Sticking With The New Changes

 A FEW THINGS--

Well--how did everyone's New Years Resolutions go? I was about 50/50. Which for those that know me--I half ass everything before I put my entire ass into it! I tend to get distracted with so many things. Murder shows, end of the year clearance sales, oh you want to drive 50 miles for cheese curds--let's do it. That is my life. It has been like this since I had kids.  And--my husband is home. The weather in North Dakota has been terrible this year. So he has been home every night. Yes--I love that he has been home don't get me wrong. But I tend to want to spend my time with him versus focusing on my focus. 

Did I make enough excuses? I think I did.

The highlight of January was my oldest daughter, her husband and my grandson came home. My oldest son was also here. My husband being home just added to the fun of having a full house. I was just missing my second oldest daughter. I have goals that we will all be home at the same time someday. My youngest son got a few baking lessons from my oldest daughter. I was able to give a few pointers on motherhood. And then my hubby and I took turns holding our grandson. This little grandson is a keeper.

Another highlight of January was signing up my youngest son for vocal and saxophone lessons. He is learning how to actually sing, he is learning music theory and he's having a blast. He is singing a song from the musical "Oliver" which requires some pretty high notes so listening to his remarks trying to hit the notes is really entertaining. I am also enjoying watching him play in Pep Band this year. They don't sound the best but he is getting use to being in front of a crowd--and he needs that.

UPDATE: He has finally hit the high notes. We celebrated with an Oreo Blizzard from Dairy Queen.

As some of you know--we hit a deer and totaled our car early in December. Cars are seriously not cheap--not even cars with 100,000 miles on them. I like to be on the road--and I usually rack up the miles. I drive 40 miles every day to take my youngest son to school--it adds up. So after hardly any discussion at all--which shocked the hell out of me--my husband bought me a 2020 Nissan Rogue with less than 30,000 miles on it. I have never had anything newer than a 2010 because my husband can mechanic up to that year. This car is smarter than both of us. I have the manual in the front seat of the car so I can figure things out. I am so thankful for this car. And I am so blessed to have this man as my husband.

Like I have said before--my New Year Goals have been around 50/50. 

My health. I qualified for a continuous glucometer but I haven't put it on me yet--a little nervous about it--worried I will hook it up wrong. So I will be working on getting that on this month. I have changed my breakfast. Breakfast has been such a challenge for me. But it is a great, healthy breakfast. I have my special diabetic plate--I haven't used it yet--so that is on my list this month.

UPDATE: My continuous glucometer is officially hooked up to my body and my phone and it has been a great experience so far. I can no longer convince myself that I did NOT eat that cookie because the numbers are right there.

I am continuing to walk 5-8 kilometers a week and have committed to participating in a virtual 5K every month this year. It is so rewarding turning in a time and getting a medal for my efforts. It is a very nice motivation in this health journey.

Had a health scare recently--for those keeping up-- I have had a lot of medical appointments along with dental appointments these last few months. I had repairs done to the left side of my mouth. I had a root canal in November, a crown in December along with some patch work to my fillings. I had a lot of pain after the crown was put on but then it subsided. Then after about a week I started to have dull tooth pain, teeth sensitivity, and gum sensitivity. I had a dental appointment booked for the 1st so I was just going to talk to my dentist about it on the 1st. On the 29th I woke up with a lump under my chin on the left side. So I went to the clinic and had it looked at and was put on meds. I called my dentist and my appointment will not be working on the right side of my mouth but instead trying to find out if this is a possible infection from the dental work or possibly some other medical issue. Lumps are scary--and to make it worse--I GOOGLED images and symptoms--please people, take my advice--don't do that. It will freak you OUT.

UPDATE: I went to my dental appointment and told him what was going on and they did an assessment and found that there was a chunk of cement lodged between the root canal tooth and the tooth behind it. It was left there while doing the root canal. So it has been raising a lot of hell in my mouth for the last six weeks. The dentist didn't feel it was linked to the lump in my lymph node but definitely linked it to the pain I had been having. However, I think it is directly linked to my lymph node. Anyways we repaired that and continued work on the upper left side of my mouth. If I could offer any advice--it would be--don't wait 30 years to have a dental check up. I am continuing with my medication--the lump is going down. And I have been just exhausted from it all. After discussing it with my dentist--I am going to take three months off and just heal that left side of my mouth and then we will work on the right side--which should be just filling repairs---fingers crossed.

To keep my mental health up--I am on my 250th day of daily French lessons. I am also involved in a focus group of women that help each other keep going. We are all very motivated women who seek change in our lives and careers. It has been kind of a nice little break from the stuff I see on social media. 

Another thing I do is a daily mental health check: I make sure that three daily tasks are completed. I make the list in the morning and I make sure that they are complete by the end of the day. It can be anything from bookwork to a shower to cleaning out a chicken barn. But I have to complete them. It helps me stay "in check." When these daily tasks aren't completed I step back to make sure something isn't building up--I will journal, and pinpoint the issue. This is just what I do for my mental health check. I like tasks so it works for me. Mental Health Matters.

Nothing has happened with my vintage stuff--I have three boxes ready to go through but--I have had a lot of excuses. 

Nothing has happened with selling my Origami Owl collection. I really should get on that.

UPDATE: I have started to sell my Origami Owl inventory.

I HAVE started on my International Coordinator job though--so there's that. I want to make the next three years--very good years. I am very excited to have a delegate traveling to Norway this year!!!

My bookwork is done--I just have to run reports and I am ready for my tax appointment at the end of the month. Normally I am doing all 12 months of bookwork the month of my tax appointment. But this year I have really stuck with making sure we were on track. I have met at least ONE goal. I just need to run the reports--

Last month I talked about toxic friends and relationships. "Operation Bow Out" is almost complete. Now that I drive 100 miles round trip for my sons vocal/saxophone lessons--I have been taking advantage of that time in that town. I really try not to be to involved in the local community any more. And frankly--I feel so much better. I haven't really looked at my Facebook Friend List like I planned. Instead I just embrace the ones who ghost me--because you aren't going to see anything special. My privacy settings are set. Want to know about my life--read the blog.

UPDATE: I am in the process of cleaning up my Facebook along with privacy changes. My settings were at public and I just need to "bring it in" a little bit. No picture of my grandson will be for the public to see.

Until Next Time

Kristi