First try at water jogging

Well...I attempted my first water jog/work out session this morning.  Yesterday I went out and got a water jogging belt.  I found a cool little combo set @ Dicks Sporting goods:

The belt is supposed to help you stay afloat in the deep end so you can run instead of having to tread water.  I have never water jogged, or water aerobics before except for when I cheered at KU and had access to the althetic training facilities and I would jog on the underwater treadmill.  I loved doing that!  My mom does physical therapy for dogs at her clinic and they have an underwater treadmill, I asked her if I could use it.  Haha, she doesn't know yet if she'll let me...so we'll see!  But anyways, I did a lot of research on water jogging and what the correct form is and what not.  

Thank you to our best family friends Sue and Dennis for letting me use their pool!  I went over this morning and started with a couple easy laps then put my belt on.  It is definitely interesting.  I was hoping to "jog" for 30 mins and swim for 15.  The jogging felt good at first, definitely awkward though.  It is something I will have to get used to.  I had to focus really hard on my form.  Jogging didn't get my endurance going as much as it would on dry land.  But I could feel it in my legs after a while.  I was only able to jog 15 minutes before I had to stop because I was having quite a bit of pain in my knee from the motion.  So I started swimming laps.  Damn...swimming laps is hard!!!!  Definitely a great workout and something I want to get into!  I did some real good swimming for about 30 minutes (with quite a few breaks to breathe!).  Swimming really works all my muscles and my endurance.  I was so tired!  I do need to work on my breathing while swimming, I think that's why I thought it was so hard!  But, I did enjoy it and I do feel like I got a good workout and will be a little sore tomorrow.

It felt so good to work my muscles after 3 weeks!!  I feel out of shape...but it felt great.  I am going to try and go tomorrow again if I'm not too sore.  It's been exactly 3 weeks since my fall.  I am still in and out of my brace.  I usually wear it when I leave the house to protect it, and at home I try to move it around a little so it doesn't totally tighten up.  I have my second opinion appointment with a knee/sports specialist on Monday...fingers crossed!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  And...if you're able to save $5 this weekend and donate to my fundraising for PAWS, you will help a homeless dog or cat find a home!  Visit my page: http://pawschicago.kintera.org/teampawschicago2011/kellymcdonough

Craving a run and trying to stay positive

I got my MRI results last week.  I have 2 fractures in my knee, one is on the top of my fibula, cartilage damage and a slight tear in my meniscus.  The doctor did not suggest surgery at this time and said I should wait 10 weeks to see how it feels and if it is still bugging me to come in then and they would possibly do the surgery then.  I don't think he understands that I want all this to happen as quickly as possible.  The doctor also got very defensive when I asked for copies of my x-rays and MRI to bring to a doctor in MN.  He acted mad I was going to go to someone else, and he said I could come back to see him in a few weeks.  I don't think he grasped the fact that I live 400 miles away!  Oh well, I got the images burned onto a disk and will bring them to a knee/sports specialist here in MN where I have an appointment next Monday.  We'll see what the 2nd opinion is.

It's been almost 3 weeks since my fall.  The pain isn't as bad as it was so that's good.  It still hurts to walk normally, although I can stand the pain to walk almost normal.  Stairs are very painful as are other specific movements.  The swelling has gone way down.  These are all good things, but I still do have quite a bit of pain and am restricted in movement.  I would not be able to ride a bike or anything like that right now but I am hoping to start swimming and water jogging/aerobics this week.  I am dying not being able to run right now.  Even in the 110 degree heat index, I want to go for a run SOOOO badly!  It's really difficult since that is my alone time and my stress outlet.  I'm also struggling because I want to be losing weight right now.  I am trying to eat better but it is just much easier when you can add exercise into the equation.  Hopefully the water jogging will help.

But, I am trying to think positive and am hoping for the best possible outcome.

I am still fundraising for PAWS!  So as always, please visit my website and help the animals! http://pawschicago.kintera.org/teampawschicago2011/kellymcdonough

What I learned from babysitting 4 kids for 8 days...

After 16 days away from home, I'm finally back!  AND...I survived all 8 days babysitting 4 kids!

I had a great time in KC.  Traveling with my knee was difficult.  Especially the first flight since it had only been 2 days since my fall and my first 24 hours in the knee brace and on crutches.  It was actually kind of nice while flying since I got a wheelchair, got straight to the front of security without waiting in line and got an extended leg room seat!  Not to mention the flight attendant and I became BFF's and he gave me free wine the whole flight!  Once in KC I had so much fun seeing some GREAT friends from college.  Michael Raasch picked me up from the airport with my surprise...Sarah Pikul, sorry, Sarah Dyerson I mean (I still call her Pikul for her nickname)!!  We stopped by to see Jake Schermer at a pool party then went back to Pikul's and I got to see her husband Andrew Dyerson.  Then Pikul and I spent some time that day catching up which was fabulous!  The next day I got to see my old boss Christy Cowell Rinkol and her daughter Kayla Cowell and then saw Sarah Jacobs and Kerry Comisky.  On the 4th my old boss Christy had a pool party, then I saw Lyndsay Bettlach and later Henry Madera!  I got to see a lot of people that I miss in a very short amount of time!  Of course I wish I could have spent more time with them all and had more people I would have liked to see, but I was happy with what I got.  Seeing everyone really makes me realize how much I miss them all and how much I need to make more of an effort to stay in touch with them.  Life just moves too fast and gets too busy!  So I need to put in more of a conscious effort.

My week with the kids was great...a lot of work...but great!  I'm not going to lie, spending 8 days with 4 kids was probably the best form of birth control there is!  But, the kids are very well behaved and pretty self-efficient so it wasn't very hard.  Michael is 14, Lauren is 11, Brock is 9 and Jacob is 8.  The boys pretty much all entertain each other, and Lauren as well!  But the main things I learned during the week are:
1.  Kids are a constant cause of messes.  I felt like I was constantly cleaning and literally following right behind them picking things up!;
2.  4 kids eat A LOT of food!  I went to the grocery store probably 4 times during that week.  I tried to cook a lot so they ate healthy good meals, but sometimes I gave in and popped in the "chicken fries."  I did learn to grill too!  I'm convinced Michael lives off of toaster struddels.  I bought 2 value packs (12 struddels in each) and they were gone in 24 hours.  wowza!;

My first time grilling alone!  It was yummy!

3.  4 kids cost A LOT of $$$$$.  Going through the drive-through costs like $40 alone; and
4.  I still love kids...but 4 may be too many for me! :)
It was hard to leave the kids because I do truly love that family, but I was ready for a small break!  And, I have to say congratulations to their Mom, Stephanie and her boyfriend Evan, who got engaged while they were gone in Mexico that week!!  So happy for you two and wish you the very best!

Lauren & me at Jacob's baseball game

Jacob stepping up to bat...

...And a HIT! Go Jake!

The "bodacious bride!"

I headed to Chicago after KC for one of my best friend and her fiance's bachelorette/bachelor party weekend!  It was the perfect weekend.  The first night the guys and girls all went on a trolley around the city and then the second night the girls went to dinner, the Thunder from down under show (highlight of the weekend!) then the piano bar.  And who cares what the boys did haha!  Their last flings before the rings were fantastic!  Congrats to Amy Kasper & Justin Schaffer!  Can't wait for their wedding August 13!

Overall, it was a good 16 days!  But I was soooo happy to get home and see Emma!  That was too long for me to be away from her.  I am trying to get back into the swing of things and have made some appointments and am getting caught up with some work.

This summer has been going way too fast!