutes into the game Simon tells me he has to go to the bathroom. So I look around and there are absolutely no trees to hide behind, so we walk to the school that is there in hopes that there is a corner that will be out of view from everyone. I finally find a corner and say "OK, Simon, go pee. I'll cover you". Simon responds "Mommy, I don't have to go pee. I have to go poo". Then I have small mental breakdown in my head for a milli-second and begin looking around. No leaves...I have no Kleenex....what am I going to do?? For the first time in my life I am thankful that some people smoke. The janitor from the school was on her smoke break, so I went up to her and asked if it would be possible if Simon could use the bathroom in the school. "Yeah sure" was her response. Thank You, God!!!! In my eyes that was one of those small miracles.

Tomorrow night Trevor and I get to lead life group. It is on "Freedom to be Candid" from a book called Parenting by Grace. We also get to provide the food and so Simon and I hit Costco today and spent around $75 on treats. Trevor is ordering pizza for the main course....mmmm....PIZZA...Love it!!!

Blogging has been taking a back burner

Sorry about the delay in the blogging, but things have been busy as they always are. Time to keep you all up to date. This past weekend was super busy with a fun filled 5 hour bike...my first 100+ miler (don't get too excited about the distance as I was on the computrainer on level 2). I am just glad that I was able to complete the workout without too much back pain. As a treat for the whole family we decided to go and see Indiana Jones. I don't want to give anything away just in case some of you haven't seen it, but there are certain movies---science fiction---which I don't like ; ) I was mentioning to Trevor that if we had rented it I probably would have ended up going to bed in the middle of it.

On Sunday I took Simon to church with me for my 3rd last class in Discovery Land while Trevor took Kamden to her soccer tournament (Trevor was "soccer dad" on the weekend and took Kamden to 2 games on Saturday as well). The Sheppards get the summer off, which I am actually looking forward to. Truthfully, I am just looking forward to not getting up at 7 am on Sunday mornings. I have decided to teach the same age group next year. The five year olds are just great!! I spent the majority of the afternoon getting Kamden ready for her Tap Dance Pictures which were scheduled for 2:40 pm. I spent way too much time on Kamden's hair trying to get the perfect curls in her pony tail. I, unfortunately, did not get a picture of the back of her hair. For her recital on Saturday night I am just going to wash her hair and let it dry naturally as she has such beautiful curly hair that it actually looks much better than me curling it with the curling iron. Her dance group was to go to the pictures in full make up....gold eye shadow, black eyeliner, mascara, red blush, and red lipstick....1.5 hour later and this was the finished product....




You wouldn't know it in these pictures, but Ms. Kamden had a fever of 103 Fahrenheit. The photographer was running an hour behind and Kamden was feeling crappier and crappier as each second passed. You could just feel the heat radiating off of her. By the time we got the pictures over with, it was 4:20 pm. We were invited over to my mom and dad's for dinner. As soon as we got to oma and opa's Kamden changed and I cleaned off her face and she went to bed. She slept while the rest of us ate supper. We decided to save some Strawberry Shortcake dessert for her as a treat. We ended up waking her up at 6:30 pm and she downed the dessert and left for home. Once we got home we got the kids ready for bed. Kamden kept complaining that she wasn't feeling well...and she didn't look good. She ended up throwing up dessert...poor little gal. Yesterday morning she woke up with a fever and a very sore throat, so I kept her home from school and took her to the medi clinic. We got to the clinic 15 mins prior to opening and there was already 8 people in front of us....ended up waiting 50 minutes...final prognosis for Kamden...Strep throat...She ended up staying home from school today as well, but will be back into the regular routine tomorrow just in time for a field trip to Heritage Park. The kids will be outside for a lot of the time and of course it will be raining. Had to go out and buy Kamden some rain boots or "come-a-shores" as Trevor calls it. I wish they came in adult sizes, aren't they cool??


Workouts haven't been happening since my long bike on Saturday. Routine out of whack with Kamden being home from school and appointments. Thank goodness my mom was able to help me out in the past two days...Yeah for moms!!! This morning I had an appointment with my doctor (psychiatrist) at the eating disorder clinic. I really like her, although I must admit that it is strange that she is around my age. She has me working on a workbook called "Mind over Mood". She really understands me and can read me like a book...I guess that's why she went to school for so many years. This afternoon I had my very first group therapy session at the eating disorder clinic from 2:30 -4 pm. It's an 8 week commitment and luckily I have the most supportive hubby in the world who has arranged to work from home every Tuesday afternoon. Without disclosing too much about the session...it was tough to go there as I wasn't sure what to expect. When I was 19 years old and hospitalized with an ED I went to a lot a group therapy and hated it, so I was kind of expecting the same thing...not as bad as I thought it would be...guess I grew up a little since then. I know that I have to work at getting better not just for me, but for my family.

Tomorrow...brick workout...swimming....school work....and hopefully some time to breathe : )




Time for some "Ha...Ha"...okay...don't tell anyone, but I used to be a huge fan of NKOTB. Yup, that's right New Kids on the Block. Well...guess who is coming to Calgary in November. That's right NKOTB. Am I excited...YES...Here is the Ha Ha part. Trevor got me tickets and he is coming along with me. I am not sure what is more "Ha Ha"...me going to see them again or him agreeing to go along.