Indiana Jones meets Sushi Boy

Indiana Jones meets Sushi Boy. Watch out Indy, Sushi Boy has chopsticks and he knows how to use them.

This is my friend Darlene with a bunch of cereal boxes on here. She was a ceral killer. HAHAHA.

Me and Dar. I was having a little trouble with my nose.

Indiana Jones.

Sushi Boy.

Me and Cindy. What's up with those teeth?

Sushi Boy dropped something and had a little trouble picking it up. Did I help him? No, I had to get a picture for my blog of course.

Sushi Boy and the headless horseman aka Jack.

Parker ran into some people that were more than happy to eat him. RUN SUSHI BOY RUN!!

Hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween. As you can tell we had a blast. Write more soon.

Off the Wagon

I have fallen off the wagon in regards to eating and the gym and am very frustrated. Parker has been way busy with theater and I have let that become an excuse for eating like crap. When will I stop doing this? I am so frustrated with myself. Well, at least I have acknowledged it and I know what I need to do. UGH!! So frustrated. Oh well, I'm not going to beat myself up over it. Today is a new day.

Baby Eliot's life story airing on Oprah

As most of you know I have joined Team TRIsomy and will be doing all my future events in the name of Trisomy 13 and 18 to help raise awareness for these precious children and their heroic families. The parents of these children are told that their children are incompatible with life. If you haven't already go to the link 99balloons under my trisomy links and watch the video. It's a video about Baby Eliot's life. You tell me after that video if he didn't touch your life. He has forever touched mine.

His parents, Matt and Ginny, wrote some exciting news on their blog today. Here is the post. Please set your TIVO and watch this amazing family. I am so excited for this platform for them as they will have a HUGE audience learning about Trisomy and how special these kids really are.

Here is the post:

Believe it or not...

We are attempting to get the word out to our friends since we know they will kill us if we do not tell them. With no further ado:

Oprah is doing a segment on Eliot on the show coming up on Tuesday, October 28 (this date could change, and we'll let you know if it does). The show is on "Miracle children" and Eliot is the only one not still on this earth. Honestly, at first we were hesitant when approached with the whole idea. However, having already taped the show, we feel honored to tell Eliot's story through this platform. The Oprah crew did a great job throughout of simply telling Eliot's story and nothing else. And we are appreciative to them for the opportunity.

So, spread the word if you want, and tune in as the Lord continues to take a little boy and make Himself known.

Today is the big day.

My little gosling is making his big debut today. We have had weeks of rehearsals, days of dress rehearsals, and today is the big day. We are doing two school shows for field trips and they are sold out. That's about 650 kids in each show. It is great to finally be at performances. I'll post more this weekend.

Have fun Parker. You rock!!

Our little gosling!!

Here is Parker waiting with his father goose. He is waiting to get his make up done.

Here he is all made up.

Check out that tail. Too cute. You should see them wiggle their tail feathers.

Parker had a great time at dress rehearsal after figuring out how to get those tights on. I think that he's glad he's a boy. I am working the green room, so I am going to get to know the whole cast before you know it. I look forward to it. Stay tuned and remember if you want tickets we have extra. We'd love to see you at the show especially Parker would. Stay tuned for more pics from the green room.

Charlotte's Web

Parker is in the musical CHARLOTTE'S WEB and opening night is this weekend. Friday, October 24th. It runs the 24th, 25th, and 26th and it is also on November 1 and 2nd. We have extra tickets. If you are in town and would like to see it please give me a call. We would love to have as many people come and support our little actor's big debut. He is a gossling and a voice of a baby spider at the end. He has been working hard and would love to have you come out.

Weight Watchers

I have not been to weight watchers in a looong time and I went yesterday. All I can say is UGH!! I went up 3.8 pounds. I'm at 11 pounds lost. I cannot look back and dwell on anything because I will get too down. It's a new week. I'm journaling what I eat and working out. The only way my weight is going from now on is down.

Here's to a new day.

Worked out and did homework at the same time

Before leaving to take my son to his theater practice I looked up a YMCA by his rehearsal. I was excited to find out that there was one near by. I dropped him off and headed to the gym. I got there hopped on a bike and rode for 10 miles and read about 8 chapters in THE ADVENTURE OF HUCK FINN. It was great to get homework done and a workout. I've never read this book before and it is a really fun read. Only about 200 more pages by Monday, so I can write my paper on it.

The YMCA I went to today was super tiny and dead. My normal YMCA is mobbed on Saturdays and all up to date on the machines. I had to ride a bike with a wobbly seat, but I did it and it made me all the more grateful for the YMCA that I normally go to and appreciate the new machines and the seats that don't wobble.

Bfit Bday Challenge Update

Swim: 2000 yards (only 1000 to go)
Bike: 25 miles (only 10 to go)
Run: 2 Miles (only 3 to go)

Bfit Bday Challenge Update

I made it to the gym today. No mind games, no excuses, and boy did it feel great. I swam another 1000 yards. It was still hard, but nowhere are hard as the other day. I was doing the back stroke and was so in the zone and visualizing myself thinner, and swimming in an Ironman that I hit my head on the wall and that was only after 50 yards. LOL I still did a lot of visualization, but kept track of the wall. I also biked for 6 miles. GO ME!! OH YEAH I absolutely love my new goggles. LOVE THEM!! THey so help with my claustrophobia in the water. YEAH!!


My goggles have clear lenses, but these are what they are like and I have I mentioned that I LOVE THEM!!

Thank you so much for all your encouraging words after yesterday's post. They really helped.

Bfit Bday Challenge:
Swim: 2000 yards (only 1000 to go)
Bike: 15 miles (only 20 to go)
Run: 2 miles (only 3 to go)

I'm trying to finish it by Monday. YEAH ME!!! Such a better day.

Keep on keepin' on!!

Mental Games

UGH!!! I hate the mental games I play with myself. I told myself after having Monday off that I needed to get to the gym the rest of the week. Tuesday and Wednesday went well. Today was HARD. It was a total mental challenge. I started doubting whether or not I should be even thinking about an Ironman in 5 years or even a half in 3 years.

I have been journaling everything I have been eating for about a week now. Not missing a thing. I have been active and trying to lose some weight, but today for some reason the doubt crept back in. Should someone my size talk about Ironman? Should someone my size even be attempting these things? Do I deserve it? I know the answer to all these questions: YES, YES, and YES, but my mind was playing games with my psychy today. I didn't eat badly, but ate some things I shouldn't have. I put off the gym for a loooong time today hoping I wouldn't have time, but guess what? I put on my Ironman Wisconsin shirt and I made it to the gym about 1 hour before I needed to pick up my daughter from school. I biked 4 miles and walked 1 mile on the treadmill. It was hard for some reason today and I probably wasn't as productive as I could have been, but I made it. I didn't let the things that I was telling myself win. I will be going to the gym tomorrow to swim and will be ready to go the second my son gets on the bus. I will not let this happen again. To all those voices telling me I CAN'T or I DON'T DESERVE to be healthy, or SOMEONE YOUR SIZE shouldn't be thinking about these things, SHUT UP ALREADY.

I received a very encouraging email from my friend Laura (GO MOM GO link listed to the right) and she told me maybe I'm concentrating too much on the big goals I have. 2013 is 5 years away and I need to start making smaller goals, but she also told me she knows I'm going to accomplish whatever I set my mind to. Laura, thanks for the encouragement. I really needed it today. Laura's nephew to be has been diagnosed with Trisomy 13 in Utero. Little Jeremy has helped me through this slump. He is ready to fight the fight of his life and me sitting on my bed like a lump feeling sorry for myself is not going to help me reach my goals. If I do not lose the weight and get healthy now I might not be here long for my kids. Baby Jeremy was just who I needed to think of to appreciate today and realize how blessed I am to be healthy enough to work out and that I should not take that for granted. Thanks Jeremy. You are not even born yet and you have touched my life.

Bfit Birthday Challenge
Swim: 1000 Yards (2000 to go)
Bike: 9 miles (26 miles to go)
Run: 2 miles (3 miles to go)

Smaller goals to focus on:
Tomorrow: Be ready to go the gym 1st thing in the morning and swim another 1000 yards.
By December 31st: lose 20 pounds
By my June Sprint Tri: Run a 5k without stopping

Be Fit Birthday Challenge Update

As I stated in my last post I accepted the be fit birthday challenge that I found at www.bfitbday.com
I will be swimming 3000 yards, biking 35 miles, and running 5 miles.

I went to the gym yesterday and biked 5 and walked 1 mile on the treadmill. Today I swam 1000 yards. My goal was to do 500 yards. Every 4 lengths = 100 yards. I have to tell you this was very hard. After only 100 yards I was out of breath and feeling a little light headed. I persevered and kept going wanting to reach my goal of 500 yards. I had to stop a lot for breaks, but once I hit 700 yards I knew I could make it to 1000. So I did. I just kept looking at it as goals of 4 lengths and before you know it I was done.

There were several times I wanted to quit and I am so proud of myself that I didn't. I bought these new goggles that look like ski goggles. They give you more of a view under water. I deal with claustrophobia from time to time and realized how much these goggles really helped with that. I love being able to see out of the sides. I noticed today I wasn't as self conscience out there as usual and I actually enjoyed it for the most part. When it got hard and I wanted to quit I just pictured myself swimming in an Ironman and that helped.

I have so many hurdles to overcome to get to Ironman Wisonsin 2013, but today showed me that I will do it. I never quit even when it got tough.

I know I will lose this weight and I know that I will hear them say, "Melissa, you are an Ironman" in 2013.

November 8th is when I meet with my coach for the first time. I'm so nervous, but excited at the same time. I have never had a coach and am so excited that this is becoming a reality. I started journaling everything I am eating and how much I am working out, so they can see what I'm doing. I was kinda in the mind set that I don't need to do anything until our meeting, but then realized how awesome it would be to tell them all I HAVE done leading up to meeting with them. It will be a good meeting to see where I'm at and to figure out a program. My first goal is to lose this weight and to run my first 5k without stopping this summer. You guys think those are reasonable goals?

I need to run for now.
I'm really happy with how today went. GO ME!!!

Bfit Birthday challenge
Swim: 1000 yards
Bike: 5 miles
Run: 1 mile

Later.

Be Fit Birthday Fitness Challenge

I found a birthday fitness challenge online at www.bfitbday.com.
It is a challenge to do a triathlon the week of your birthday.
I just turned 35, so they have you take the first number in your age and swim that number x 1000 yards, bike 35 miles and run the second digit in your age, so I will be running 5 miles. There is three levels to the challenge. You can do it in a week, 3 days or 1 day. I accepted the 1 week challenge and headed to the gym today.

Here is what I did today:
Swim: none
Bike: 5 miles
Run/walk: 1 mile

I'll be hitting the pool tomorrow.
Yeah me!!

It's my birthday today

Just wanted to give myself a little shout out. It's my birthday today. I am going to a HUGE corn maze with my kids, friends, and family. It will be a great day!! I had an awesome weekend. I went out with my girlfriend Friday and Saturday to a women's conference. Sunday, I went and watched my little brother rock it at the Chicago marathon, and then I took Parker to a Christian concert to see the Barlow Girls, a Christian band. I will be blogging soon about it all.

Team TRIsomy needs your help

Here is a letter from my friend Michael Hennesy the founder of Team TRIsomy. We know that times are hard financially, but we are wondering if you could pray and see if this is a cause that you would like to contribute to at this time. No pressure. Just wanted you to read what he has written from the heart. After his letter I have posted a picture of a precious little girl named Natalia. She is living with Trisomy 13.

Howdy to all!

I hope that everyone has been able to follow our epic odyssey of ironman quests around the globe on behalf of raising awareness for trisomy.  Seems like it was just yesterday that we were launching our humble endeavors in Malaysia & New Zealand.  We're up to 13 Ironman finishes and set to tie the World Record in a few weeks and hopefully begin to put some distance on that hallowed number in the next few months.

The fruits of our labors include trisomy and the babies and families it affects being highlighting by several media sources all over the world.  Races equal awareness.  Please see our media page:   http://ironmanforkids.com/media/
We've been trying to change hearts one at a time.  Please check out some of the nice comments on our simple site: www.ironmanforkids.com.  You will be inspired.

As well, our humble little team-TRIsomy has grown to three now.  Yeehah!  Each team member has their own unique talents to help in our efforts.  If you'd like to join in on all the fun, please do:

Gary David, father to Hailey, age 2 and has trisomy-13 mosaic:   http://gcdavid.wordpress.com/

Melissa, mother to two healthy kids:  http://www.mommymeepa.blogspot.com/

Greg Batiansila, father of eight including Zoe, trisomy18 & age 6 months:  http://batiansila.blogspot.com/(also our new creative genius.  Greg works for www.avicomdirect.comand is helping us create a name, brand and logo that captures the essence of our work)

It's nothing short of a small miracle that we have made it this far on such a wing & a prayer budget.  Now as a Texas non-profit foundation the good folks at Cox & Smith have filed our 501(c)(3) papers with the IRS after several months of lots of work on their part and ours.  We chose these impressive professionals because they do it the right way.  They are very thorough and honest and have a 100% track record on getting the 501 status.  

Needless to say that we could use your financial help even in these uncertain times.  Our survival depends on it.  Maybe you were waiting to see how legit this was.  It is.  Maybe you were waiting for that right time to give.  It's now.  Maybe you think what we're doing is crazy but you still want to give just to make us go away.  That's cool too.  Maybe you were simply waiting for us to fall on our face and fail.  We haven't.  We're going to keep going.  Please join us.

Through all the struggles just like in an Ironman we keep plugging away not deterred by the defeats but with our eyes focused on the prize.  We're in the midst of launching a special needs bike program to give 100% of all donations to buying custom made bikes for special needs kids of any age whether affected by trisomy or not.  You can give to that right now as well.  We're on the cusp of organizing our first big fundraiser by bringing down the ironman legend, Dick Hoyt of the Dick & Rick Hoyt fame, www.teamhoyt.com.  He's the father of the ironman father & son team.   You may have heard or seen him and his son as they compete in ironmans and all sorts of marathons.  He pushes his adult son around marathons and ironmans.  He's quite an amazing guy and a very inspirational speaker with an awesome message.  He doesn't come cheap so we're  working on that as well.

Please do what you can today and be a part of our vital message.  We really do need your help.  Trust you all are in our prayers.  Keep up the good work and take care.

+Kindest regards,
michael j. hennesseyironman for kids foundationwww.ironmanforkids.com210.792.3602

Here is a picture of Natalia. She is living with Trisomy 13. Look at this face. Does she look like she is Incompatible with life? I don't think so. I love this quote from her Mom, ThereseAnn:

Often I hear: "God only sends these children to special people." My belief is: "We become special people because of these children. God with his infinite mercy, gives special graces and blessings to those who embrace these - Purest of Souls."

Wrote the Bonnie Hunt Show too

I also wrote the Bonnie Hunt Show today. Let's pray that one of these shows will be touched by Trisomy 13 and 18 children and their families and feel led to do a show.

I will keep you all posted if I hear from them.

Wrote to Dr. Phil today

Today I wrote to Dr. Phil on behalf of all the children diagnosed with Trisomy 13 and 18. I wrote to him about my friend, Michael Hennessy. I told him about Michael's goal of beating the Guiness World Record for the most Ironmans in a year. I told him how Michael is doing it to raise awareness for these precious children and their families.

I'm asking that everyone will pray that the right person will read this and that they will consider doing a show. Thanks for your prayers. This is something really important to Michael, me, and the families of these children. Thanks.

Also, if any of you would happen to know anyone that would want to sponsor Michael and TEAM TRISOMY please email me. My email address is in my profile.

My Macbook Haiku

My MacBook has crashed
I probably lost my pics
I am very sad

UPDATE HAIKUs
I got called today
My MacBook lost everything
I will start over

Life is way too short
I cannot cry anymore
My life will go on