Sickness and Healthier Living

We have had some sickies in the house the last few days.  Early Sunday morning, Aidan came into our room to tell us he didn't feel good, and before he could say anything, he threw up all over the bed, the floor, and Kelly.  He and Kelly stayed home from school on Monday, and he felt well enough to go back on Tuesday.

Then yesterday, Emma got sick at school.  On herself.  So, today it is my turn to take a day off.  The school will not let her return until she has gone 24 hours without throwing up.  Hopefully she can go back tomorrow.  She says her tummy feels OK for right now, but we will wait awhile before trying to eat anything.  Just fluids for the time being.  Here's hoping no one else in the house gets this little virus.

In the meantime, Kelly and I are about 2-1/2 weeks into trying to eat healthier.  We have been somewhat successful to this point in our eating habits, but one of the greatest successes in recent days is the elimination of Coke and other carbonated beverages from our diet.  At the point we decided to stop drinking Coke, I was at the point where all I drank was a caffeinated beverage.  I would wake up and take my blood pressure medicine with a Coke, then drink numerous cups of coffee, followed by Coke at lunch and supper.  We went cold turkey.  The last Coke I had was on January 12.

It has certainly been a struggle.  We have had numerous cravings and moments of decision where we tried to rationalize having a drink of Coke.  However, we have managed to overcome those times, most definitely with God's help, and our mutual desire to become healthier.  I still drink coffee in the mornings, but no more than 2 cups.  I fill a water bottle at school and drink from it all day.  We still drink the occasional glass of iced tea with a meal.

They say that if you can maintain a new discipline for at least 21 consecutive days, then it becomes a habit.  We are almost to that 21 days, so hopefully it will continue to be easier.

The one thing we have not been able to get started on is exercising regularly.  A couple of summers ago, I started running, and kept it up until football practice started.  I really need to start doing something, even if it is just walking, but so far our schedule has prevented it.  We will simply have to make the time to get this going...

Let's Try Again...

So I've been feeling a bit restless lately, and have been thinking about trying to blog again. Let's hope I can manage a bit better this time.

Things have changed a bit since the last time this site was really up and running.  I have changed jobs -- still teaching, but not coaching this year.  Kelly and the kids are still at Cushing, which for this year turned out to be the best situation for them.

The children are all growing, both in age and stature.  Abbie is now almost 10, while Ethan and Emma are both 7, and Aidan is 5. They are all doing very well in school, with the older kids continuing to make A's consistently (Aidan is in kindergarten and doesn't really get grades yet).  Kelly is in her third year teaching English Language Arts and Reading after many years in elementary music. As with most things she does, Kelly is a great teacher no matter the subject.

I am halfway through the year teaching Texas History at McMichael Middle School in Nacogdoches. It has been an adjustment for sure, coming from Cushing, but I am starting to get the hang of it.  There are way too many meetings though.

At any rate, I will strive to chronicle our lives a bit in this space, although my Dad might be the only one to read it.  More to come later...