Coming Up for Air

Alas, it has been a long time since I have blogged. So long that it is almost intimidating and overwhelming to start again. I stopped because I felt like I had strayed from my reasons for starting this blog and that I wasn't really putting anything out there that was fascinating. And then, I tasked myself with trying to be fascinating and thus not writing at all. But here I am, not fascinating, but coming up for air and blogging about it.

The past two months have actually been really great. I have been so content that I haven't wanted to break the peace and fulfill an "obligation" to sit down and blog. I have been reading a lot - books, magazines, blogs and also catching up on movies in our theater room. It helps that DrRuckus has been around a lot more as he has fulfilled his promise to work fewer shifts and have more family time. This has been fantastic for all of us and we have had more time to enjoy one another as a couple and as a family. We had a wonderful little getaway to Austin sans kids (if you haven't been to Frank's for sausages or Uchi for sushi, GO! NOW!) He and I both had Lasik eye surgery, which is miraculous and something we should have done years ago. I have spent time with old friends and made some new friends, all of whom enrich my life. Also, I have been cooking tons of new recipes, mostly soups and vegetarian meals, and have been getting much more adventurous about creating recipes.

Also, I have been adhering to my resolution to be more patient with my children and that has made all of us much happier. As I promised myself, I have been trying to live in the present, to let things roll off my back, and to try to be as calm and relaxed as possible. Most of the time, I have actually been succeeding! At times, this has been especially challenging, and at times I fail miserably, but mostly I am doing it and I am proud of myself.

Admittedly, I am addicted to my exercise routine, so when I had some bad hamstring tendonitis in January that prevented me from doing most of my regular activities, it could have thrown me off and made me miserable. And, it could have sabotaged all of my efforts to be patient and present. Instead, I took it in stride and attempted to figure out how to still work out and thus be the happier Mommy I am learning to be.

I used the "arm bike" for some cardio, I did a lot of resistance training with my upper body only, and I took up swimming. I was so hesitant to start swimming for fitness because of bad experiences on the swim team as a child, but it came at the perfect time for me. I was just starting to re-learn how to swim when I re-injured my hamstring. But, using a pool buoy, I was able to swim by just using my upper body and concentrate on form that way. When I was somewhat healed, I was able to add back in the kicking without affecting my tendonitis. Now I almost fully healed and pretty much able to do everything I was doing a few months ago, but swimming has become an important part of my week.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I take an Adult Swim Conditioning class with a group of wonderful women, friends both old and new. We have a great teacher and true camaraderie in the class and are learning to be good swimmers while having a great time encouraging each other. Those two days have been so fantastic that I try to swim one other day of the week by myself and this has been one of my favorite workouts of the week. I go early on Fridays, get in the pool and swim (slow) lap after (slow) lap enjoying the sound of the water, the feel of my body gliding through it by my own power. When it was suggested that I get some music to listen to while swimming, I was aghast! I have enough noise in my life. Swimming is meditative, contemplative, quiet while still being a kick ass workout! It challenges me with every lap but I emerge from the water feeling wonderful: tired, accomplished, clear headed, and somehow, just satisfied.

See, coming up for air!