I can't believe it has been an entire week since my last blog.  And a rough week it was.  In my last blog, I told of Bennet's fever.  We brought him into the Dr. this past Monday, and he tested positive for Influenza A, so we are assuming Jake also had the flu, just was a false negative.  So, on Monday, Jake and Bennet stayed home (luckily Terri had that day off due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day), Tuesday all three kids stayed home, Wednesday Nolan and Bennet were Home, and finally on Thursday all kids were back to school and daycare.  However, Terri got down with the illness on late Wednesday, and is still trying to recover.  Very long week.
My workouts are continuing.  I finally committed to my new years resolution and stayed away from beer and pop (mostly).  I don't know if it was due to stepping up my workouts, or staying off the houch, but I was able to lose about 4 pounds.  My ankle is continuing to heal, I would say it is at about 80%.  I lifted legs the other day for the first time since spraining my ankle, and ooouuuuccccchhhh.  It only took 10 lunges for my legs to tighten and cramp up, leading me to call it a day on leg workouts early.  I am able to run, and will try playing basketball again today, so hopefully it holds up.

Also, I am about 60% towards reaching my fundraiser goal for Wounded Warrior Project, so please donate here to make a donation.

Our illnesses continue, Bennet fell asleep last night at about 7:00ish, and as night approached, his temperature increased as did his croup cough.  Bennet likes to come into our room most every night and sleep on the floor, and his barking cough made it a long night sleep.  It got to the point that I steamed him in the bathroom with a hot running shower, which seemed to ease his cough for about 2 hours.  I also had him sleep on the recliner, which kept him in more of an upright position, which meant I slept on the couch.  Any time I am not in my bed, I do not sleep very well.  Jake also continues to run a temp.....  so this might be a fun week.

To hit on my workouts, my ankle is healing, but still sore and stiff.  I was able to run for about 1/2 a mile on Saturday and it held up pretty good.  I have also been riding the bike and jumping rope.  Next week, if the weather is nice, I am going to try to increase my running miles.  I also hooked my mountain bike up to my bike trainer today and rode for about 15 minutes.  I was surprised how good of a workout it was.  I will need to put a plastic mat under me, so the carpet does not absorb all the dripping sweat.  It is my goal to ride the bike 5 nights a week in addition to my weights and other cardio. 

In regards to my new year resolution, I am a complete and utter failure.  I continue to drink about 20 to 40 ounces of pop a day (which is less that before the new year), and I have been having a few beers as I watch football or basketball games.  This coming week I have told myself I will try harder.  I will let you know how it goes.

Well, our ski trip to the lovely mountains of Iowa has to be postponed.  Jake woke up this morning with a 101.5 degree temp.  Just to be safe, we brought him in to the clinic to check his platelets (his platelets usually drop when his is sick due to the ITP), and platelets were at 4,000 (150,000 to 400,000 is average), so he will need to get medicine to bring them back up.  They also checked him for influenza, as it is going around like crazy, and luckily he did not have that.  It never fails that someone in our family gets sick when we have plans made.  Good thing we are able to reschedule the lessons I had arranged for the boys and Terri.

It has been 4 days since spraining my ankle, and I would say I am about 50% recovered.  I have been able to lift weights on Tuesday and today (Thursday), on Wednesday, I rode the exercise bike for 4 miles.  Walking is still sore, and my ankle is very tender.  We are planning on going snowboarding on Saturday, so I might get a brace or tape it up and hope it feels good.  However, Jake (our oldest) got home from school today and has a fever of 100.2, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out.  Most every time we have plans of some sort, one of our kids usually ends up getting sick and our plans change in one way or another.  I actually think I am getting conditioned to not make plans because there is always a good chance they will not work out as planned. 

(Ben)
I have my first injury report to make....  I was playing basketball Sunday night, and as I was preparing to elevate to slam dunk the basketball, I sprained my ankle.  Truth be told, I was not in the process of dunking, in fact I can not even jump high enough to touch the rim.  I was actually running after a loose ball, and as I grabbed the ball, I planted and rolled my ankle pretty good.  My family was present for the second game they have ever attended so they were able to witness my first sprained ankle in about 5 years.  What was cute was Bennet (my 4 year old) immediately turned into doctor and began taking care of me.  He even helped me hold ice on my ankle.  This evening (Monday), he was kissing my ankle to make it feel better.  I did not feel too bad last night after it happened, but I had to wake up in the middle of the night to relieve myself, and I barely made it back to bed.  In fact, I laid in bed for about 5 minutes after returning to bed moaning in agony.  I am doing my part to heal quick because we are going snowboarding this coming weekend at a little ski slope in Iowa, a few minutes from Omaha.  This will be the first time snowboarding for my boys, so I don't want to miss it.

Here is my ankle one hour after the sprain.  Starting to swell. 

Here it is 24 hours later.  Starting to bruise and hurts to walk.  I actually had to take a compression wrap off for this picture which hurt pretty bad.

(Ben)
I want to start by saying I am a weak, weak man.  I have not been very successful with my new year resolution.  I have had beer as I have watched each bowl game, which means I had a few beers about each night ending Monday the 7th during the championship game.  Yesterday, I had 2 beers left in my fridge, I figured what the hell, so I drank them as I cooked dinner.  I figured I might as well get rid of them to get them out of my sight.  Regarding my goal to quit pop, also not going very good.  This one is not all on me though.  Terri often wants to have a pop, today over lunch for example, and I am brought along and figure I will have one because it sounds so good.  So, to summarize, my new year resolution is starting now.

Regarding my workouts, they continue.  I have actually been running on the treadmill more than I ever have.  Ever since the snow storm on 12/19, the streets have about 4 inches of packed snow/ice on them.  I have a rule, I do not run outside until the streets are clear of snow.  Also, with the nice weather, I would either be running through puddles constantly, or jumping around like a kangaroo.  I have also been riding an exercise bike at the Y.  Riding the bike really works my legs.  It feels like my legs are out of shape and in need of more attention each time I ride. My best cardio has come from playing old man ball.  It is 3 on 3 half court and gives me a better workout than I anticipate each time.  Terri and the boys came and watched this past Sunday, and was grossed out by the amount of sweat that was dripping off my head as I switched shoes.


I would also like to take a moment to thank the individuals that have donated to the Wounded Warrior Project:
My parents
Terri's sister Kelly Hay
Terri's long time friend Katie Hotie
My good friend Kris Volker
Terri's brother Jim Archuletta
Our friend and Bennet's daycare provider Darla
And myself

If you have not donated, please feel free to donate by clicking here.  If you have donated, feel free to donate again by clicking here.

I don't nearly blog as much as Ben mostly because I don't have as exciting workouts as Ben and because my eyes are deteriorating. I am hard pressed these days to look at the computer or my phone without getting a headache. I am in need of another eye exam to change to a stronger prescription, my current glasses just aren't cutting anymore :( which leads me to believe that at my next eye exam the doctor will tell me that I am now tethered to glasses for the rest of my life! (Contacts are not an option for me, can't touch my eyeball if you paid me)
Now on to more important things. With the holidays, sick kids and myself being sick I have gotten out of my usual workout routine. I have missed a few of my classes that I attend so I have been working out with Ben at the "Y" in the "weight room". I NEVER go into the weight room, its usually full of guys and I like to stick to my classes and girly stuff.  My first few times in the weight room I felt lost. I would do a few things and then feel like "Ok now what?" When lifting weights in the weight room I would do only a few muscle groups at a time and I would feel like I am forgetting the rest of my body, the workout felt short. I was use to an 45 min. to an hour classes, I was use to an instructor. However, by only doing a few muscle groups at a time you give your other muscles a rest and when you go to lift them the next time they are more able to lift longer and or heavier, so it makes sense to not lift your entire body in one setting. I believe that you get stronger quicker lifting muscle groups at a time. For example, I was going to a class at our local YMCA where you lift weights on every muscle group. The class lasted an hour and after so long of going I wasn't getting the results I was hoping. At first I felt the results then I noticed that I wasn't able to go heavier in weights because this class is designed on reps. I had "plateaued". Since lifting in the weight room I decided to attend the class for their new release session. I was lifting more than I ever was in chest in the class and everything felt easier. I attribute that to lifting weights with less rep and heavier weight and doing sections of muscle groups at a time. Bottom line I got stronger. It's amazing how far I have come since first starting to workout. I thought I would NEVER be lifting weights in the weight room, running, working out alone etc...but like a friend of mine told me it's all mind set, which it totally is! So, to all of you out there debating if you should start working out...YES get off your butt and just do it! It's all in your mind! I don't think I have ever heard anyone say after a workout that they wish they hadn't done it. Usually everyone says they feel better after working out and glad they did it even if they weren't sold on heading to the gym in the first place. It's a new year and it can be a new you!

(Ben)
A few weeks ago I quit drinking pop.  By quit, I meant that I seriously cut back.  At the time, I was curious if I would lose any weight.  For those of you who also wondered if not drinking diet pop would result in a lose of lbs, it did not.  My weight has maintained the pre-quitting level.  Now I am ready to step up and go all in.  I am giving up beer for new years!!!  January 1st was supposed to be my first day; however, I had one more day of Christmas vacation, so I am starting over today.  I am using my mulligan.  This might be a little more difficult than not drinking pop.  I am used to having a cold one when I am cooking, or relaxing, in the evening.  I also am used to having a cold one when I watch sporting events, so there might be a little adjusting to do.  But I am all in, and will keep you up to date regarding my progress.