chubby girl running

The PET scan went fine.  It was at 7:30 am so Nick stayed home with Elise while I went.  It's kind of sad I think about the Egg McMuffin I get on the way home pretty much the whole time.  (Actually what's sadder is that I have a PET scan "tradition".  I think this is my 6th one?  Not sure.)  And when I drive up at 10:30 I just pray they're still serving breakfast while I slurp in my drool.  The fat girl inside me wanted to order the Egg McMuffin with a side of hotcakes with a side of cinnamon roll.  But I refrained.  Be proud, people.  Be proud. 

Speaking of my inner fat girl - I've lost about 10 pounds.  I've been using MyFitnessPal - it's kind of like Facebook for dieters.  It's a calorie counter and it has a huge database.  I use my iPad and I can scan barcodes of whatever food I'm eating.  It's awesome and addicting.  And I'm trying to be healthier - you know because I had cancer and stuff.  But I really want to wear smaller pants...10 pounds to go. 

I did the Couch to 5K program - and it totally works.  Pick your jaws up off the floor now.   I can run for a solid 20-30 minutes now after 9 weeks.  When I started I couldn't even run for 2 minutes - so this is major progress.  Lauren and I are even running TWO 5Ks this weekend.  We are so athletic.

I never said I was a fast runner.  Actually the longer I sit here watching the women's gymnastics the more I think I could totally do that.  However Nick has informed me that my spontaneous floor exercise dance is seriously lacking in gracefulness and technical skills.  I actually tried to do a somersault the other day and kind of hurt my neck. 

But enough about me.

The other day I thought washing the car would be a fun activity for Elise.  She got bored and thought playing with the hose was way more fun.  So then I quit washing the car halfway through.  It was way too hot.

 

weekend update

Summer is flying by. And Elise has a new fishy face.

We went to the lake today for lunch and a little boat ride.

This weekend was crazy busy.  We had some family pictures taken on Friday.  You may have seen a preview on Facebook - I am so excited for the rest!  I'll post some when I get them back. 

Saturday night we had our 10 year class reunion (we are old!!!).  It was pretty fun.  We took a little dinner cruise around Lake Macatawa .  I found out quite a few people stalk read this blog -- so I'll say:  We had fun.  Some people are the same.  Most people are so nice.  But Nick and I wanted to go get a drink by ourselves afterwards...so we could of course talk about everyone else.  Bahaha...you know you did too. 

I'm currently snacking on shredded cheese because I can't eat any carbs or sugar today in preparation for my PET scan tomorrow.   I can't eat fruit but I can have a bag of cheese or a slab of bacon.  Or a stick of butter.  This scan is to clear up some iffy-looking stuff we saw in my CT scan last week.  We're pretty sure it's just scar tissue left over from the tumor and then radiation on top of that.  But we're doing the PET just to be sure.  Results on Friday. 

the denhoed girls are here!

My cousin Robin and her family are in town from Washington for a few days. Well, Erika goes to Calvin so we see her a lot -- but the rest of these girls we haven't seen for a couple years.  Sweet Krista is so nice and played with Elise all afternoon.  Elise loved her - they were running and jumping and laughing until 9pm.  She had so much fun today!

Kara, Krista, and Erika - the cutest and nicest girls!

Elise wanted to go on the tube too.

Mom and Robin.  And Elise.

Seriously this girl has it made.

My dad took Krista for a little SeaDoo ride...

This was her face the whole night. 

We were so happy to see you guys!  Come back soon!!

Oh and here's a random collection of video clips from Elise's birthday party:  Stacy's girls driving the mini-cooper, Elise probably peeing in the sand tub, and singing Happy Birthday.  See - I told you it was random.  You really don't have to watch it - but I know a few who will laugh out loud.

birthday megapost. part two.

the party part.  this part was fun too. 

We made Elise a fishy cake and cupcakes.  There were lots of M&Ms involved and Elise loved it. 

"I'm supposed to blow this out?  What now?" 

I have a video of everyone singing Happy Birthday - she just looks so confused.

She mostly ate the M&Ms off the cake.

Birthday girl and her Daddy. 

She loves her big cousin Maddie.  Maddie is so sweet to all the little girls.

Happy Birthday Sweet Elise!

Elise is a little spoiled and had lots of presents to open!  We are so happy there were some other little girls there to help - or it would have taken an hour.  Sheesh.  Thank you everyone for all the sweet gifts!

These girls are so so sweet.

Elise got a dress-up box with four princess outfits and shoes. This makes me laugh so hard...

It was a pretty good day.  Everyone was partied out.  We capped off the night with a little princess boat parade.  We had some tired girls!

birthday megapost. part one.

the fun part. (actually all the parts are fun.)

We have some very special visitors at the lake this weekend.  My Auntie Gracie, cousin Stacy and her three girls Maddie, Elle, and Lola drove all the way from Missouri to stay at the lake.  It was so fun they are here for Elise's birthday!  We have been very busy playing...with everything.  

There's a lot of red hair happening here.

Lola, Elise, and Elle.  The twins are almost exactly a year older than Elise.

My hair looks funky because it was blowing in the wind.  I didn't comb it all dorky like that on purpose.

Elise loves having friends around! 

Snuggling with Grandma after a nap.

Great Grandma & Grandpa came to celebrate too!

grandma's home! and a scan.

We met my Mom and Dad at the airport last night.  They've been in Alaska for two weeks and we have been missing them!  Elise fell asleep on the way there...sweetheart.

Yesterday I had my first post-chemo/radiation CT scan.  Hard to believe it's been three months since I finished radiation.  I had to drink a couple of lovely Barium Sulfate 'berry smoothies" and the CT technician totally botched my IV for the contrast dye - so now I have a lovely green bruise on my arm.  It was very weird going back to Lemmen-Holten - I never think about cancer so when I'm laying there on the table it kind of all comes back to me - no fun.  We'll get the results when we meet with my doctor next week.  

we have a swimmer!

Today was our last day of swimming! ISR has been so great.  Mr. Michael came out to the lake today to swim with Elise, Ava, and Vivian.  Ava & Vivi are the neighbors who introduced us to ISR.  And a disclaimer - Elise cries the whole time -- but she always talks about "Miiiiiike" and how "niiiisch" he is.  

Elise now has the skills she needs to swim and survive should she accidentally fall off the dock or in a pool or something.  It is really amazing.  All it takes is daily lessons for seven weeks -- sheesh I hardly know what I will do with my afternoons now!

We recorded the whole lesson today because my Mom and Dad are still on vacation in Alaska.  They were sad they couldn't be here to see it but have been having tons of fun hiking, four-wheeling, and white water rafting.  I'm not kidding...Terri has done all of those things in the last two weeks.  You may now pick up your jaw from the floor.  I'm requesting photo documentation.

 We caught a little turtle at the lake today.  Ava named him "Scratchy".

He lives under the dock.  We made Nick get him.

And Elise got a new hat.  She is so cute and I want to kiss her sweet face all the time. 

random update for lauren

Lauren called and asked me for some new pictures "because you haven't updated since Tuesday and I check every couple of hours..."   I promise I am not interesting.  But here are a few I've taken recently anyways.   I love you and Elise does too.  She just won't say your name. 

This was our last week of swimming and I'll be so happy to be done!  She is such a good little floater now.  She is always so pooped when we get home around 5, so I usually will put Elmo on and she won't move for the whole show while I make dinner. 

This week Elise and I went to Nick's work and took a little tour and out for lunch.  I took advantage of Gentex's close proximity to Holland's [super crappy] outlet mall and stopped at Gap and Carter's.  Literally the only two stores in the entire place.    They are right next to Dutch Village - a tiny little dutch amusement park.  Are there any Hungry Dutchmen out there??

That's a dutch baby if I ever saw one.

We called our friend Nicolynn who lives really close and she came to feed some ducks with us.  I brought some stale bread and everything...but these ducks have no fear and are huge - I think everyone brings them bread.  I was totally freaked out and I might have screamed a little.  They were literally pecking at our girl's shoes while Krissy and I panicked because we thought their little toes were goners. 

This duck had a 'fro.

I found a huge piece of paper today that I taped to the top of her table.  She thought it was pretty awesome and she's getting really good at coloring scribbling!

juicy.

She is loving oranges lately.

And juice boxes on a hot day.

seriously. it's hot out.

Okay now that that's out of the way... 

We've been spending a lot of time at the lake the last few days.  Nick had almost all of last week off of work so we've been having lots of fun.   Although our trip to the zoo had to be rescheduled because the thought of that in 100 degree weather made me want to barf up my raspberry baked oatmeal.  (Seriously it's so good - recipe here.)

Nick's mom and dad came out to play for the day.  They were totally trespassing on that sad excuse for a dock.  They are rebels.

We are stuck inside these days so Daddy made cupcakes.  From scratch.  It's true.  Elise got to lick the beaters.  And the cupcakes were awesome.