I PASSED!

The American College of Sports Medicine!! It's a big deal with my degree...kind of like passing the boards for Physical Therapists...WHEW!!! ;-) ~K

How precious life is.

Today was my big 3-0! Whooo hooo!!! Today's birthday opened my eyes to how precious this life really is. I am looking forward to my 30's. I'm not hung up on it in the least! I had a good start to my day, I woke up early and ran with the group. My friend Emily told me, during our run, of her friend that was in a serious car accident on Monday morning and died at the young age of 25. I felt terrible for her loss and listened intently as she told me how his death came about. I felt a real since of sadness for this guy, and my heart went out to his family and friends.

 I came home feeling pretty good about my run, 6 miles, and I am really going to bump my training up from here so it was a good start! I began thinking of the guy Emily spoke of that passed on Monday, I started thinking of how much my life changed from the age of 25 until now. I got married, started and finished school, had a baby, and met lots of new people. I mean think if my life was over at 25, what I would have missed, what my parents would have missed out on, I mean, when you really think about it, everybody has an effect on the world in some way no matter how much or little you think you accomplish in your life, no matter how short or long it is!! Then, in mid ponder, I received a phone call from one of my friends and co-workers. She told me that our other trainer where I work died in a car accident on Monday morning. I remembered everything Emily told me of her friend, it all came rushing through my head,  and realized it was the same person. My heart skipped a beat, Patrick Chester. I have only known him for 3 years or so, not very well, he was quiet, but a really fun person once you get him to open up. Patrick, Ray and I had clients at 5am and I get on there nerves so badly because I am sooo energetic in the morning and they are like..."Kara, what in the heck is wrong with you??? Its too early to have that much energy!!"

 He was such a smart guy! He was supposed to graduate from APSU in December this year, I just graduated in August so we had that in common too. Here is the thing. I didn't know Patrick personally very well, he was a work acquaintance that I respected. He was young, had his whole life in front of him. Last time I saw him I had Avery with me, I brought her over to him while he was working out on the bench press and said, HEY! WHen you gonna have one of these" He smiled and said, one day, but not today!!! LOL! It's insane how quickly it happens, one minute your here on earth, talking and dreaming about your future plans, then with in a blink of an eye, your out. Its just that fast and that abrupt! You can go over and over what he could have done differently to not have wrecked, how if he was only a second earlier, or didn't decide to go back out after the concert, or if he just went a different route that he would still be here, he would be at Ray's gym in the morning with us to train our clients having to endure my perky morning attitude! But the truth of the matter is, there is absolutely nothing we can do now, Patrick is gone. We have to mourn, we have to feel that emptiness, we have to find it with in ourselves to pick ourselves up and move on with life even though it seems that maybe, just maybe, life should just stand still for a while. Patrick had so many close friends, he helped so many as well with there health. He was a very good person and this world will miss him. I hate to sound cliche' but ...Rest in Peace Patrick Chester, move on through the other side. We will see you again some day, I truly believe that. 

To work or not to work...that is the question.

So I was all about staying home with Avery as much as possible. I really have a whole new respect for stay at home mommas! I am eating my words, there was a time in my early 20's, when motherhood was totally foreign to me, when I worked for a medical office. One of my many jobs was to enter demographics into the computer system. You know when you go to the doctor and you have to fill out those annoying information sheets? Well, don't get too bent about it, just remember someone has to enter all of that information into the computer system and it is a mundane task to say the LEAST!  Anyway, I would get so annoyed with women who put in the occupation section" mom" " home maker" "domestic engineer" so on and so forth! Now, I will be one of those people! I just thought they were sooo lucky! I thought they had it made. Well, in some ways, yes, being a stay at home momma is great! I don't know that its for me though. I love being around Avery so much, dont get me wrong, but I need an outlet! I need to put my knowledge to good use. Now, I do get to teach aerobics, and personal train but I need more. I just graduated from APSU with a BS in Health and Human Performance and I am really itching to put it to use. I have been teaching aerobics at the YMCA but the stagnation of our Y is not my cup of tea, I have to be in a place that nurtures growth, so last week, I put my resume at a facility that is run by a local hospital. It is a brand spankin' new facility that has a cardiac rehab section, a cardiologist on staff, Physical Therapists, Massage Therapists, Personal Trainers, and Group Fitness instructors. Everyone there has a BS degree in exercise science or better. I got a call yesterday and went in for an interview today. I hit it off with the director and was offered a position. Its part time and I am really considering it. That would mean I would need to find child care for Avery for a few hours a week. It's a lot to think about. Its something I really don't think I should or can pass up though! I will be making a decision in the next week, what do you think??? Any thoughts? ~K

First Battle Wound

Well, Today..Avery has really started to pull herself up into the standing position. Now, she tries to pull herself up on ANYTHING. She is quickly learning what is sturdy enough to hold her and what is not! She lost her first standing battle with a chair today and busted the right side of her face pretty good! She cried and cried and I felt so badly that I couldn't get there quick enough to prevent this nasty fall. The chair fell over on top of her and I think it startled her more than anything... If you look at the pic closely you can see the battle wound. It didn't slow her down much though! She has been pulling herself up on everything! UG! Here we go! ~K

Sometimes, you just have to get away!

We took a great trip to Gatlinburg,TN. We just wanted to unplug for a while and we did! It was welcomed. My mom and brother came for a couple of days and we had a blast! We saw a bear who wondered up by our chalet, then, Hillman and I were out on a trail run and we ran up on 2 cubs. We froze, admired, respected, and got the hell out of there!! It was amazing, being married to Hillman sometimes feels like being married to my very own nature guide! He is always pointing out animals that I wouldn't have noticed otherwise but running into the cubs even impressed him! We are home now and I am glad to get back to our routine but I was so glad t be able to get away! Sometimes...you just have to get away to realize how bogged down in life you are and get a fresh perspective!

Cheerio Monster!

Avery is growing  by leaps and bounds! She is crawling EVERYWHERE! Thats right! Say good by to the day where I could leave her in front of a baby Einstein dvd(aka baby crack) and go to the bathroom, or do anything out of her sight! Those days are done!!! She is even pulling herself up on furniture trying to stand. She so desperately wants to become part of the bipedal race! She is eating finger foods LOVES cheerios! She has...7 teeth now and is getting more in. She is truly amazing. She keeps me so busy. I fall in love with her more and more every day!! Her little personality is showing through more and more too! She is very independent. Doesn't want to be fussed over, HATES to have her diaper changed or clothes changed because she doesn't like to be lying down unless she is sleeping! As long as I have some Cheerios on hand, I can usually occupy here enough to get things done! Thank God for Cheerios! LOL!